Devin Conboy

Eng 111
Argument Paper Draft 2

Why is marijuana against the law? It grows naturally upon our

planet. Doesnt the idea of making nature against the law seem a bit
unnatural? These are the words of comedian and social critic Bill
Hicks. When you think about those words he spoke, it does seem a bit
unnatural to outlaw and ban something as natural as an herb, doesnt
it? For over 50 years, the government has waged a war against
marijuana. Now that we are in the beginnings of the 21st century, we
are starting to see change with how the public, and even governments
see marijuana. Today, on multiple polls, around half of the questioned
public support legalization of marijuana. Unfortunately, the side that
supports the continued ban of the drug tends to be the more vocal and
powerful half of the argument. Unfortunately, this half fails to
comprehend the good that this natural herb can do to the public.
When marijuana grew in popularity in the 1960s during the era of
hippies and woodstock, the government reacted in turn with laws
arresting people using it. The US Drug Enforcement Agency even
labeled marijuana as a schedule I drug, meaning in their view,
marijuana has no medical or medicinal properties while also having a
high potential for drug abuse. The DEA put this drug in the same

category as chemically manufactured ecstasy, and the more addictive

and dangerous heroin. They even classified more proven dangerous
drugs such as cocaine and crystal meth less dangerous than
marijuana. Fortunately, as we grow as a society and a country, proof of
the good that marijuana can bring is slowly starting to emerge to the
public.
For example, famed neurosurgeon and CNN Chief Medical
Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta is known for publicly criticizing and
speaking out against marijuana, believing it to have no known medical
benefits. Recently, he spoke out and apologized to the public after
learning of other nations research on the health benefits the herb
offers. It is even clinically proven that marijuana, when used
medicinally, helps reduce the symptoms of PTSD in returning troops
from overseas. Marijuana has also reduced the number of seizures in
patients, with one case of a woman having 300 seizures a week prior
to her use of marijuana, then reducing it to 3 a month after using it. In
fact, marijuana was classified as a schedule I drug due to a letter
from a previous Secretary of Health written in 1970, decades before
actual research took place. Unfortunately, due to the stigma of the
War on Drugs that the government raged, as well as the lack of
funded science in the United States on the herb, there has been an
almost permanent stigma on the view of marijuana.
For years, the public view on drugs, no doubt influenced by

government funded campaigns against it, resulted in the nation

believing that marijuana was as dangerous as other harmful drugs.
Such misconceptions are that marijuana will rot your brain, or
marijuana reduces intelligence. Other conceptions are that while
under the influence of marijuana, youre a danger to yourself and
others in public. These beliefs and claims are actually unfounded,
based on no scientific proof. In fact, alcohol has been proven more
dangerous than marijuana. While still illegal in states where marijuana
is legalized, operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of
marijuana is less dangerous than operating a motor vehicle while
under the influence of alcohol. Alcohol reduces reaction time, and blurs
vision. You can probably see how dangerous it is to drive while drunk,
since youre unable to control your car or avoid others when your
vision is impaired and your reaction time is delayed. Marijuana,
however, shows no such symptoms. While still illegal, marijuana has
actually proven to be less harmful than alcohol, even when it comes to
crime.