Marijuana: Why It's Illegal and Why It Shouldn't Be

Marijuana has long been viewed as a dangerous substance by governments, health organizations, adults, and many more misinformed people. These so-called dangers have been disproved over and over again leaving many doors open for pro-legalization activists to step through. Much like alcohol during the Prohibition of the 1920s, marijuana has been wrongfully banned. The time is ripe for progressivism to once again take hold of such a dispute and see the legalization of a harmless drug.

Marijuana is a naturally grown plant. In its natural state (the state in which it is normally smoked) it is scientifically known as Cannabis sativa (Kowalski 3). Although normally the whole plant is smoked, it is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, that is responsible for the "high" experienced by users (Kowalski 3). In contrast to tobacco, there are many different methods of smoking marijuana. Some of the more common methods include rolling it in cigar paper, rolling it in rolling paper, using a pipe, and using a bong. Over time, the drug has acquired numerous slang terms. Some of these terms are bud, Buddha, ganja, hashish, weed, reefer, pot, grass, Mary Jane, and dope (Erowid). The experience is normally referred to as being stoned, high, blazed, or smacked (Erowid).

Although marijuana is classified as a hallucinogen under United States Federal Law, the effects are not that of a hallucinogen. Its primary effects are strong euphoria, relaxation, and change in perception (Erowid). Marijuana does not have solid physical effects; however the extreme state of euphoria it causes can affect coordination. But that’s enough about what marijuana is exactly. Let me explain the problem at hand.

Possession of marijuana, in the United States, has been made a criminal offense through devious methods. The government’s stance on the matter is as set in stone as abiding by the constitution. Throughout history, even the most liberal presidents have been pressured into opposing the Rastafarian holy plant. Scientists with opposing viewpoints to those of the government have been squelched by threats to remove funding (Nadelmann 3). Government funding has historically been thrown freely at programs seeking to identify the "harmful" effects of marijuana. These programs have done nothing but skew statistics or utilize statistics that obscurely relate to what is being "proven." This will be further discussed. Don’t worry, I’m not leaving you on a line here.

A beautiful example of this government manipulation is the following: In 1996, the former Secretary of Health and Human Services, Donna Shalala made a public statement, "All available research has concluded that marijuana is dangerous to our health." This statement, in the same year, was contested by the Drug Enforcement Agency’s own administrative law judge, Francis Young, who said, "…in its natural form [marijuana] is one of the safest therapeutically active substances