Should Marijuana Be Legalized - 1542 Words

Marijuana is a very controversial issue, but even more controversial is the use during pregnancy. There is no definitive answer to whether it should be used or not. Marijuana is known to have many medical uses but is still seen as a dangerous drug. The use of marijuana during pregnancies should be studied more thoroughly and, if the results are positive, should be looked at as a valid form of relief for mothers with symptoms. Since europeans first traveled to America in the 1600s, marijuana has been grown in the United States. King James I had every colonist grow 100 plants to be exported back to Europe for textiles. George Washington and Thomas Jefferson had also been known to grow marijuana on their plantations. The 1850s were the first†¦show more content†¦Along with exaggerating the dangers of marijuana, it falsely informed americans of the effects of the drug. The Uniform State Narcotics Act of 1932 gave legislation control of the regulation of marijuana. The Great Depression also caused the view of marijuana to go down even more as it became looked at as a problem with more people using it than ever with unemployment at an all time high. The government claimed smoking marijuana was associated with criminal activity and committed by â€Å"racially inferior or underclass communities.† In the 1950s, the Boggs Act and Narcotics Control Act set mandatory sentences for drug-related offense s. The Controlled Substances Act of 1970 classified marijuana as â€Å"having high potential for abuse, no medical use, and not safe without medical supervision† in response to the counter-culture of the 1960s and 70s. The CSA regulated the manufacturing, importing, possession, use and distribution of cannabis. Since that time, the decriminalization of marijuana has been a present issue of debate in America as well as many other countries. It has been found to have medicinal uses and it is increasingly popular recreationally. If history shows anything, it’s that marijuana isn’t going anywhere and that the criminalization of it was in response to an exaggerated fear. One of the