Since marijuana is considered illegal by the federal government of the United States, most people either smoke pot with the risk of going to jail or suffer and abide by the rules. ... They also believe that the government shut down the Compassionate Use Program because the government feared that too many people would start using pot. ... Government lawyers claim that the Oakland Court system is tampering with its ability to enforce federal drug laws. Since this time, California and eight other states have some sort of medical marijuana laws in place or approved by the voters, even though th...

• Word Count: 1613
• Approx Pages: 6

The federal government did not make Marijuana illegal until they passed the Marijuana Tax Act in 1937. ... One year later, the federal government passed the Marijuana Tax Law of 1937, which made the possession of Cannabis illegal, except for medical purposes. ... For the first time the federal government fails to acknowledge any medical uses of Marijuana, even though the government used Marijuana for pain management through several wars. ... The State of New Mexico was the first state to re-acknowledge Marijuana having medical value; the federal government contracts with different universi...

• Word Count: 2339
• Approx Pages: 9
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Graduate

The basis upon which marijuana is prohibited has been proven by the very government which has banned the drug to be false. ... The federal government also controls the amount of nicotine and other additives in cigarette and cigar manufacturing, in an effort to lessen their risk to public health. ... Graham Boyd, an attorney representing a group of plaintiffs including eleven prominent cancer and AIDS physicians in San Francisco presented to a federal judge on Friday, April 11, 1997 the following statement: "The federal government has issued broad threats against physicians who might recom...

• Word Count: 1707
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

I believe it should be legalized because the constitution does not state that a federal government to regulate or ban substances that we choose to consume. ... The constitution defines our freedom and we can retain our rights from the federal government, where in the constitution it states nowhere that government officials can detain the use of any drug. ... The federal government cannot retain our rights as so stated in the 10th amendment "The powers not delegated to the United States by the constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the States respectively, or to ...

• Word Count: 1375
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

So what does our government do about these studies? ... Marijuana is a Schedule I drug, under the Federal Controlled Substance act(Mathre 4). ... This action was intended to show the states that the federal government was still in charge. ... These were supported by local authorities but all brought up on lawsuits by the federal government. ... This is now the focus of a serious battle between local and federal governments in California. ...

• Word Count: 1571
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

When marijuana was prohibited by the United States federal government in 1937 very few Americans even knew what it was. ... Decriminalizing marijuana would save both the federal government and the states billions in funds that could be used to fund other interests as demonstrated in the state of California with the passing of the Moscone Act in 1976. ... Cultivation of even one marijuana plant is a federal felony. ... Despite the endorsements the federal government only allows seven patients within the United States to use marijuana medicinally. ... The government estimates nearly 70 million A...

• Word Count: 1417
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

The federal government of America spends millions of dollars each year trying to keep it off the streets and into dealer's hands, but their tactics barely do a thing. ... The amount of money the federal Drug Enforcement Agency spends each year is $1.3 billion a year. Overall, federal anti-marijuana efforts have cost taxpayers $30 billion (Schlosser 89). All of this money can be easily saved if the federal government can just legalize marijuana and regulate it. ... In a study commissioned by the United States federal government found that marijuana use is effective in relieving pain, na...

• Word Count: 1605
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

However, the doctors who prescribe it risk having the national government revoke their license. ... Judge Whitman Knapp said that: "After twenty years on the bench, I have concluded that federal drug laws are a disaster. It is time to get the government out of drug enforcement." ... The government shouldn't tell individuals what to do as long as they don't harm others. ... In the U.S., all levels of government participate in the "War on Drugs". ...

• Word Count: 2395
• Approx Pages: 10
• Grade Level: High School

In a free society the government's duty is to protect individuals from others who might harm them. In 1980, there were almost twice as may violent offenders in federal prisons as drug offenders (Schlosser 91).5 Today there are far more people in federal prison for marijuana crimes than for violent crimes. ... Under civil forfeiture statues passed by Congress in the 1980's, the federal government now has the right to seize real estate, vehicles, cash securities, jewelry and other property connected to a marijuana offense. ... When property is seized, its legal title passes insta...

• Word Count: 2295
• Approx Pages: 9
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

Marijuana, long outlawed by federal legislation, is making major advances toward legalization in the United States. ... Without marijuana tax stamps, which were never issued by the government, a person could face five years' imprisonment, a $2,000 fine, or both. ... The federal government, seeing the increase of marijuana use, passed new drug laws. ... The federal government took the case against medicinal marijuana to the Supreme Court. ... Until then, marijuana remains illegal under federal law....

• Word Count: 1460
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Taxes would immediately be placed on marijuana, thus resulting in a significant increase in government income. ... The legalization of marijuana would also benefit the federal budget in many ways. ... Federal, state and local governments spend about 100 billion dollars a year on law enforcement and criminal justice programs. ... Or, these costs could possibly be applied to the federal portion of budged deficit. ... The number of federal arrests is increasing and may reach as high as 10,000 annually. ...

• Word Count: 1572
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

From then on the government started to crack down and began to embrace drug enforcement. ... Some of those reformers argue that our government bans marijuana not because of the substance that is in it, but because of pleasure that it gives. ... However, federal government warned those physicians that by prescribing marijuana, they might loose federal privileges to write prescriptions for controlled substances, and they might be banned from interacting with federal insurance companies (Berger 1). ... Somehow our government doesn't see millions of examples similar to the ones listed above...

• Word Count: 2489
• Approx Pages: 10
• Has Bibliography

It can also create a whole new source or revenue in taxes to the federal and state governments. ... The Federal and State governments currently have special taxes for tobacco and alcohol. Currently, the Federal tax on tobacco is $0.34 per pack. ... Bureau of Justice Statistics data, MPP calculates that 37,500 federal, state and local inmates were incarcerated for marijuana violations in 1998; 15,400 of them for possession alone. At an average cost of $20,000 each, government spent $750 million to imprison these offenders. ...

