Legalizing Marijuana

8 Pages 2103 Words

Mainstream vs. Alternative Media; who do we believe? The Journal of Media Studies Writer Discussion of the legalization of marijuanabrings up two main issues, those who are pro- marijuana and those who are anti- marijuana. These issues have beencovered by both
mainstream and alternative media, mainstream being pro, and alternative beinganti.Thesetwo factions have been
arguing over this issue in the halls of justice for many years. Because most of theamericansociety is mainly
exposed to only mainstream media, they are not aware of other factors of legalizingmarijuana that alternative media
covers. The problem caused by this lack of exposure, is that the public may be deprived
of the truth, and may be
led to believe facts that are not true. Marijuana and Medicine Both pro and anti-
marijuana groups have discussed
whether or not marijuana can be used for medicinal purposes. Mainstream groups do not
believe that there are any
convincing reasons to make marijuana a treatment to sick patients. Their position is
that
marijuana can have harmful
long-term effects. The Anti-Legalization Forum explains that some of these effects are:
impairment of the immune
system due to the inability of T-cells to battle off diseases, delaying puberty in both
males
and females, and
unhealthy and smaller children born to women who used marijuana during pregnancy. The
Drug Enforcement
Administration believes that since marijuana is not accepted by any American health
associations, there is no reason
to legalize the drug. They think that the main reason why pro marijuana advocates use
the
medical use argument is
because the uninformed public can be easily convinced to support the movement. Simply
not enough evidence
proves that marijuana can be used medically (Claim V). Unlike the D.E.A., lobbying
groups such as the Cannabis
Action Network and the Indiana Civil Liberties Union, believe that marijuana is a
beneficial herb...