Legalizing Marijuana Essays (1413 words) - Drug Control Law

Legalizing Marijuana Cannabis sativa or marijuana has been cultivated for over 5,000 years. The plant spreads like milkweed and will eventually run out any other plants nearby. In the wild, or grown with care marijuana can grow to be 3 - 20 feet high. The plant itself can be used for rope, material, medicine or for smoking. But, whatever way you choose to use this plant, it is illegal. It was made a law in the early 1900s that it was illegal to smoke, eat, or get high from this plant. The plants only legal use was for rope and materials. Even this was controlled by the government though. In the 1960s and 1970s a group of youth stereotyped as Hippies were using marijuana on a regular basis to get high. This is the term for the effects of the drug when smoked. The effects are that of ataxia, increased appetite, and a sensation of dryness in the throat. (A.P.E. L to M 193). These hippies fought to legalize it. Groups such as the major one, N.O.R.M.A.L. formed to fight for the right to smoke marijuana. Protests were formed and marches and festivals were held. On the other side of this was the government cracking down and forming new laws to keep it illegal. In the 1980s the fight to legalize marijuana was decreased, but the groups like N.O.R.M.A.L. were still around. Although the people werent so strong-willed to legalize it they still fought. New and harder drugs were now popular and marijuana wasnt as popular. In the early 1990s the drug was once again popular after the side effects of the new drugs were seen. The drugs popularity still increases today. Only there is more violence surrounding it in drug deals and gang wars. Although there would need to be regulations on it and new laws made. The legalization of marijuana would not only benefit the government but also the people. Although the government and people would benefit, it would have a bad side. After many years of fighting to keep it illegal, the government would have to spend millions on new laws, regulations, and plans. Also the government has made treaties with other countries on keeping the world drug-free. America being the largest supporter of a drug-free society would be absolutely hypocritical to go and legalize. Other countries would become angry and think of us as money greedy, drug smoking fools. This would also hurt other countries because America would be a large drug trafficking area where people would come and buy a large amount and export to the still drug-free countries. Americas reputation could go down the drain. Not only would Americas reputation go down but also the fears of American citizens conducting every day life stoned from marijuana is a scary thought. The effects of marijuana are not alcohols but would impair a persons driving ability. Accidents would increase. People who would abuse the drug would not only jeopardize themselves but also others. It would have to be treated as driving while drinking and stiff laws and enforcement would have to be inflicted. These are the downsides to the drug, but with proper laws and methods the drug turn into money for the government. If the government played it right, they could make billions of dollars from this one plant. In the early 1990s the number one legal cash crop, corn, brought 16 billion dollars to the U.S. Marijuana blew this away with an estimated 24 billion dollars. If the government grew and kept track of marijuana, and sold licenses to farmers to grow it, the government would be able to pay off debts, help the economy and reduce violence-related to the drug all at the same time. They would also be able to sell the stocks of the plant as rope or material. Currently, many farmers are secretly growing marijuana to pay off their own debts. This is an inexpensive way to earn more cash from one plant than they could from a field of corn. The majority of these farmers were growing marijuana in the Midwest, but its really growing strong in the Appalachians to the Great Plains. They look like they were torn from a page from the Saturday Evening

