Marijuana should not be treated with such strong laws and paranoia. There are many reasons to further investigate its possibilities for improving life, and there are plenty of options for changing the current laws and penalties involved with its spend. The ramifications would not be as dire as believed, either. After I explain a general overview of this drug & its history, I will go through the current laws & its fallacies, as well as theories concerning gateways, the truth about its health effects, and then end with ideas about the changes that should be made, and concluding proof as to why.

If we begin by looking at some of its history and most basic facts, we will see where there is much room to further investigate the truth about marijuana. Cannabis Sativa, (scientific name) is a plant that actually has two completely separate plants, male and female. Male plants are not usually the ones to be smoked, but used for hemp products, which have actually helped the world throughout history. With only about .15% THC, hemp has been used throughout time, (including some of the earliest examples) to form fiber, cloth, paper, food, soap, shampoos, and oils (Earleywine). The female plant is the one which produces seeds (also used as food) and is usually used in the various methods of getting “high” as its THC snort is usually around 2% (Earleywine). There is evidence that marijuana has been used in many ways as early as 4500 years ago. Medical marijuana has been used all over the world for at least 2400 years (Earleywine).

Marijuana is said to be the most current drug affecting the United States today, aside from the legal ones, of course. Surveys, which due to inhibitions that may either cause or prevent someone from honestly, gives only general numbers, have been taken multiple times. In 1979, which was the peak of the “hippy” era, surveys showed that approximately 68% of Americans age 18-25 had smoked marijuana at least once. In 1999, that number dropped to about 52%, but it also showed that 19% of teenagers 12-17 had already tried marijuana (Earleywine). As alarming as these numbers may seem, one must take in to consideration that the percentage of these people that actually decided to smoke regularly, is much lower. Only 5% of the numbers in 1999 that had ever smoked, reported that they had also smoked within the last month. In 1996, only 3% reported use within the last week. As a rough estimate, since many smoke less and some more, at a rate of 9% of Americans smoking, there is approximately 2-3 ounces of 'weed' consumed per user per year (Earleywine).

The term “addiction” is not used nearly as often as it old to be. This is in major part due to not only it becoming considered a medical condition or disease, but because of the stereotypical stigma that has been tied to the term over the years. Dependence is the pleasant term in most cases, which psychologically is defined by a person showing at least 3 out of 7 symptoms. These symptoms must have created meaningful distress in the person, and all have occurred in the same year. The list of these are as follows: tolerance, withdrawal, use exceeds initial intention, persistent desire or failed attempts to decrease consumption, loss of time related to employ of drug, reduced activities due to consumption, and continued utilize despite problems. For dependence to be considered an actual physiological diagnosis or “disease”, one must present either tolerance to the drug, withdrawal from it, or both (Earleywine).

The term of drug “abuse” requires only one out of four symptoms. These include intoxication in an unsafe setting, interference with major obligations, legal matters, and continued use despite facing troubles (Earleywine). Obviously, most people who exhaust any illegal drug will fit into this category even if they would not be given the worse diagnosis of dependence. Many people attempt to operate machinery, power tools, or drive a car while under the influence of something. These are considered unsafe settings. Even though there have been at least one or two studies that reveal improved driving while under the influence of marijuana, it's tendency to relax the muscles and mind to a point of slower reaction makes it still fit the category (Earleywine). Of course, the simple fact that a drug is illegal, means that most people either have or will end up in some type of legal trouble due to it, especially since charges come from possession of paraphernalia associated with the drug. This means you can be deemed an abuser without proof of ever being in possession of the drug itself or being intoxicated.

Now that you have a basic understanding of the true meaning of some terms, and the general history of the drug (not including how the non-intoxicating hemp has even helped us greatly in times of war), we can move on to more details about the more pressing issues at hand. As you can already see, there is a great deal of Americans, and others, who are either currently considered a drug abuser, or will be if they are ever caught… So let us take a peek at what we are facing in that concern.

Current federal laws concerning marijuana can seem fairly harsh. Many state laws are quite different. And while many state governments are becoming more open to the reality that the current system is counterproductive, the federal government seems to be pushing more towards solutions involving mandatory minimum sentences. For a list of the current federal laws and their corresponding charges, sentences, and fines retrieved courtesy of NORML, the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, please see the appendix.

