+++ Marijuana: Not as Bad as the Media Makes It Out to Be +++ By: DJ Booker OPINION: It really isn’t as bad as it’s made out to be. Many people cannot look at weed with an open mind due to the amounts of propaganda out about it. Many people have a fear of marijuana, and this fear mostly comes from government propaganda and parents. I hope to rid you of any fear that you had of the wacky tobaccy with this article. I also hope to get you to agree with me in the fact that marijuana should be legal. I will start at the root of the problem; the fact that marijuana is illegal. For some reason Marijuana was made illegal back in the beginning of the 20th century, probably because there is no effective way that the government can tax it. No, not because it’s somewhat dangerous and addicting. Alcohol and nicotine are just as bad as weed in terms of personal harm and addiction, but they are not illegal. You can actually die from alcohol poisoning, but I’ve never heard of someone dying from cannabis overdose. Your body gets physically addicted to tobacco, while marijuana isn’t physically addicting in any way. If someone was to get addicted to weed, which is in itself harder than being addicted to nicotine or alcohol, then it would be purely psychological. Also, in my personal experience with both, I have found that I have more self-control when high from marijuana than being drunk The government knows these facts, but has kept marijuana illegal through the DEA. The DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) is responsible for classifying drugs, and classifies marijuana as a Schedule 1 drug. State laws cannot override schedule 1 drugs, so the federal government has complete control of the legality of marijuana. Schedule 1 means “Drugs with high abuse potential and no accepted medical use in the United States.” So in both of these ways the law is being bent. This is because #1 alcohol and tobacco both fit the criteria of being a schedule 1 drug but aren’t illegal and #2 Marijuana DOES have an accepted medical use in the US. The way that the government keeps the masses content with the fact that marijuana is illegal is through propaganda. They use propaganda to induce fear in people and make people think that weed is evil or wrong. Parents also make their kids afraid to smoke weed. They do this partly because many believe in the propaganda, and partly because they don’t want their kid to get in trouble with the law. There was a past situation that worked under a similar system; Nazi Germany. Furthermore, many people believe in the stereotype that most people who smoke pot are lazy teenage burnouts. Well, I know plenty of adults that smoke weed, and I myself am a college student (who gets good grades) who likes to occasionally smoke the happy grass. Like alcohol and tobacco, marijuana is fine in moderation. You are free to make your own opinion and decision on marijuana. However, from my point of view, I don't see anything wrong with trying everything at least once to see if it's for you. However, I highly suggest that if you're going to try it that you know what you're trying and that you're in a remote area so that you cause no harm to others. Know what you're getting yourself into. Because remember kids, ignorance kills. Click here to read about other issues we've featured in the past

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