Dantes Canto XXVIII Essays - Divine Comedy, Afterlife, Italy, Virgil

Dantes Canto XXVIII Essays - Divine Comedy, Afterlife, Italy, Virgil Dante's Canto XXVIII Dante begins the opening of Canto XXVIII with a rhetorical question. Virgil and he have just arrived in the Ninth Abyss of the Eighth Circle of hell. In this pouch the Sowers of Discord and Schism are continually wounded by a demon with a sword. Dante poses a question to the reader: Who, even with untrammeled words and many attempts at telling, ever could recount in full the blood and wounds that I now saw? (Lines 1-3) The rhetorical question draws the reader into the passage because we know by this point in the Divine Comedy that Dante is a great poet. What is it that Dante sees before him on the brink of the Ninth Abyss that is so ineffable that he, as a poet, feels he cannot handle? In the following lines Dante expands on this rhetorical position. He elaborates on why it is important for any man to offer a good description of what he sees. No poet can achieve this description: ?Each tongue that tried would certainly fall short...? (L. 4) It is not just poetic talent that is at stake; poets do not have the background to give them the poetic power for such description. His reasoning is "the shallowness of both our speech and intellect cannot contain so much." (Lines 5-6) Once again the reader is intrigued; how could a man of Dante's stature criticize language which is the very tool he uses to create the epic work of La Commedia ? If we cannot take Dante seriously with these opening statements, we must pose the question of what Dante is trying to do by teasing us with this artificial beginning to Canto XVIII? Dante will now contradict himself and try to describe what he says is impossible. But, if he were to go right into a description of the Ninth Abyss, it would deflate his rhetorical position. Instead, Dante first sets up a quite lengthy comparison of the sights he has just witnessed with examples of bloodshed throughout human history. Were you to reassemble all the men who once, within Apulia1's fateful land, had mourned their blood, shed at the Trojans' hands, as well as those who fell in the long war where massive mounds of rings were battle spoils even as Livy write, who does not err and those who felt the thrust of painful blows when they fought hard against Robert Guiscard; with all the rest whose bones are still piled up at Ceperanoeach Apulian was a traitor thereand, and too, at Tabliacozzo, where old Alardo conquered without weapons; and then, were one to show his limb pierced through and one his limb hacked off, that would not match the hideousness of the ninth abyss. (Lines 7-21) Dante gives historical examples of the destruction of war. This is in contrast to the heroic qualities of war which Dante's predecessors most often focus on. Dante is acting less as a poet and more as an historian. He takes the reader on a mini journey through these wars. His first stop are the Trojan wars (Line 9). These wars Dante refers to actually represent the final books of Virgil's Aeneid. Part of my experience in reading the Inferno, has been that there is a great connection between the Inferno and the Aeneid. Furthermore, Dante's guide through hell is the author of the Aeneid, Virgil. (While this topic is much too broad to address in these pages, it is important too take note of this relationship.) On the one hand it is important that Virgil is Dante's first example because it is necessary for him to leave the world of the poet (poets do not have enough talent) and move to the world of the historian, whose objectivity is supposedly more trusted in front of this horror. By this time the reader can see the irony of what Dante is doing in this opening passage. Dante the poet must give up to historical fact, but the reader knows that Dante the poet is playing this game to entice the reader into listening to him. Dante moves on to the wars at Carthage in his next example. This is material which Virgil deliberately does not deal with in

An Amplified Terms of Reference Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

An Amplified Terms of Reference - Essay Example The paper evaluates the views in three articles to determine the probable choice for a small private physician. The articles cover the benefits and the challenges facing the implementation of EHRs. Key points covered include the probability of quality healthcare, and patients’ privacy. Evaluation of the articles results reveal that implementation of medical health records would be advantageous to a private physician. 1. Background, Sponsor and Problem AT& T organization is a very busy public hospital whose main business is to offer orthopedic services. Due to the large number of customers visiting the hospital every day, the medical records for all the patients continue to pile, considering that the same medical information is being filed manually. Because of this, the Front Office Receptionist continues to have a hard time each day trying to manually open the different folders carrying patients’ the files. Being as hard as that, it implies that the delivery of the serv ices in the hospital does not occur in a satisfactory manner (Selg & Rihel, 2007). The problem of doing the service delivery manually in the hospital has had far-stretching effects to both the hospital and the clients. For the hospital, the slow service delivery has constantly jeopardized the customer relations aspect of the organization. This is because when a client visits the hospital and takes the whole day waiting for the staff to retrieve his or her files and go through the records, next time, he or she will opt to a different hospital. For the clients on the other hand, someone with a critical health condition may not be saved just because his or her medical records are lost. Therefore, the absence of efficient medical coding can worsen the conditions of the patient. The problem resulting from the absence of medical coding system in the hospital mainly affects the Front Office Receptionist. This is because the front office receptionist is the person who is responsible for the production of the medical information for the different clients getting into the hospital. There are a lot of consequences if the problem is ignored. By ignoring the problem, it is very likely that the service delivery in the hospital will continue to be slow. The amount of work for the front office receptionist will continue to increase, and become too much for him or her. This means that the receptionist will be straining each day, trying to serve all the clients. This is not healthy for the receptionist. The hospital will generate less than the expected income. This is because it will not serve the clients in a proper rate (Heerkens, 2002). Voice of the Customer Analysis or Market Analysis is also evident as far as this problem is concerned. With the absence of the medical coding equipment in the hospital, the customers continue to complain that they do not receive the services in a satisfactory manner. Some complain that their records occasionally get lost. Others say that they have to queue for long hours before they can be attended to, while other still complain of their medical documents which have been torn or soiled. 2. Practical Outcomes for Client The research method used is the analysis of some case article evaluating the health sector in the United States. EHRs method of storing patient information will assist the medical institutions enhance their control over the revenue. Revenue enables organizations

