Why Marijuana Should Be Lgalized

According to archeologists, the cannabis plant was among the first crops purposely cultivated by human beings at least 6,000 years ago and perhaps even more than 12,000 years ago. It is considered by many to be one of the most resourceful crops on earth. It can be used for industrial, medical, and recreational purposes. Rather than waging war on marijuana users, this resourceful crop should be legalized and utilized.

The cannabis sativa plant produces more protein, oil, and fiber than any other plant on earth. In fact, it can be used to produce more than 5,000 textile products ranging from rope to paper. Aside from being resourceful, it is also very nutritious. According to Dr. Udo Erasmus, "hempseed oil is the most perfectly balanced source of plant nutrition available." "Rudolph Diesel invented the diesel engine to run on hempseed oil because any diesel engine can run without modification on unrefined hempseed oil, and hempseed could be amongst the most productive seed-oil crops by a ratio of perhaps three-to-one in comparison to the most productive alternatives", according to reports from Notre Dame University. Furthermore, studies show that an acre of hemp will produce 300 gallons of oil that can be used for either food or fuel. With so many uses, why does the federal government still forbid the cultivation of cannabis?

Marijuana is much safer, more effective, and less costly than many alternative medicines currently in use. DEA Administrative law judge, Francis L. Young ruled in 1988 that "Marijuana in its natural form is one of the safest therapeutically active drugs known to man". In 1990, 48 percent of doctors surveyed by the American Society of Clinical Oncology said they would prescribe marijuana if it were legal. Another 30 percent said they would need more information before prescribing it, and only 22 percent said they would not use prescribe it. 44 percent of the doctors admitted to actually recommending smoking marijuana to cancer patients to combat nausea associated with chemotherapy. Furthermore, studies show that the smoking of marijuana, even long term, is not harmful to health. So the question arises again, why won't the federal government legalize marijuana?

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