Some of these laws are obviously harsh. The sad truth is, that marijuana users are subjected to worse treatment, than many other offenders. For an example of this type of injustice… I know a young woman about 23 years old who has no job and 5 children who live in a small 2 bedroom house with her boyfriend and parents. The adults in this home are all pill/opiate addicts. They do not spend much time with the children, often let them run down the street by their hidden culdesac of only about 4 residences, with no supervision. They might step out to yell for them every so often. They range from the ages of less than 1 year, to about 6 years old. The children constantly suppose of being hungry, although they always seem to produce dinner at home. However, there have been instances that I have witnessed, where they have forgotten a 1-year-old with seizures, and left her on the back porch, where she fell and was injured. They let her sit in a stroller on one of the hottest days of summer so that the other children could push her around or leave her sitting as they saw fit, to fall asleep burning under the sun.

The youngest, a baby who is blind in one eye, was in her “saucer” beginning to assure. She had no bottle or food within reach, I cannot attest to when she had last been changed, and the mother was sitting less than 2 feet away, but was too concerned with straightening her hair to be bothered with checking on her child. Not to mention, that when a kitchen towel fell on a hot burner and caught fire, I had to alert them to it & try to put it out myself, and still no one bothered to take the baby out of the room fast filling with black smoke.

Another daughter, at the age of 3 was across the street on a neighbor's porch and sat down on a chair. She made a sound of harm, and the neighbor asked if her bottom hurt. The tiny girl replied, and I quote, “no, my pu**y hurts”.

These people have had multiple welfare calls against them, yet have never lost their children. Yet, a woman who worked 2 jobs, provided well for her child, and tried to spend time with them, failed a urine test with only traces of marijuana in her system, and promptly had her child taken from her. If that is not an example of our unjust laws and spoiled focus in this drug war, then I do not know what is.

Apparently marijuana use contributes to crime because 40% of adult males arrested nationwide tested positive for marijuana (DEA). So what? I'm sure half of them also tested positive for something else. And where is the proof that the marijuana use is actually a cause of these crimes? Did they rob into consideration all other possibilities of their reasons for committing these crimes? They also cannot expose that the marijuana utilize was recent.

The ONDCP claims that the people who spend time incarcerated are only the serious criminals like the dealers and traffickers. The Sentencing Project, however, showed that almost 9 out of 10 arrests concerning marijuana in 2002 were for possession rather than trafficking or distributing. Further investigation showed that the dealers and traffickers actually spend less time in prison, around 9 months, than those on possession charges, about 16 months (Tardiff). It seems fairly clear that there is definitely something wrong with our current laws and policies. There is too considerable proof of these fallacies. I, for one, think this is a major point proving that something should be changed!

In 1970, the federal government classified marijuana as a 'schedule I' drug being less medicinal and having a higher potential for abuse than cocaine, which is considered a 'schedule II' (Tardiff). Research points to the government's extreme focus on anti-marijuana campaigning to actually be a cause for the increase of use by teens. This makes sense if you think about it in a psychological perspective. Teenage years are well-known world-wide for their time of youth revolt & rebellion. The more you show a teen that something is easy to get, and illegal, the more likely they are to want to experiment with that danger.

Supposedly, marijuana is a gateway drug. By definition, a gateway would be a passage to another region. In this case, marijuana would be a cause for others to use more, harder drugs. There is no real proof of this. The only certain fact is that marijuana does often precede use of other drugs. However, alcohol and tobacco use have proven to often precede marijuana use. Would this make them a gateway to illegal drug employ as well? According to a Scottish philosopher, there are three conditions which must be met for an effect (hard drug consume) to be successfully be created by a certain cause (marijuana consume). Association means that the cause and effect must occur together. Temporal antecedence states that the cause must be first. Isolation, the third condition, says that all alternative causes must be ruled out. Obviously, today's ethical standards would make it impossible to do an actual, controlled human study to test marijuana's effects on the smoker's urge for or use of other drugs. There are some animal tests that have been conducted, which show that there is no connection between the consumption of marijuana and the need or desire for other drugs, or even a desire to consume more THC (Earleywine).

This leads that the only support for the theory of marijuana as a gateway drug is through correlational studies. SAMHSA, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration shows the results of one of these such studies done in 2000, which you can see in the following table (Earleywine).

25.5% of marijuana users had smoked within

the last year

14.7% of marijuana users had smoked within

the last month

From these numbers, the following data shows the correlation with other drugs.