Analytic and critical thinking essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Analytic and critical thinking - Essay Example Nevertheless, through the enlightenment he acquired through the teachings of Buddha, he was able to acquire wisdom and understanding and therefore was able to live an exemplary life. This paper then looks deeper into the perceptions of Thich Nhat Hanh and why he claims that death is non-existent, reflecting Buddhist philosophies. In his journey to understanding what death is all about, Hanh experienced illumination during one of his meditative states. He saw a japonica bush that blossomed one winter when warmer days came quite early. However, when winter conditions took its natural course, the blossoms fell to the ground. When the weather got warm again, another set of flowers blossomed and the wonderment whether those were the same blossoms that fell to the ground or whether they are different was asked by the hermit. The answer of the blossoms gave a new understanding to the seeker of truth and there begun his freedom from grief regarding death. He observes that the blossoms  "were not the same and not different† (Hanh). When the day became warm during winter, it was a condition that allowed the flowers to blossom and they manifested themselves. However, when the conditions changed, bringing the cold gloomy days which are not a convenient for the flowers to thrive, they fell from the bush instead but showed themselves again when the circumstances permitted their existence. Nevertheless, that is not considered the dying of the flowers. This perfectly exemplifies the belief of the Buddha that â€Å"when conditions are sufficient, something manifests and we say it exists† (8). The blossoming and falling of the flowers are considered in Buddhism, as a condition wherein they have hidden themselves because the weather condition is not well-suited or convenient for them. Another insightful example the Hanh presents in trying to explain his perspective is that, death only brings a person to another level of being. To expound further, he likens peopl e to radio waves which, â€Å"without a radio, we do not manifest† (12). This means that there is a tangible and an intangible part of us. The tangible part, which is the body, may die and eventually decay. However, there is an intangible part which becomes ever present to his loved ones. A loved one whose body has gone is not actually gone forever but is always present evidenced by the ground their feet once trod, an abode or even a person’s very self. Buddhists believe just because one is not physically seen does not mean he is not present. Rather, it is only the body wherein a person once manifested himself that is gone. Coming from a family whose parents are divorced, this notion is a great help for my coping. Although I live with my mother only, I do not see myself as without my father. Distance is not what defines his existence but it is who he is in me. I am his son, his blood runs through my veins and somehow, I know that he is there with me even if I do not se e him. Similarly, when death comes, it only separates me from my loved ones physically but their presence is always felt even though I do not see them. Death and grief are difficult to overcome. Some people even violate their own lives because they are not able to cope with the emotions brought about by this incident.

