Such legal drugs as alcohol have been a part of Western civilization for nearly 3,000 years along with tobacco for over 400 years, which causes more deaths than marijuana. Coffee is the most widely used psychoactive drug beverage in the world. In 1999, the average consumption of coffee was 3.5 cups per day per U.S. citizen. So why is marijuana illegal? It started with late President Ronald Reagan and Vice President George Bush during their second term in office and proceeded on into President George Bush's and President Bill Clinton's office. The American people were now under the impression that this drug was the number one problem facing society-beating out the economy, violent crimes, poverty, illiteracy, domestic abuse, and TV violence. I do not believe there is any reason that marijuana should be illegal. The government has done studies, but what they say does not support the real evidence. There is an abundance of evidence out there as to why marijuana should or should not be legalized. Personally, as never smoked marijuana, I think that it should not be illegal. There are far worse drugs and other societal issues for the government and law enforcement agencies to worry about.
The long history of Marijuana can be dated back to manuscripts from 2700 B.C. in China. Jamestown settlers recorded the first nurturing of the plant in 1611, since they use hemp from the plants fibers to make rope and canvas. It was introduced by the English where it became a commercial crop next to tobacco; however, during this time hemp was used more for survival than for any other purpose. Later in history, our own government, during the Second World War subsided hemp and U.S. farmers grew about a million acres as part of that program. Hemp is a highly durable plant fiber, which provided numerous uses to American consumers and manufacturers.
What I remember growing up being a child of the 80's, is that drugs are bad.