Associated drug

Percent used in last year

Percent passe in last month

33% tried cocaine

4.8%

2%

7.7% tried crack

1.3%

5%

3.9% tried heroin

.5%

.3%

Now that the gateway theory is pretty much demolished, let's depart on to addiction, as it relates closely to this topic. The DEA claims that marijuana is a very addictive drug. They benefit this up by showing that in 1999 over 200,000 Americans were in rehabilitation for marijuana utilize. It seems that they neglect to identify how many of those were there by their own personal submission. It seems much more likely that many were there by intervention of another person, or due to right requirements such as may be implemented by probation.

There are 2 studies specifically done to compare marijuana's effects on addiction/ dependence, ability to cause withdrawal and tolerance, to other common drugs. The results are according to expert opinions, of course. The first was to study 6 common drugs. These were nicotine, caffeine, heroin, cocaine, alcohol, and marijuana. Marijuana was ranked last in ability to cause such addicted symptoms. A second study was done to show more specifically how easily one becomes addicted & then how difficult to quit a drug. From a list of 18, nicotine was ranked first, alcohol 8, caffeine 12, and marijuana 14. The only drugs that fell gradual marijuana were MDMA, mushrooms, LSD, and mescaline (Earleywine).

There are countless groups, associations, and government sites that claim marijuana contains over 400 known chemicals. Supposedly the majority of the harmful chemicals in cigarette smoke are among them. Here is what I have found. Nobody can provide a list of these supposed chemicals. The most they show is sugars, simple alcohols, fatty acids, etc. The fact is, that there are bad ingredients in many things, naturally, but it is when they are tampered with and mass-processed that the fair dangers occur. This is why cigarettes, heroin, and 'meth' are truly in a different class. Marijuana is not produced the same way any of these are. Joints do not go through major factories that add countless ingredients, and it is not created from countless chemicals dangerously cooked together. There have been instances where a dealer may have tried to add something to it to try and hook people on a better cash crop, or to try and give it an extra kick, but this is not the normal practice.

The health effects of marijuana have been investigated more seriously for around 40 years. There has not been as mighty breakthrough as not as much time has been spent yet, as there has been on cigarettes. However, I have found some interesting study results that may help shed some light on what has been proven, and what has been impossible to prove thus far. Of course, there are plenty of claims in all types of places, such as the DEA. In an article put forth by the Drug Enforcement Administration, they stated that marijuana is a gateway drug because evidence shows that those who consume marijuana are 104 times more likely to try cocaine (DEA). We have already reviewed this claim.

There are countless claims that marijuana damages the immune system. They said one report showed chronic users had 39% lower than normal white blood cell counts (DEA). Supposedly another support to this claim is that the number of times marijuana was mentioned in emergency room visits tripled between 1993 and 2000 (DEA). Of course, one explanation for this phenomenon could simply be that doctors have been asking more questions about a patient's habits. It states that the word was “mentioned”. That does not mean that use was actually involved with the reason for the visit. More statements are made that awe is a short-term symptom of marijuana employ, yet there are many reports that say marijuana induces a location of relaxation and euphoria.

There have been many people in multiple countries over the last 100 years concerned that marijuana may actually cause psychological disorders such as schizophrenia. There is absolutely no real proof that it is the cause (Earleywine). True that many people with psychosis or behavioral disorders may choose to smoke marijuana, but often it is in a response to try and self-medicate. Of course, this is not a positive choice for many conditions, and has shown signs to possibly help send someone into an episode in some cases. Obviously if you have any previous mental condition, you should catch extra care into your choices concerning ANY substance use.

Studies on marijuana's direct effects to the brain originally seemed to point to cerebral atrophy in chronic users. After new and improved techniques for testing brain matter became available, more tests were done. Several studies with CAT scans on people who smoked anywhere from 1 to 5 joints a day for 1 to 20 years showed no evidence of structural damage or cerebral atrophy. Some using MRIs, which are even more accurate, surprisingly showed smaller brain ventricles in users who had smoked at least twice a day for 2 years than in nonusers. This actually suggests that smoking marijuana had helped to protect the brain from cerebral atrophy (Earleywine). Of course, information like this never reaches the media. There is not enough proof to definitively say that marijuana actually does protect the brain. In fact, it is actually quite different in underage users. According to a study using MRI, it was reported that in adults who began smoking before the age of 17 in fact had smaller brains with less gray matter and more white matter (Earleywine). This would lead us to conclude that marijuana utilize may lead to interrupted brain development. It would make sense that it is the case in younger smokers, because they are unruffled maturing and may be in obvious valuable stages of development throughout teenage years. Such research appears consistent with the idea of marijuana's chief component's, THC, ability to react with distinct hormones may in fact disrupt natural changes in the brain at these considerable developmental stages (Earleywine).

