The legalization of marijuana

The legalization of marijuana

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  The Legalization ofMarijuana By: Avery McDavid & Amanda Harte
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  Table of ContentsThe history Why it’s illegal Fear Tactics Medicinal Uses Myths of Marijuana Use The Benefits of Legalization Q & A
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  History Theuse of Cannabis at least as a fiber dates back at least 10,000 years ago in Taiwan. evidence of Cannabis being inhaled dates back to 3000 B.C by the Romanians at a burial site. Cannabis was introduced to the Scythians and Thracians whose shamans burned cannabis flowers to induce a state of trance. Theorized to be used as a religious sacrament to early Jews and Christians. In 1619, Jamestown Colony, Virgina passed a law that required farmers to grow hemp and could be jailed for not growing it. The banning of cannabis began in the early 20 th century around the world.
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  Why it’s illegalEarly 1900s, the western states developed tensions regarding Mexican-Americans. Once the differences were settled, it was revealed that the Mexicans were taking the plants with them and smoking it, which was when California passed the law outlawing “preparations of hemp or loco weed.” The first state law was not only influenced by Mexicans smoking it, but Mormons as well. Other states followed stating that once a Mexican uses the drug, they have a state of mind where they are the “mayor of Mexico” and out to execute all of their political enemies.” In Texas, a senator said that “all Mexcians are crazy and smoking the Marijuana is what makes them crazy”
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  Why it’s illegalIn the eastern states, the problem was attributed to black jazz musicians and Latin Americans. With Jazz being popular at the time, the marijuana travelled with the musicians to New Orleans, Chicaco and then to Harlem where it became an irreplaceable part of the music scene. Again, racism was part of the charge against marijuana. Newspapers in 1934 wrote that’s “Marihuana influences Negroes to look at white people in the eye, step on white men’s shadows and look at a white woman twice. With the push for Marijuana being illegal, the separate states started using fear tactics to paint it with a bad reputation, with everyone being lied too about “effects” it could have on the body and mind, people were in fear of the drug. With Marijuana being outlawed, so was the growth of hemp, which farmers were forced to grow or jail time would be the consequence.
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  Fear Tactics Some of the fear tactics used within society were: Marijuana is the most violence-causing drug in the history of America. Reefer makes darkies think they’re as good as white men. Marijuana is an addictive drug which produces in its users insantiy, criminality, and death. Users of marijuana become STIMULATED as they inhale the drug and are LIKELY TO DO ANYTHING. Most crimes of violence in this section, especially in country districs are laid to users of that drug.
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  Medicinal Uses Studies have shown that Marijuana cuts the progression of lung tumor growth in half, and smoking it does not raise the risk of lung cancer. Can be used to treat eczema Can be used to kill brain tumor cells so that surgery and treatment can be more effective. Can be used effectively to control seizures and pain. Beneficial to the treatment of AIDS, cancer, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis and chronic pain. Helps slow the progression of Alzheimer's - http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15145917/ns/health-alzheimers_disease/
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  Myths of marijuanause Myth: Using marijuana can cause permanent mental illness. Fact: There is no convincing scientific evidence that psychological damage or mental illness in either adults or teenagers. Myth: Marijuana is highly addictive and long term users will need to seek professional help to break the habit. Fact: Less than 1% of people who smoke marijuana smoke it on a daily basis and have no problem quitting for an extended period of time. an even smaller percentile of people develop a dependence. Myth: Marijuana is a gateway drug. Fact: Key factor is taste, people who are extremely eager to alter their state of mind are more than likely to try more than one way of doing it.
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  The benefits oflegalization. In 2006, Marijuana was reported to be the number one cash crop in 12 states and in the top 3 within 30 states. It was projected to make more money (35.8 billion) than corn (23.9 billion) and wheat (7.5 billion). The Californian government figures that it can bring 13 billion dollars just to that single state alone annually. Fewer minor offenders in jails, an estimated $68 billion dollars goes into the jails in the US each year, with one third of the people in the jail are non-violent drug offenders. Crime rate will decrease around the world due to the fact that people will no longer be arrested and jailed for possession or selling of marijuana. Marijuana is no more dangerous than alcohol.
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  Legalization cont’d Withmarijuana being legal, so will the cultivation of hemp once again. Hemp can be used for food, it’s high in protein. Its amino acid profile is almost “complete” when compared to other common sources such as milk, meat and eggs. Hemp produces 10% more fiber than cotton or flax. Can be used to make clothing, paper, rope and sailing canvas. Can be used as insulation material (hempcrete). Hemp can be used as a “mop crop” to clean out impurities out of water such as sewage effluent, excessive phosphorus from chicken litter and other chemicals from the soil. Can be used as fuel, hemp fuel was used to propel first car designed by Henry Ford.
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  The End. Q& A Thank you.