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I propose that the use of marijuana should be legalized. According to the American Journal of Nursing, marijuana is safer, less addictive and causes fewer mood alterations then tea.(Brown 13) So why are items that are less harmful then marijuana legal wh ile marijuana is not? I will show that marijuana should be legalized by disproving the reasons why people believe it should remain illegal. I will than demonstrate that the legalization of marijuana is beneficial to the government and the people.

Many people believe that the drug would become more easily obtainable for young people. The truth is that young people often finds things more appealing if they are forbidden. Taking away the very thing that makes it appealing could cause a loss of inter est. Many people also believe that legalizing the drug would cause problems at schools and on the work place. Employers and schools could give severe penalties for those found "high" on the job. Random drug tests would also would also help remedy the poss ible problem.

People say that the use of the drug causes medical problems. This argument is simply not based on fact. Junkfood, salt, tobacco and alcohol have been proven to do greater harm to the body and affect more areas of the body than marijuana.(Bowman 8a) Many people believe that the drug is addictive. The fact is "there is no scientific proof that shows marijuana is addictive." (Bowman 8a) Studies done by the American Journal of Nursing also show that the drug is not addictive. (Brown 13) People also believe t hat legalization of the drug will promote its use. Legalizing the use of the drug will give the government the power to regulate its use. Both state and federal government would be able to tax the drug in the same way they do alcohol and tobacco products. The government could also set standards that the drug must meet before being sold. The FDA would have direct control over such standards making the risk dangerous additives less likely.

The legalization of the drug is supported by many experts. One example is Baltimore mayor Kurt L. Schmoke. He openly supports the legalization of the drug and heads workshops for those who also support the idea. (Evans 9a) Another supporter of the legali zation of the drug is Dr. Ethan A. Nadelmann, an assistant professor at Princeton University. He said, "The nation's war on drugs has been a costly exercise in futility, filling the nation's prisons with low level criminals while keeping drug costs and pr ofits high." (Evans 9a) It is obvious that the current system for controlling the use of marijuana is not effective. Many people believe that new legislation would increase the drugs use as well as its availability to addicts. "Legalization should not be taken to mean a lawless free-for-all with no restraint on the supply or use of the drug. Done properly it would allow government to take control of the distribution and quality of the substance away from criminals." (Brown) The government has found away t o regulate the use of the drug. "Supply would be regulated by a system of government licenses analogous to those already in force for tobacco and alcohol, which would serve, among other things, to keep drugs out of the hands of children, backed by strict policing and heavy penalties." (Brown 13)

There is no good reason to keep marijuana illegal. The reasons for legalizing the drug are many. Legalization would provide government control. Marijuana is less harmful and less addictive than other already legal drugs such as alcohol. The war on drugs is a war the United States is still loosing. The current policies that keep marijuana illegal must be changed so that the United States can take control of the existing marijuana problems. WORKS CITED

Bowmen,Tom. "Schmoke says debate on decriminalization of drugs is gaining momentum." The Sun. (7-13-1989) : 8A. Brown, Christopher. "Bring Drugs Within the Law." The Economist. (5-15-93) : 13. Evans,Martin. "Schmoke urges NAACP to back decriminalization of drugs." The Sun. (7-13-89) : 9A.

Here's another one I don't like it, but it does work
http://www.trafficcommander.com/main.cfm?id=1662