Argumentative essays should acknowledge both pro and con arguments, but emphasize your point of view first of all. It means you have to choose a side and prove it.
Perhaps it is difficult to find another plant around which there would be as much discussion as around cannabis and weed. From the stem of this plant, it is possible to make fibers, from the leaves and the flower by distillation – the essential oil, and from the dried leaves and the dried flower – drugs, namely – marijuana and hashish.
Narcotic and medicinal qualities of cannabis
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) causes a feeling of intoxication while smoking marijuana. THC is considered to be a major psychoactive component of cannabis. Another important component of these plants is cannabidiol (CBD). Cannabidiol doesn’t have a psychiatric effect but is attributed to medicinal qualities. Some people use cannabis, for example, as a painkiller or appetite suppressant. In November 2018, the WHO Expert Committee on Drug Addiction (ECDD) recognized the health damage that cannabis carries, but also recognized its potential for therapeutic and scientific use. So the question is, whether the pros outweigh the cons and how the usage of cannabis should be treated by governments around the world.
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The current situation in the world
There are 44 countries where cannabis is legalized at least partially – on prescription or without it. Among those countries are Germany, Spain, Netherlands, Italy, Czech Republic, France, Portugal, Poland, Greece, Austria, Denmark, Belgium, Norway, as well as Israel, the United Kingdom, USA, and Canada.
The list of countries that have legalized cannabis use is gradually expanding. So, at the end of 2018, the Thai Parliament voted in favor of legalizing marijuana for medical purposes. In the fall of last year, Canadians were granted the right to buy, possess and consume cannabis not only for medical but also for recreational purposes – that is, “for fun.”
The trend towards cannabis legalization is observed in the United States: private usage of marijuana is already allowed in some states, while in others, cannabis can only be purchased on prescription for medical purposes. In Germany, cannabis is allowed to be sold only in pharmacies and only on prescription. In the Netherlands, cannabis has never been fully legalized, but liberal Dutch law is enduring its use. The so-called “coffee shops” can store no more than 500 grams of cannabis at a time and sell no more than 5 grams to one person. An individual may possess no more than 30 grams of marijuana. Cannabis cultivation and wholesale are prohibited in the Netherlands.
Arguments critics have against legalization
Critics of medical cannabis legalization pay attention that it is too early to make any conclusions about its usage, as the long-term side effects of using such drugs are still poorly understood. The effect of medical cannabis in certain diseases has not been sufficiently investigated. Critics also point to the threat of drug addiction for people who use cannabis or drugs based on it. So, before legalizing medical cannabis, it is necessary to conduct a thorough study of its effects on human health and clinical trials of appropriate drugs.
Why cannabis should be legalized
- Medical usage. The list of diseases and conditions in which medical cannabis is practiced is simply striking: Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, chronic pain, irritable bowel syndrome, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy in adults and children, nausea and vomiting due to chemotherapy, in the case of post-traumatic and glaucoma syndromes Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s chorea, herpes, ulcers, weight loss during AIDS, diabetic neuropathy, various forms of sclerosis.
- Industrial usage. Technical hemp can be used extremely efficiently in the fuel and energy sector: coal, methanol, methane, and gasoline can be obtained from hemp seeds and stems. In this case, the combustion of fuel based on hemp does not produce sulfur.
Hemp coal can be burned at power plants, and methanol is an efficient car fuel used for racing cars. You can also use hemp seed oil, which can run on modern diesel engines.
Hemp bioplastics have a much higher strength factor than steel. At the same time, such plastic is able to decompose much faster under the action of microorganisms and does not pollute the environment.
Hemp products are made of environmentally friendly building material (slabs, thermal insulation, concrete filler, etc.). Buildings constructed from these materials are energy-efficient counterparts.
Conclusion
The legalization of cannabis should not be seen as opening doors straight to hell, making people drug-addicted, endangering society, etc. It is a reasonable move for any conscious government, like cannabis, or hemp, can be successfully used in many industries, and medical is only one of them. Cannabis is perfect as a replacement for plastic in many cases; it is eco-friendly and doesn’t pollute the environment. While it is true that medical usage of cannabis is still not investigated enough, the government should not be afraid to invest in such research, as it has great potential and can take millions of people out of their misery. Cannabis has huge economic potential as a market, which can be profitable for all sorts of specialists – from farmers and researchers to IT specialists and chemists.
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