• Word Count: 2154
• Approx Pages: 9
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

However federal law supercedes state law and prevents marijuana possession in those states (18). People in individual states are seeing the need for medical marijuana but the medical use of this is being restricted because of federal government intervention. ... Removing the prohibition the government could allow controlled distribution at low prices would make lower the price of drugs. ... If marijuana is legalized the government can circulate it and even put a tax on it. The money would in turn go into the United States Government hands instead of the terrorists. ...

• Word Count: 1609
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

Federal law may prosecute medicinal marijuana consumers, distributors, and cultivators in any state despite the tenth amendment's permission to legalize cannabis under state law (Federal Marijuana Law - Americans for Safe Access). ... The DEA judge recommended that it would be in the publics' interest to legalize cannabis to end the NIDA's monopoly on the supply of cannabis that can be used in FDA-approved research (DEA Judge Calls for Government to End Obstruction of Medical Marijuana Research). Consequently, after so many testimonies and evidence from both sides, the unity of ...

• Word Count: 1412
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

There have been federally funded researchers who have been studying high school students" drug use since the mid 70's. ... Even during the "drug war" of the 80's their were still just as many marijuana users, and marijuana was just as easy to obtain according to the federally funded Monitoring the Future Survey, a consistent number of 85% of out nations high school seniors stated that pot was very easy to obtain. ... Our government consistently spends about 10% of its drug control budget on prevention and education, while 50%-80% is spent on domestic law enforcement. 1) The money ...

• Word Count: 1378
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

It costs the states millions of dollars yearly in keeping marijuana prohibited while decriminalizing it could potentially boost the economy by eliminating costs to incarcerate marijuana users, as well as eradicating government funded programs for alleged marijuana abusers placed there by the criminal justice system as an alternative to prison. ... It costs federal and state government far too much to crack down on marijuana consumers, when funding should be enforced on areas of greater concern, such as education and healthcare. ... Under the federal Higher Education Act, young students are f...

• Word Count: 1553
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

Our state legislature is going against federal law. There are hundreds of Americans using marijuana despite federal law. Who has the right to choose what people can break a federal law. ... But now the government is trying to say that ok you are sick enough so you can break federal law. ... While attending school they are learning about our nations government and its laws. ...

• Word Count: 1892
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: High School

Thirty-six states have already passed legislation to allow marijuana's use as a medicine, but federal law preempts these statutes. ... Van Slambrouck states in the Debate over the Legalization of Marijuana, "The federal government opposes the legalization of marijuana for medical use because it can have harmful repercussions in society because of loosening drug laws. In early August 1999, federal prosecutors won their first case against somebody growing marijuana since California passed it's Medical Marijuana Initiative in 1996. A federal judge in Sacramento, disallowing any consi...

• Word Count: 1318
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

After the government realizes the negative effects it was having on people and their behavior many states passed laws to restrict it. ... However, the federal government still prohibits the use (Green). ... The legalization of marijuana would benefit the federal budget in two ways; the federal revenues would increase, because marijuana cigarettes would be taxed at the point of sale. ... There is always going to be a black market that is ahead of the government....

• Word Count: 1704
• Approx Pages: 7

According to the DEA, the national government spends around $30 billion dollars annually. ... Imprisoning 458,000 people costs our government $9 billion annually. 2. $10 billion a year in prosecutions 3. $10 billion a year in local and federal law enforcement 4. $19 billion for 2002 for anti-drug budget ( High Times Magazine ) Transition: With so many people in our country using marijuana and the government still spending billions a year trying to stop it you would think they would get the point that it is impossible to prevent and that they should realize that thousands are taking it to h...

• Word Count: 1324
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

The purchase and possession of cannabis should be legal in Canada given the documented health benefits, reduction in crime due to the control of cannabis sales, an increase in government revenue, and an overall safer drug under government regulations. ... This would not only benefit individuals, but also the government. ... This totals another $1.5 billion per year spent by the government. ... The federally regulated and sold marijuana would be kept at a regulated Tetrahydrocannabinol level of 11.1 per cent. ... This taxation would bring large profits to the federal and provincial governmen...

• Word Count: 2108
• Approx Pages: 8
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Under federal law, possessing a single joint (or less) of marijuana is punishable by a fine from $1,000 to $10,000 and up to a year in prison .For people on probation or parole for any criminal offense, a marijuana arrest can result in their immediate incarceration. ... Under state and federal law, mere investigation for a marijuana offense can result in the forfeiture of property, including cash, cars, boats, land, and houses. ... An average of 3,677 marijuana offenders has been put in federal prison each year since 1990. ... In the late 1970's law allowed the Dutch government to create ...

• Word Count: 1871
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

In order to gain legislative legitimacy, a series of well-funded studies must be conducted by the government in order to make a conclusion. ... The government sets mandatory sentencing for even the possession of these scheduled drugs. ... Government power specifically protects an individual's autonomy and well-being by preventing other individuals or entities from compromising them. ... The Dutch government decriminalized cannabis in 1976; allowing it to be sold and consumed openly much like the tobacco industry (Gallup 2007). ... Nonviolent drug offenders make up more than 57 percent of ...

• Word Count: 1345
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

She says, "Prohibition takes away our right of sovereignty over our own bodies and gives this power to government. ... (Yarrusso) The government only has a right to limit those choices if the individual's actions endanger someone else. ... The government also may have a right to limit individual actions if the actions pose a significant threat to the individual. ... A prohibition law strikes a blow at the very principles upon which our government was founded " He makes a valid argument. ... In the United States, all levels of government (federal, state, and local authorities) participat...

• Word Count: 1303
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography