mary jane's stand

            
            
            
            
            
            
             Headlines are captured nationwide concerning the allowance of marijuana for medical usage. However, there is also an ongoing, quieter campaign to legalize marijuana for recreational use. Canada and Britain have recently taken major steps toward reassessing their anti-marijuana laws, following the lead of most European countries. In the United States, proposals to ease the penalties for marijuana use and possession will appear on the ballot in November in at least three different states. The legalization of marijuana is quite a controversial topic, since the general attitude of our country is one of "status-quo" conservatism. Three basic stances on the issue of legalization include those who feel marijuana should stay prohibited, those who feel marijuana should be completely decriminalized, and those who feel a middle ground should be reached by permitting usage for medical purposes only. Because of the many different stances concerning marijuana and the reality that it is a rising issue, key questions become evident. Should whether or not an individual chooses to possess and/or use marijuana be a personal choice, not subject to criminal penalties? What are the cultural risks involved, and is legalization deemed to be positive or negative?.
             Some of the main concerns about altering drug policy in favor of marijuana include the impact it would have on society, especially the youth, discouraging legalization completely. A popular opinion is that greater accessibility would corrupt minds by undermining marijuana's status as a harmful drug and thus promote usage. Non-supporters concentrate heavily on the detrimental effects marijuana has on physical and mental health. Their opposition rebuts this by simply pointing out the existence of more harmful substances that are celebrated in our culture, and the fact that humans are imperfect and susceptible to danger at every turn. This leads to the viewpoint that investigates potential hypocrisy concerning drugs and the law.