Jessica Genzmer
Dr. Badur
Conciliatory Argument
28 October 2014
The "Blunt" Truth
The word "marijuana" has risen an eyebrow or two in almost every American in society today. Those that oppose legalizing the use of the drug automatically believe its use is to smoke it, but those that do not choose to use marijuana are thought to be in favor of keeping it illegal. Opposing views on the subject of making the plant legal has caused much controversy over the past twenty years and still remains an important issue. The legalization of marijuana in the Unites States would most likely reduce crime in our cities and form a more productive society through its positive uses.
First off what is Marijuana? Cannabis is a tall plant with a stiff upright stem, divided serrated leaves, and glandular hairs. It is used to produce hemp fiber and as a psychotropic drug. The cannabis plant also produces three other very important products which the other hemp, seed, pulp, and medicine.
Cannabis is also known as, grass, pot, dope, BLUNT, Mary Jane, weed, smoke, mull, buddha, ganga and etc. Most people who use cannabis do so to experience a sense of mild euphoria and relaxation, often referred to as a "high." Cannabis causes changes in the user's mood and also affects how they think and perceive the environment. (Price B5).
Now, 60,000 individuals are behind bars for marijuana offenses at a cost to taxpayers of $1.2 billion per year. The war on drugs deals with every level of society. Year after year, the U.S. government spends large amounts of money to control drug use and to enforce laws to protect society from the dangers of certain drugs. William Buckley says, "Pot is harmful, but people should not go to jail for smoking it". At the...