The issue of the legalization of marijuana is a lingering debate that has been around for years. In this essay, I will prove the benefits of marijuana and propose a solution to the debate. There are many reasons why someone might think marijuana should be illegal and there are even more reasons why marijuana should be legal here in the US. The medicinal use of marijuana is currently legal in six states and there are more to follow. As strong as the debate is for the legalization of medical marijuana, the legalization of recreational marijuana is just as evident. .
Ever since the "Marijuana Tax Act of 1937" marijuana has been illegal in the United States. When the law was passed there was virtually no opposition against it and there were no surveys or scientific studies that aided this decision made by congress. Congress approved the "Marijuana Tax Act of 1937" based almost entirely on propaganda and misinformation (NORML- executive summary). During the 1920's and thirties, marijuana earned its reputation as an intoxicant. Tabloid newspapers and the newly founded Federal Bureau of Narcotics popularized exaggerated accounts of violent crimes committed by immigrants (intoxicated by marijuana). Since then, marijuana has achieved widespread use by Americans and has become the source of an apparent controversy in our society. The cause for this controversy is a more liberal and modern society and the fact that marijuana has become the middle class drug. Other substantial causes for this controversy are the reported medicinal values of marijuana, the argument of whether or not it is a gateway drug, and the public opinion of nations where the drug is tolerated. .
Society has evidently become more liberal towards marijuana use in the past sixty years. When marijuana was first made illegal, it was viewed as debauchery committed by the lowest of social classes. These social classes were identified in propaganda as immigrant Mexican farm workers and the unclean Negro jazz communities.