To Wrap It Up!

When first starting this assignment I wanted to pick a topic I was not that familiar with so I could research and learn more about, to make an educated opinion on the topic. I chose to research and blog about the legalization of marijuana. It is a very controversial issue, and I wanted to learn more about it! The book I read was Legalizing Marijuana by Paul Ruschmann which was perfect for my topic! It provided lots of points and counterpoints to the legalization debate.My interview with Officer Bryan Morgan was very enlightening and gave me a new perspective on the issue of legalization. One thing that surprised me the most to learn was that you cannot overdose on marijuana. I have always thought that it was possible to overdose, but it is definitely impossible to do!( I do not suggest you try and be that one exception and overdoes…because it is not going to happen, sorry.) I learned tons of facts about marijuana, how it affects your health, and the benefits of using it for medical purposes.
After researching for the past month on the debate of the legalization of marijuana I have come to the conclusion that I do not think it should be made legal. I believe it should be illegal because it could potentially harm innocent civilian lives, it is a gateway drug, and morally wrong. However, I do believe it should be prescribed to suffering patients as an alternative treatment.

I wish I could of interviewed more people on the subject of legalization. For example, either a senator or marijuana expert.I also felt like I did not find very many strong arguments for the legalization that could of persuaded my opinion. I should of looked harder for better articles. Overall I really enjoyed this project and found it gave me an opportunity to blog about something I chose and was actually interested in!

Interview With Police Officer Bryan Morgan

I met Officer Bryan Morgan through my mother who grew up in Trussville with him. I called Officer Morgan and asked him a few questions about his opinion on the legalization of marijuana. He said that he did not under any circumstance believe that marijuana should be legal. He was against the use of medical marijuana because he said that "there are other ways to treat an illness without sinking as low at to use marijuana"(Morgan). I asked Officer Morgan if he had ever made an arrest for marijuana posession and he chuckled and said that is probably one of the most common arrests he makes in Sylacauga. From that statement I asked Officer Morgan if he ever made an arrest solely based on race. He replied and said that "when I am patrolling and doing my job I do not discriminate against anyone...the law is the law"(Morgan).

Officer Morgan gave me a different perspective from a cop's point of view. Everything he said just reaffirmed everything I already believed. He was very down to point and strait with his answers. A very intimidating guy, that is for sure! I did not know that marijuana posession arrests were all that common in the state of Alabama, but I found out from Officer Morgan that is not the case by any means. I really liked getting to research a topic then talk to someone who is well educated on the subject, it helps you form a better opinion on the topic.

Bryan Morgan. Telephone Interview. 4 May 2010.

Why Some Americans Believe Marijuana Should Be Legal

In the article "The Top Ten Reasons Why Marijuana Should Be Legal" by Devon Hauger he states that marijuana should be made legal for several reasons. The first is that prohibition has failed to end all the production of marijuana. Second, more marijuana arrests that are made are based on prejudiced police officers. Blacks and Hispanics are more likely to be arrested and charged, suggesting that the law is biased. Third, having a regulated market for marijuana would reduce marijuana sales and use among teenagers, as well as reduce their exposure to other drugs in the illegal market. Fourth, legalizing marijuana would dramatically reduce the amount of illegal money being gained by international criminal gangs in the drug business. Fifth, marijuana being legal would mean that hemp could rise to become one of America's top agricultural crops and also be a possible bio-fuel to reduce carbon emissions. Sixth, marijuana is not a lethal drug and is actually safer that alcohol. Hauger states that "As a user myself, I have in the past six years never once found any sort of dependence to marijuana"(Hauger). Seventh, being able to tax marijuana sales would mean a surplus of revenues that could be spent to good use, like education. Eighth, marijuana can also be used for good, like being used as a medical prescribed pain reliever. Last, the users of marijuana believe it should be legal so much that they are not going to quit fighting the justice system until marijuana is made legal.

I think that everything stated in this article made a clear, convincing point. However, I do not believe the points made were strong enough to have the law changed. No matter what the restraints placed on anything, there will always be people who will still break the law. I think the statement that the law enforcement system is biased is completely an opinion. I believe that not every cop is going to be prejudice against minorities. Just because one cop somewhere made a prejudice arrest does not mean that all cops are racially biased. Although making marijuana legal wold theoretically reduce money the international gangs make, I think the gangs would find other ways to make the lost money back so it would not be a gain for Americans. Just because it is sager than alcohol does not mean it cannot still be abused. Since marijuana is a newer drug to most Americans than alcohol, I think people would abuse it more. It would bring in more revenues for schools but i think risking lives is not worth the extra money. And for the supporters of marijuana...well they should not rally with pitchforks and posters anytime soon, because I do not think marijuana will be legalized anytime soon. I do however think it is a positive to have it as a means of medication but that is it.

"The Top Ten Reasons Marijuana Should Be Legal." Alter Net(2007):n. pag. Web. 21 Apr 2010. .

Multimedia number three on Marijuana Legalization

In this video country singer Willie Nelson voices his support for the legalization of marijuana. Nelson is a known user of marijuana. He believes that as people become more educated about marijuana, how it grows, medical purposes and what is should be used for that it will definitely become legalized. He does not believe that it should be used by younger ages. Nelson states that "If marijuana is used responsibly then there really is no harm involved"(Nelson).

I did not really think Willie Nelson went too in depth on why marijuana should be legalized. This video to me was just more of him being a celebrity spokesman speaking to advertise the marijuana legalization cause. I do not see how learning how marijuana grows would affect my opinion on whether or not it should be legalized anyway. I do agree with him that it should be used for medical purposes as an alternate treatment. Like he mentioned in the video marijuana is successful in the prevention against nausea and other things.

"Willie Nelson Advocates For The Legalization Of Marijuana ." YouTube. Web. 13 May 2010. .