Analysis

At the beginning of my blog I just knew that I thought legalization of marijuana was a good thing. Through the course of my blog I have found that there are many reasons that legalization is a good thing. For example, it helps with Alzheimer's, Cancer, and AIDS. Many other people support legalizing marijuana, though there are many that don't. I haven't spoken much on the people who are against it, but there reasoning is that marijuana is a gateway drug, and that it is not beneficial to health. On of the most well organized arguments for the legalization of marijuana can be found at the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. This website has arguments that I have not covered. I have learned to consider the other side's arguments and understand that they have valid points but I still think that there are more pros than cons. I have also not used a emotion based appeal for the most part, although the beginning has more emotion in it than the end. It was my goal to stay strictly with facts and research that I have done. Marijuana is one of the most controversial issues today simply because both sides have valid points. The government is still seeing the side non-legalization but that will with time hopefully change. With all of the benefits of medical marijuana it is hard to think that the legalization of marijuana will not occur one day. Some states and even cities are already taking that step. I hope that through reading my blog I have been able to convince or at least persuade you to think about legalizing marijuana, I know for me writing the blog had been very informative and it is my wish that it has been the same for you.

The Class

So as you may or may not know, I am doing this for a class project and there are some pretty awesome blogs out there. One of my personal favorites is another blog for the legalization of marijuana. He covers marijuana and legalization from a medical since as well. He covers some of the things that I don't and it's a very good read. Another very well written blog is about mainstreaming education. Though I do not necessarily agree with the stance the author takes the way that she presents her argument alone makes this blog worth the read. The author argues that if education is mainstreamed and special ed was done away with the students that would be in special ed would do better then they do now with the system as it is. A blog that also presents a well written argument is one that is for stem cell research. Reading this blog has helped me solidify my opinions on stem cell research. Through her arguments it is easy to see why stem cell research should be supported and the benefits that can come from it.

Funny Quote

“[Marijuana] is not a drug. It’s a leaf.”

- California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger

so it made me happy, but it does bring up an interesting point, marijuana is simply an herb, one with not so devastating consequences that is obviously under review in California because as this blog points out its medical benefits are enormous!

Implications of the Marijuana Problem

If the decision to legalize marijuana is not resolved people are still going to use it. Some will use it for medical reasons while others, like they do now will use it for the high. If the situation is resolved in favor of legalization people who need marijuana and who will benefit by it will get there benefits, but people who are against marijuana will not be happy. Either way the decision is made people will not be happy. Somebodies feelings are going to get hurt. Though some people think that there is no question whether or not legalization in a good thing, this is an issue that needs to be re-examined now that some of the benefits of marijuana for medical purposes are known.

Some links that I find helpful

My side:These are some websites that I have used that helped me come to my conclusion that legalizing marijuana for medicine is a good thing.This website norml.org/ is really good for finding out about some of the legal issues that have come up throughout the fight for legalizing marijuana. This website shows some of the ways that marijuana can help people that have illnesses deal with both the illness and its side effects. www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Support/
This is another good website dealing with some of the uses for medical marijuana.
www.projinf.org/fs/marijuana.html
This website talks about what got me interested in this subject, the way that marijuana helps people who have Alzheimer's.
www.webmd.com/alzheimers/news/20061006/marijuana-may-slow-alzheimers
This is a list of the medical benefits marijuana has.
www.cnn.com/HEALTH/9702/weed.wars/facts/medicinal.users/index.html
Other side: These websites do not support the legalization of medical marijuana, instead they are against it.
This website is a website for teens and young adults warning them about the dangers of marijuana, some of the things they are saying directly contradicts the other research that I have done.
www.kidsgrowth.com/resources/articledetail.cfm?id=377
This website is against legalization but some of the things on there are crazy. It says that drugs and violence go hand in hand with pictures of terrorists, it seems to me that the site is implying that if one uses marijuana one will become a terrorist.
www.usdoj.gov/dea/demand/speakout/index.html
This website simply argues against legalization with some facts that while they appear to be scientific contradict a lot of the other things I have read.
findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1282/is_n12_v42/ai_9119707
For and against: This is a really good website that includes both reasons for and against the legalization of marijuana.
www.balancedpolitics.org/marijuana_legalization.htm#no
Facts: This is a website that provides you with facts and figures although it is from the government that is against legalization so you have to wonder if they are leaving out what could be there for legalization.
www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/drugfact/marijuana/index.html

Theory

Theory...everyone has one and unfortunately I am going to subject you, the reader, to mine. I think that marijuana should be made into a drug, like morphine, one that you need a prescription to get. I realize that it will still be used illegally but the people who need it will have access to it without having to fear the law. Legalization became such a huge debate when research was done to show all that marijuana could do to help people who were suffering. Until that time there had been no question that once marijuana was illegal, it simply was. In order to close the debate concessions need to be made by both sides. The side against needs to realize that marijuana is not all bad but the side for needs to realize that there are some pitfalls to marijuana. I think that this is an issue that can be resolved in a way that will make both sides happy.

Alzheimer's

Alzheimer's is an illness that is one of the most devastating in the world today. It is a terminal illness of the brain. An interesting fact that many people don't know is that marijuana can slow the effects of Alzheimer's. It can actually prevent some of the inflammation in the brain which causes the forgetfulness associated with Alzheimer's. Marijuana can also give the munchies which causes people to eat. People who have Alzheimer's do not want to eat so buy smoking they would want to eat and increase there longevity.