Marijuana

What do you think? Should it be… Legal? Illegal? Decriminalized? Medically Legal?

Thoughts on Marijuana Are you against smoking? - If so, why? Have you been taught that smoking will kill your brain cells? - If so, you have been misinformed like I was.

Why is it illegal? Initially made illegal because of racism towards African Americans and Hispanics. Still illegal because… –Fear –Protection of Corporate Profits –Yellow Journalism –Ignorant, Incompetent, and/or Corrupt Legislators –Personal Career Advancement and Greed

Gateway Drug? Many of those against smoking claim that Marijuana is a Gateway drug. However recent stats show that… - 1 out of every 104 users also use cocaine - Less than 1 out of 104 use heroin

The Numbers: Tobacco - 400,000 deaths in U.S. a year Prescription Drugs - Over 100,000 deaths in U.S. a year Alcohol - 75,000 deaths in U.S. a year Caffeine - 5,000 deaths in U.S. a year Marijuana - 0 deaths ever!

Legalization Recreational Use: The public gets what it wants Would create a $10-14 billion tax revenue Creates many job opportunities Used in 0 States Medical Use: Cannabis provides more known medical benefits than any other drug. “One of the safest therapeutically active substances known to man”- Francis Young (DEA Judge) Used in 14 states and D.C.

Prop 19 Allowed adults 21 and over to possess up to an ounce as long as: –They consume it in nonpublic places (without children present) –Grow it in small private plots –Allowed Government to regulate activities –Allowed Government to impose and collect fees and taxes –Allowed Government to authorize various criminal and civil penalties No 5,198, % Yes 4,504, %

Decriminalized Just an offence –Drug can be used or bought without any criminal punishment –However it cannot be sold. –Used in 13 states

Hemp Largest agricultural crop with thousands of uses Not allowed to be grown in the U.S. Can be used to make… –Fuel / diesel –Paper –Food (has fatty and amino acids) –Clothing

Arrests in ,546 marijuana arrests in U.S. 88% of arrests were simply for possession. Marijuana arrests = arrests for murder + rape + aggravated assault + robbery. 45,00 people in prison for weed violations –This doesn’t count local or county jails Some banks don’t give loans/grants for college if arrested for one joint. –However you’ll probably get one if you are convicted of murder or rape.

Rebellion During prohibition alcohol poisoning went up 600% –Rebel against Government Drug should be legalized because the tax payers are the only ones losing

Tax Payers are Only Losers 1)Prohibition has not stopped demand/desire or the supply 2)It is a steady source for organized crime - Easier to attain (under 21) 3)Underground market creates crime and violence

Dr. Heath/Tulane Study 1974 Study said that marijuana use kills brain cells. Instead of administering the 30 joints per day over a one-year period like he was supposed to with the monkeys, Heath administered 63 joints in five minutes over just three months. He was suffocating them! 3-5 minutes of oxygen deprivation causes dead brain cells. “ With the concentration of smoke used, the monkeys were a bit like a person running the engine of a car in a locked garage for 5, 10, 15 minutes at a time very day!”

Marijuana

Citation Harvey, Brett, Dir. The Union: "The Business of Getting High". Dir. Brett Harvey." Perf. Bennett, Chris. 2007, Film. Inciardi, James. The Drug Legalization Debate. Second Edition. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, Inc, Print. "14 Legal Medical Marijuana States and DC." ProCon.org (2010): n. pag. Web. 6 Nov "California Proposition 19, the Marijuana Legalization Initiative." Ballot Pedia (2010): n. pag. Web. 6 Nov 2010.

Citation Crary, David. "Legalize-marijuana measure loses in California." Yahoo.com (2010): n. pag. Web. 6 Nov "The Top Ten Reasons Marijuana Should Be Legal." AlterNet.com (2007): n. pag. Web. 6 Nov Head, Tom. "Why is Marijuana Illegal?." About.com n. pag. Web. 6 Nov

Citation Guither, Pete. "Why is Marijuana Illegal?." DrugWarRant.com n. pag. Web. 6 Nov Bonser, Kevin. "How Marijuana Works." Discovery Health n. pag. Web. 6 Nov "NIDA InfoFacts: Marijuana." National Institute of Health (2009): n. pag. Web. 6 Nov "Marijuana." Special Operations - Narcotics/Vice. Web. 30 Nov