Weed, pot, reefer, grass, dope, hash, herb, Mary Jane, ganja, skunk, boom, kif, gangster; these are all common names for the drug marijuana. Marijuana is the most widely used illicit drug in the United States, which makes it a problem. Certain officials believe that legalizing this potentially harmful drug will solve the problems that are associated with it. But that is not true. In fact, legalizing marijuana would only make the situation much worse. Although many people argue both sides, it seems to come down to the question of “what will the people actually use this substance for?” Some say medical purposes, others say just for a quick high, but, no matter what way you look at it, marijuana is dangerous and it is not something Americans should have freely being distributed on their streets.Arguments have been made that if marijuana is legalized then the gang wars and drug money killings that go on will stop, along with the black market and criminal activities that are related to drug sales and use. In actuality, most cases of drug related violence and crime are “committed not only because people want to buy drugs, but more often because people use drugs” (Claim I 1). Drugs alter a person’s behaviors, which initiates criminal activity. Police officers can attest to the fact that the use of drugs is often associated with violent crime behavior, not necessarily selling or buying them. In the long run, legalization will lead to increased availability, which will lead to increased use. I Increased drug use will make the statistics regarding drug related crimes increase; even if the drugs were bought legally. The Black market wouldn’t go away either. If the United States legalizes marijuana, they are, going to have to establish a set age for buying marijuana, and a certain potency that it can have. If marijuana were legal for persons over the age of 18, for example, then the drug traffickers would go af...
