Should marijuana be Should marijuana be legalized?legalized?

HowHow and and WhenWhen this controversy this controversy startedstarted

Use of marijuana became a problem in the Use of marijuana became a problem in the 1930s in the U.S. 1930s in the U.S.

1937: Laws passed making it a crime to 1937: Laws passed making it a crime to possess or sell marijuanapossess or sell marijuana

This was the same era as PROHIBITIONThis was the same era as PROHIBITION

Continuing ControversyContinuing Controversy Alcohol is now legal for adults over age 21Alcohol is now legal for adults over age 21

People argue about the risks to both one’s People argue about the risks to both one’s health and community associated with health and community associated with marijuana vs. other legal and illegal drugs.marijuana vs. other legal and illegal drugs.

Use of marijuana continues even though it Use of marijuana continues even though it is illegalis illegal

DefinitionsDefinitions

Legalization vs. DecriminalizationLegalization vs. Decriminalization

Legalization: the product would be sold Legalization: the product would be sold legally and taxed in a well-regulated legally and taxed in a well-regulated market (like buying alcohol at the liquor market (like buying alcohol at the liquor store which is controlled by the state)store which is controlled by the state)

Decriminalization: it would no longer be Decriminalization: it would no longer be considered a punishable crime to possess, considered a punishable crime to possess, but sale would still be a punishable but sale would still be a punishable offense.offense.

Recent EventsRecent Events

November 1996: Arizona and California November 1996: Arizona and California voters approved propositions allowing voters approved propositions allowing patients to smoke marijuana for medical patients to smoke marijuana for medical purposes with a doctor's recommendation.purposes with a doctor's recommendation.

Still illegal to possess or sell without Still illegal to possess or sell without doctor’s recommendation. doctor’s recommendation.

Two Sides of the DebateTwo Sides of the Debate

Legalize MarijuanaLegalize Marijuana

More deaths and health risks associated More deaths and health risks associated with legal substances (cigarettes and with legal substances (cigarettes and alcohol) than marijuana usealcohol) than marijuana use

If the government legalized marijuana, it If the government legalized marijuana, it would be better regulated, and taxes could would be better regulated, and taxes could be gathered from its sale. be gathered from its sale.

http://http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?stowww.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyIdryId=9434794=9434794Audio NPR interview on decriminalization of

marijuana (good for background information for “legalize marijuana”) 5:33 (defining decriminalization vs. legalization) What are people’s 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)

Keep Marijuana IllegalKeep Marijuana Illegal

Marijuana is a gateway drug and leads to Marijuana is a gateway drug and leads to the use of more dangerous drugs which the use of more dangerous drugs which would harm our society.would harm our society.

Marijuana negatively affects non-usersMarijuana negatively affects non-users

Health risks outweigh any possible health Health risks outweigh any possible health benefits (which are inconclusive)benefits (which are inconclusive)