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Marijuana Legalization

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Marijuana Legalization
Legalization
Ariel Bryant
Mr. Elsey
ENC 1101
3/12/2013

Relieving pain, slowing the onset of Alzheimer’s disease, and fighting depression are some of the benefits marijuana can offer patients, some studies claim. Now, a group of pot activists is envisioning a new benefit: legal profits.
Marijuana is the dried blossom of cannabis sativa and cannabis indica plants, leafy annual plants with parts that are used for as herbs, animal food, medicine and as hemp for rope-making. "The flowers... contain psychoactive and physiologically active chemical compounds known as cannabinoids that are consumed for recreational, medicinal, and spiritual purposes," (White, 2013)
Before the 20th century, cannabis plants in the U.S. were relatively unregulated, and marijuana was a common ingredient in medicines.Recreational use of marijuana was thought to have been introduced in the U.S. early in the 20th century by immigrants from Mexico. In the 1930s, marijuana was linked publicly in several research studies, and via a famed 1936 film named "Reefer Madness," to crime, violence, and anti-social behavior. (White, 2013)
Many believe that objections to marijuana first rose sharply as part of the U.S. temperence movement against alcohol. Others claimthat marijuana was initially demonized partly due to fears of the Mexican immigrants associated with the drug. (White, 2013)
In the 21st century, marijuana is illegal in the U.S. ostensibly due to moral and public health reasons, and because of continuing concern over violence and crime associated with production and distribution of the drug. (White, 2013)
The Election Day proposition that legalized small amounts of marijuana for personal use in Colorado and Washington. The states will also provide data on how much money the marijuana trade makes, a number that’s been hard to determine due to drug laws that ban the possession and sale of marijuana. (Stone, 2012)
In 2010, CNBC reported that the marijuana business in America grossed



References: Stone, J. (2012, November 17). Marijuana legalization benefits now include profit potential for wall street investors: Report. Retrieved from http://www.ibtimes.com/marijuana-legalization-benefits-now-include-profit-potential-wall-street-investors-report-887146 Pro 's of marijuana legalization . (2013). Retrieved from http://marijuanatoday.com/pros.php White, D. (2013). Pros & cons of legalizing marijuana . Retrieved from http://usliberals.about.com/od/patriotactcivilrights/i/MarijuanaProCon.htm

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