When it comes down to “our youth”, the fact remains that they use marijuana more than alcohol or nicotine. If you think about it, that is most likely due to the fact that cigarettes and alcohol are already controlled substances with age limits, which means that they are difficult for a teenager to glean. If marijuana is legalized, it would not unprejudiced be taxed, but it would be regulated and be given a similar age requirement as to the prior substances mentioned.

The only consistent studies to show disruption in brain function on an EEG reveals enhanced alpha waves of the frontal lobe. These are associated with calm relaxation. Evidence of event-related potentials studies do show that chronic marijuana smokers exhibit changes in information processing. After long periods of abstinence, however, they appear to begin correcting themselves.

After other use is taken into consideration, marijuana use does still suggest it may be able to lead to tumors within the bronchial tract, but there is no sign of it causing any other cancers (Earleywine). At least 2 out of 5 groups, associations, or other anti-marijuana sites order that smoking marijuana can severely damage or inhibit the immune system and its functions, cause one to be more susceptible to infections, disease, and be less capable of fighting them off. According to one study where T-cells were taken from chronic smokers and exposed to immune stimulators showed decreased response to the invader, but researchers have since failed to replicate these results (Earleywine). Animal studies have showed dramatically reduced immune function after exposure to large doses of THC. These doses were comparable to a 160-pound man smoking 700 joints, however. This obviously does not show true significance of immune impairment. The only sure test involved extracting cells from a nonuser and exposing them to big amounts of THC or marijuana smoke. They did, in fact show decreased response to immune stimulants, but the results were quite comparable to the effects of caffeine, aspirin, and alcohol (Earleywine). To quote this excellent source for a conclusion concerning marijuana's effects on the immune system, the following concerns the fact that the most common studies involve comparing reported illnesses in users versus nonusers.

This type of work must control for differences between these groups in lifestyle habits and the use of other drugs. These studies are rare. One shows a small increase in respiratory symptoms in cannabis smokers (Polen, 1993). Comparable studies of HIV-positive people found that smoking marijuana had no impact on their immune function (Coates et al., 1990; Kaslow et al., 1989). Another peer actually revealed that heterosexual men who used cannabis regularly were less likely to develop non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (Holly, Lele, Bracci, & McGrath, 1999). Dronabinol, the synthetic version of THC prescribed for oral consumption, does not come with warnings about potential loss of immune function. The Institute of Medicine has concluded that the impact of marijuana smoke itself requires further research (IOM, 1999). Given results like these, THC does not appear to impair immunity, and microscopic ingestion of marijuana smoke may also have little effect.

Many of us have also heard stories from doctors, nurses, agencies, and peers that marijuana causes premature birth, low birth weight, and deformities. There have been many issues in trying to test these theories within the U.S. because of the availability of so many other illicit drugs, which cause mixed results. For this reason, the best studies have been done in places like Jamaica where other drugs are not as available and far less used. In a study of over 12,000 newborns who had been exposed to marijuana prenatally, none showed any link to issues with gestation (premature birth), birth weight, or malformation (Earleywine). Just as well, women in Jamaica who smoked about a joint a day during pregnancy had babies no different than the rest, except that they seemed less irritable, more alert, and more stable. However, a longitudinal study of these participants showed that by the time the children were about 10 years old, the ones of the mothers who smoked were twice as likely to be impulsive, show signs of ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), or be considered delinquent (Earleywine). The researchers, themselves, added that they did not take into consideration the number of mothers who may have had similar behavioral problems themselves, however.

As for the possibilities of decriminalization and legalization, there are a few. One can see the success that Holland has had, as well as what issues have arisen due to its flaws in the writing of its legislation. Portugal has been working to correct these types of issues by gaining help from the European Coalition for Just and Effective Drug Policies, ENCOD, to assist with being as detailed and effective in writing their new policies. They have had success with decriminalization for nearly 8 years, but are now voting on full legalization. The strange piece about this is that they did not only decriminalize marijuana, but all drugs. Reports state that there has been no increase in use, nor has it become a drug tourist haven as had been feared. In fact, the number of drug-related STDs and deaths actually dropped.

There are currently only about 14 out of 50 states that have even legalized marijuana solely for medical use. There are, however, a couple states that have decriminalized marijuana in instances such as that one might have up to an ounce for personal use without facing criminal charges. Of course, this would not keep you from getting in trouble for public intoxication, or carrying it around with you in the car or keeping paraphernalia in your pocket… These breakthroughs don't usually hit the news widespread. Many states that either have begun changes, or are considering them, have started to take into fable that by total legalization, they would be able to implement taxes which would increase the states income. This is obviously a bonus in our current economic location.

