Chapter 2: Should Marijuana be Legalized? pp.36-38
· Take a side either pro or con that you believe is stronger.Â
· Your assignment should be 750-1000 words and formatted using APA format.
· At least two sources should be used to support your position (In addition to those provided)Â
· Do some research to add support to position that adds to the sources and information from the text.Â
· Be sure to cite your sources correctly. Â
Crime and Criminal Justice Concepts and Controversies, Malicoat (Sage Publications, 2nd ed.)
Current Controversy 2.1 Should Marijuana Be Legalized?
—Clayton Mosher and Scott Akins—
Where do you stand? Cast Your Vote!
Introduction
Globally, it is estimated that 183 million people used marijuana in the past year,30 and in the United States, close to half of all residents are estimated to have used marijuana at least once in their lifetime. Between 1980 and 2017, several million people were arrested for marijuana offenses in the United States, the overwhelming majority for simple possession of the substance. While marijuana arrests have been declining in recent years (with legalization of the substance in nine states), in 2016 there were approximately 1.5 million people arrested for drug-related offenses in the United States, and 587,700 of these were for simple possession of marijuana.31 Marijuana possession arrests accounted for over 5% of all arrests in 2016, and there were more arrests for marijuana possession than for all crimes the Federal Bureau of Investigation classifies as violent. There is also tremendous racial disparity in marijuana arrests—even though Black people and Whites are estimated to use marijuana at roughly equivalent rates, Black people are almost 4 times more likely to be arrested for marijuana offenses than Whites.32
CON: Marijuana Should Not Be Legalized
Under the Controlled Substances Act, passed as part of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970 (and still in effect today), marijuana is classified as a Schedule I drug (along with heroin, MDMA [ecstasy], and PCP, among other substances). A Schedule I substance is defined as a drug that has “a high potential for abuse, no medical use in the United States, and a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision.â€33
Most states created legislation prohibiting marijuana use over the 1900–1930 period, and in 1937, marijuana was effectively banned at the federal level with the passage of the Marijuana Tax Act. This was largely in response to the efforts of Harry Anslinger and the Federal Bureau of Narcotics (FBN, essentially the precursor to the current Drug Enforcement Administration), who engaged in a concerted cam
