Marijuana Essay for School December 1, 2008
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I had to write a persuasive essay for English so..I wrote this. 
We could’ve chosen any topic but this was widely controversial.
Marijuana Needs To Be Legalized
By: Derek Zhang
Did you know there’s such thing as Cannabis (Marijuana) Day? It’s celebrated world-wide and was created because of the many supporters to legalizing marijuana who have persuaded officials to acknowledge the fact that you shouldn’t make marijuana completely illegal. On Cannabis Day, many citizens gather together and are allowed to use marijuana freely, in any way, which is a very important step in the development of legalizing marijuana. However, this is not enough. Marijuana needs to be legalized. Why should marijuana be treated more harshly when some other drugs are more dangerous and legal? Plus, it has many medical properties too and saves tax dollars on “No Marijuana” campaigns. It also releases the pot-related offenders which saves prison space and decreases the amount of prisons which saves the government money (and your taxes).
Studies show that over 100,000 Americans die annually from alcohol abuse yet none have died from marijuana-related incidents. Another study shows that the myth that marijuana is a gateway drug is false. Alcohol abuse also increases cancer risk. You could die from an overdose of alcohol but you can’t die from an overdose of marijuana. The effects of alcohol increase your violent behaviour, but when you use marijuana, you stay in control and keep your common sense. Marijuana is not addictive (and does not contain nicotine), yet alcohol is addictive. Marijuana does not contain nicotine yet tobacco does and is also legal and more dangerous than marijuana, yet both can be smoked. Roughly 5,000,000 people die each year from tobacco abuse. At the very least, we should make both of these harmful drugs illegal. Why should marijuana be illegal while alcohol and tobacco stay legal?
Marijuana doesn’t have to be used as an unhealthy drug. It comes from a very versatile and efficacious plant (Cannabis). Marijuana is also a very useful medical drug. It is used as a sleeping pill and an analgesic for pain. It can help cure some diseases such as Crohn’s disease, AIDS, cancer, bipolar disorder, memory enhancement, improves immune system, pre-menstrual syndrome, erectile dysfunction, glaucoma and reduces effects of chemotherapy. There is no feeling of being high when used for medical purposes. One of the most interesting uses for Cannabis is making paper from its high fibre content. Before it was banned, it replaced wood products and created by-products used for energy. Marijuana is useful for this purpose because it comes from a hearty plant (Cannabis). The hemp seeds that come from the Cannabis plant are used in many foods and contain many essential fatty acids and helps clear the body of bad cholesterol. The oil from the hemp seeds can be used to make paints and varnishes. The oil was also used for lighting before the introduction of the light bulb and is also a lubricant. Cannabis biomass can be used as fuel and does not produce harmful waste products or environmental pollution. The Cannabis biomass is the most efficient, cheapest and reliable to produce energy. 90% of fossil fuels could be replaced by biomass. Unfortunately, even Cannabis is illegal in most countries.
The most common marijuana users are teenagers. Why? The reason is because many teenagers suffer from depression. Marijuana is generally used as their antidepressant. Marijuana has fewer side effects too, which makes it more preferable than regular antidepressants. Teenagers also feel anger, stress, clutter and tension, which marijuana helps remove. Instead, they turn to alcohol and tobacco and get an addiction to those, when they’re much more dangerous. Marijuana is safer, more effective and it leaves you in control (unlike alcohol). A few marijuana users have said that marijuana heightens their creativity and imagination, enabling them to do more.
Marijuana is used as a less dangerous alternative to alcohol and tobacco. Cannabis Day is a time when it is celebrated for its unique uses and properties. Marijuana is not exactly healthy for anyone’s body, but it’s a better drug compared to alcohol and tobacco. It limits other unhealthier drugs that you could be tempted to use and does not tempt you to take “harder” drugs. Teenagers are given the choice of whether to do drugs or smoking or to avoid them. If they make the wrong choice of doing drugs or smoking, they might as well try and aim for the healthiest and less life-threatening choice. So why should marijuana stay illegal? You think about that.
