but only under government supervision (Schmid).The controversy over the legalization of marijuana is still today a political and social battle (Nadelmann). While the majority of the public would like to see it decriminalized and legalized; the government disagrees. Although many people would like it to be, the government is not based entirely on opinion polls (Schmid).A sizable group of people feel that marijuana is a safe, natural, and herbal product and that as responsible adults they should have their right to use it . Also, some doctors feel strongly that there are valid medicinal purposes.One the other side of this matter involves people who believe that even though marijuana may not be more injurious than the already legal alcohol, tobacco, and the easily attainable prescription drugs such as Prozac, Zoloft, and Valium, our society does not need yet another legal psychoactive drug and its accompaniment of problems.Works CitedEldredge, Dirk Chase. “ Q: Would Legalizing Drugs Serve America’s Best Interest? Yes: Take Huge Profits Away from Criminals and Invest the Money in Harm Reduction.” Insight on the News 14 Sept. 1998: 24. CD-ROM. Newsbank. Jan 1999.McCollum, Bill. “ Q: Would Legalizing Drugs Serve American’s National Interest? No: Don’t Wave the White Flag yet, a True War on Drugs has yet to be Launched.” Insight on the News 14 Sept. 1998: 25. CD-ROM. Newsbank. Jan 1999.Nadelmann, Ethan A. “ Commonsense Drug Policy.” Foreign Affairs Jan/Feb 1998: 111-127. CD-ROM. Newsbank. Jan. 1999.Schmid, Randolph. “ Study: Marijuana Helps Fight Pain.” The Associated Press 17 March 1999. AOL....
