Marijuana has been illegal for almost sixty years and at no time have we successfully
rid the country of this drug. Right know marijuana is the third most popular recreational
drug, the first two being cigarettes and alcohol ("Working" 1). This proves that
prohibition doesn't work and people know the difference between drugs that are really bad
for them and drugs that aren't that bad if used in moderation Our government is spending
millions a year on a fight that will never be won, maybe it is time for a change.
Marijuana was first used as an intoxicant in Central Asia around 3000 B.C. Marijuana
had a place in almost every countries' culture. Greeks and Romans gave marijuana to
their guests to promote hilarity and enjoyment. In ancient India marijuana was considered
to be a gift from the gods. It was also believed to quicken the mind, prolong life, improve
judgment, lower fevers, induce sleep and cure dysentery (Fougeres 2).
Marijuana was introduced to the United States sixty years ago when Mexican laborers
came to America. It spread through the south and by the early 1920's its use was
established in New Orleans. primarily amongst the poor and minority groups. Marijuana
was officially added to the United States pharmacopoeia in 1937. Its use was
recommended for a wide variety of disorders, especially as a mild sedative. About twenty
years after that it was made illegal, the last legal crop of marijuana was grown in
In recent years the use of marijuana has gone up in the United States which has
apparently created some social and health problems. But there is little agreement on
whether or not there is any magnitude to these problems, or any solutions to them. Right
now in the United States there are two general opinions about marijuana. One is that the
use of cannabis poses some extreme social, moral, and health dangers tha...