There are a few other countries that have legalized or decriminalized marijuana in different ways already. Some of them have done it to attend separate and possibly reduce the use of other, more harmful substances. Most of them have met quite a bit of success in this area. Although many people are convincing that legalization would simply make marijuana's use higher in numbers, research of these situations says quite the contrary. Probably the most common talked about place with their newer, decriminalized policies, is the Netherlands, but apparently, Portugal may be passing a total legalization law themselves. They have already had success with decriminalization policies for about 8 years. According to a user's post on marijuana.com, which says that the site was given a copy of Portugal's legislative draft, the following was added concerning their extreme detail and leniency as well as reasoning for full legalization. ENCOD is the European Coalition for Just and Effective Drug Policies.

While it is too late for ENCOD to influence this legislation, the group can still play a role in the debate, said ENCOD coordinator Joep Oomen. “ENCOD could contribute with information on the need to make consistent moves and no half-measures, as has been the case before with the decriminalization of possession. Portugal should learn from the experiences in the Netherlands. Here liberal cannabis policies that have proven successful during more than 30 years are now in danger of being abolished because of the pressure of Christian parties who continue blaming these policies for problems that in fact are caused by prohibition,” he said.

“It is quite simple,” Oomen said. “When you allow people to use, you should allow them to possess, and if you allow them to possess, you should allow them to cultivate, produce, buy or sell. If you only go halfway, and refuse to regulate the first necessary element in the process (cultivation or production) you create more problems than solutions.”

According to discussion about America's current views on CNN, a former lieutenant of a police department, Franklin, debated with the stale director of the DEA, Hutchinson. Hutchinson believes firmly that legalizing marijuana would be detrimental to our society rather than solve anything. He says that while the use of drugs has decreased by about 50% since the 70s and 80s, the amount of drugs coming in to the U.S. has increased. Hutchinson testifies that eliminating the market of marijuana for the drug cartels would only cause them to shift their business to focus on the other, worse drugs such as cocaine, heroin, and meth. Franklin's argument is the fact that he has seen the impact of the nation's drug war from the front lines, and over 1000 deaths each year occur from youth being caught up in drug wars. He says that something needs to be changed, and that more Americans are supportive of this than people like Hutchinson would occupy to realize. He goes to point out that during broadcast, CNN took a poll where 48% of the viewers said all drugs should be legalized, 45% said marijuana, specifically should be legalized, and only 7% said that nothing should be legalized.

It certainly seems clear to me, that there is an overwhelming amount of evidence that legalization is our best hope. If the U.S. is currently working with South American countries to fight against the drug cartels, then that should not be our one excuse not to work on the issues that face us on our home soil. Yes, we need to effect sure that we take care of restricting the incoming drugs from other countries, this would defeat the purpose of our government making money, anyway. We don't want an excuse for people to continue other, more rank substances, we want to indicate them that we understand this is not the threat it has been made out to be, and lead people away from the excess violence involved with underground dealers and possibly searching for other “highs”.

The government continues to use exaggeration and exploit only the data they know will further their cause, in order to keep those uneducated in the truth, disquieted of all drugs. This doesn't even work, however. And the simple fact is, that people being arrested for minor charges does not solve anything, either. Marijuana is no worse than many other drugs that have been legalized, regulated, and taxed. Our states need the income, and our citizens need the freedom and relaxation. We struggle every year to find ways to form up for our governments budget deficits. Our education systems and many other needed organizations barely continue to function. I am not comfortable with the idea of all drugs being legalized. Many drugs are extremely risky creations by man. Marijuana does not fall into this category, however, and the money spent each year on fighting it and protesting against it, could be well spent in other needed areas.

I sincerely hope that you take an just and open look at this information. Feel free to check all references. I acquire that I have made a fairly thorough showing of both opinions in this matter. It should be determined that the opposition does not hold much ground other than the fact that they ARE the law. The current system is unjust¸ and is much more detrimental to our society than the alternative. The war on drugs has already failed. This is a procedure that we might recover some of our hold against other hazards. There is no intention that we can possible expect to succeed the draw we have been going on, without, of course, imprisoning many, many more people than necessary, and putting our countries economy into an even worse location of affairs. Please, decide with realistic, educated reason. Maybe you will feel more capable of that now.

