Should marijuana be legalized?

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Should marijuana be legalized?
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How and When this controversy started

• Use of marijuana became a problem in the 1930s in
  the U.S.
• 1937 Laws passed making it a crime to possess
  or sell marijuana
• This was the same era as PROHIBITION

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Continuing Controversy

• Alcohol is now legal for adults over age 21
• People argue about the risks to both ones health
  and community associated with marijuana vs. other
  legal and illegal drugs.
• Use of marijuana continues even though it is
  illegal

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Definitions

• Legalization vs. Decriminalization
• Legalization the product would be sold legally
  and taxed in a well-regulated market (like buying
  alcohol at the liquor store which is controlled
  by the state)
• Decriminalization it would no longer be
  considered a punishable crime to possess, but
  sale would still be a punishable offense.

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Recent Events

• November 1996 Arizona and California voters
  approved propositions allowing patients to smoke
  marijuana for medical purposes with a doctor's
  recommendation.
• Still illegal to possess or sell without doctors
  recommendation.

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Two Sides of the Debate
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Legalize Marijuana

• More deaths and health risks associated with
  legal substances (cigarettes and alcohol) than
  marijuana use
• If the government legalized marijuana, it would
  be better regulated, and taxes could be gathered
  from its sale.

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• http//www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?story
  Id9434794

Audio NPR interview on decriminalization of
marijuana (good for background information for
legalize marijuana) 533 (defining
decriminalization vs. legalization) What are
peoples opinions about legalizing marijuana?
What does legalizing marijuana have to do with
Prohibition? Why would alcohol and cigarette
companies become involved if marijuana were to
become legalized? (on your own)
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Keep Marijuana Illegal

• Marijuana is a gateway drug and leads to the use
  of more dangerous drugs which would harm our
  society.
• Marijuana negatively affects non-users
• Health risks outweigh any possible health
  benefits (which are inconclusive)

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