Appendix

Possession

Any amount (first offense)

Misdemeanor

1 year $1,000

Any amount (second offense)

Misdemeanor

15 days MMS* $2,500

Any amount (subsequent offense)

misdemeanor or felony

90 days MMS* – 3 years $5,000

*Mandatory minimum sentence.

Sale or Cultivation

Less than 50 kg

Felony

5 years $250,000

50 to 100 kg

Felony

20 years $1,000,000

100 to 1,000 kg

Felony

5 – 40 years $2,000,000

1000 kg or more

Felony

10 years – life $4,000,000

To a minor

Felony

double penalty double penalty

Within 1,000 feet of a school, or other specified areas

Felony

double penalty double penalty

Gift of small amount see Possession

Miscellaneous (paraphernalia, license suspensions, drug tax stamps, etc…)

Paraphernalia sale

Felony

3 years none

For more specific laws concerning the state of Indiana, seeing as that is where I live, and the majority of the people reading this…

Possession Charge Incarceration Fine

30 g or less

misdemeanor

1 year* $5,000

More than 30 g

misdemeanor or felony

6 months – 3 years $10,000

*Possible conditional discharge on first offense.

Sale or Cultivation

30 g or less

misdemeanor

1 year $5,000

30 g to 10 lbs

Felony

6 months – 3 years $10,000

10 lbs or more

Felony

2 – 8 years $10,000

Sale within 1,000 feet of school, or other specified areas

Felony

2 – 8 years $10,000

Sale to minor

felony

6 months – 3 years $10,000

Miscellaneous (paraphernalia, license suspensions, drug tax stamps, etc…)

Paraphernalia possession (first offense)

civil fine

none $10,000

Paraphernalia possession or sale (subsequent offense)

felony

6 months – 3 years $10,000

Present where knowledge of drug activity occurs

misdemeanor

6 months $1,000

Possession, sale or distribution conviction causes driver's license suspension for 6 months to 2 years.

Tables are courtesy of NORML, the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. All rights reserved.

You can search for your state's current laws at their website: http://norml.org/index.cfm? Group_ID=4516

Works Cited

Earleywine, Mitchell. Belief Marijuana : A Novel Look at the Scientific Evidence. Cary, NC, USA: Oxford University Press, Incorporated, 2002. http://site.ebrary.com/lib/ivytech/Doc? id=10084807&ppg=164

Tardiff, Joseph. The War on Drugs Should Not Include Marijuana. Contemporary Issues Companion: Marijuana. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2008. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Gale. Ivy Tech – East Cent Reg. 28 Mar. 2010
http://find.galegroup.com.muncie.libproxy.ivytech.edu.allstate.libproxy.ivytech.edu/ovrc/infomark.do? &contentSet=GSRC&type=retrieve&tabID=T010&prodId=OVRC&docId=EJ3010202243&source=gale&srcprod=OVRC&userGroupName=ivytech15&version=1.0

Drug Enforcement Administration. “Marijuana Is Harmful.” At Issue: Marijuana. Ed. Mary E. Williams. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 2003. Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center. Gale. Ivy Tech – East Cent Reg. 11 Apr. 2010 http://find.galegroup.com.muncie.libproxy.ivytech.edu.allstate.libproxy.ivytech.edu/ovrc/infomark.do? &contentSet=GSRC&type=retrieve&tabID=T010&prodId=OVRC&docId=EJ3010019216&source=gale&srcprod=OVRC&userGroupName=ivytech15&version=1.0

Kiran, Chetry, et al. “President's Trip to Mexico Just the Beginning Step inReengaging America's Southern Neighbors; Maersk Crew Home on U.S.Soil, Captain Phillips Returning Soon; Seizing Pirate Assets to Stopthe Violence; U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet NapolitanoDiscusses Drug Wars; Marijuana Legalization Debate.” American Morning (CNN) (n.d.): Newspaper Source. EBSCO. Web. 11 Apr. 2010. http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail? vid=6&hid=108&sid=5bb0b512-4f99-468b-bf9e-3245b3d9bd57%40sessionmgr104&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=nfh&AN=32U3546609634CNAM#db=nfh&AN=32U3546609634CNAM

Pompo the grey. Marijuana Legalization Legislation in the Works in Portugal. Drug War Chronicle, Issue 592. 3 July, 2009. Retrieved through web 9 April, 2010.
http://www.marijuana.com/drug-war-headline-news/125299-prt-marijuana-legalization-legislation-works-portugal.html