Religious Rejections of Globalization

Religious Rejections of Globalization Introduction The conflict between Western and Islamic worlds has drawn the attention of various scholars such as Samuel Huntington and Fukuyama whom predicted future war would be premised on cultural differences. Since the 1990s, countless scholars have analyzed Islam and its connection to religious fundamentalism in order to understand why fundamentalists are so radically opposed to economic modernization and social change. More surprisingly however, is the fact that Western academia and political leaders have largely ignored assertive Christian responses against globalization, especially those coming from Christian fundamentalists whose numbers and political influence continues to grow around the world. The re-emergence of religious fundamentalism as a political force has been propelled by the perceived threat of globalization which promotes the spread of Westernization, neoliberalism and secularism (Juergensmeyer 140). In the eyes of many religious movements, globalization challenges the prese nce of local religions by encouraging capitalist beliefs that do not take into account moral principles. Among these religious groups, Christianity is of particular importance because of its status, outreach and role in international affairs. When we talk about Christianity, we refer to a set of religious values and beliefs that led to the creation of various denominations, organizations and creeds. The following essay argues that the religious rejection of globalization within the Christian community has been spearheaded by religious fundamentalist groups in order to prevent the creation of a secular world order because it threatens to reduce their influence, power and legitimacy. Presently, Christianity’s role and status in international affairs is being redefined by two important groups: Christian liberals and Christian evangelicals. This internal religious competition aims to democratically capture important decision-making positions within the hierarchy of western states to reassert Christianity presence on the public sphere to ensure social and moral order. Liberal Christianity and civil society’s anti-globalization response The influential expansion of global society has redefined the role that religious groups play in the development of important international policies. As multiple sectors of global civil society have come together to denounce the negative effects of globalization on the poor and vulnerable, religious groups have joined their voice to highlight the need to create a better world order (Lechner 115). It is important to note that global civil society’s critical responses to globalization have largely evolved along secular lines (Lechner 116). At the same time, if we define civil society as all forms of voluntary association outside the market and state, then religion constitutes the largest segment of civil society (Lechner 116). The Roman Catholic Church alone accounts more members than all advocacy networks combined together which helps explain Christianity’s influence and outreach on major international socio-economic issues (Lechner 116). The Roman Catholic Church has pl ayed an important role in condemning the neo-liberal model imposed by Western states because of its tendency to support the imposition of economic values over moral principles. During a speech by Pope John Paul II, during his visit to Havana in 1998, the leader of the Catholic community openly expressed his concern on the negative effects that capitalism has on the vulnerable but also on the worldwide presence of Catholicism (Robertson 612). He claimed that the absolutizing of the economy was wrong for three main reasons: 1-markets were imperfect and were bound to leave people unsatisfied, 2-withouth proper regulation, the community markets do not serve the common good which results in exclusion and marginalization and 3-left to their own devices, markets promote economic inequality (Lechner 124). In this sense, the religious Christian left and the western secular left have evoked similar arguments and appear to pursue the same socio-economic goals (Lechner 124). In the late 1990s, both the Catholic Church and Protestant Churches pressured affluent states for the forgiveness of poor nations’ foreign debt because it imposed heavy economic burdens on people whose human dignity was constantly challenged by unequal and oppressive conditions (Lechner 117). On November 6, 2000, President Bill Clinton signed a foreign aid bill fully funding debt relief for poor countries (Lechner 118). Liberal Christians around the world celebrated this victory that had rallied multiple sectors of global civil society behind a common goal. Truly, Jubilee 2000 demonstrated how the power of religious scripture could be used to re-shape the history of the â€Å"secular world† (Lechner 119). However, it is important to acknowledge Jubilee’s 2000 success was primarily caused by secular forces who lobbied tremendously well to achieve their goal (Lechner 120). In addition, the Catholic Church previous support for economic liberalism as a way to force the fall of communi sm contradicted its new discourse against globalization and neo-liberalism which further divide its community. These contradictions demonstrate that liberal Christianity’s moderate approach is too passive to efficiently oppose globalization and further highlights its dependence on secular forces to provide political solutions for the world’s most worrisome problems. The rise of religious fundamentalism in Christianity Liberal Christianity’s global decline has helped Christian evangelicals spread their political message in more assertive, faster and active manner in the Americas, Asia and Africa. At the moment, liberal Christianity represents a mere minority within their societies who no longer share their assumptions and are experimenting drastic socio-economic changes as a result of globalization (Stahl 350). This political vacuum has been filled by both secular individuals and Christian evangelicals that have attracted considerable amount of support towards their opposite political goals. Religious movements whether liberal or conservative tend to perceive globalization as a competing form of religion association that contains a set of established ideas, beliefs, authorities, goals and followers (Stahl 341). For this reason, religious groups zealously oppose this expanding force. However, religious conservatives appear to be more successful than their liberal parts in using certain aspect s globalization to reach people and transmit their political goals (Jesus Camp). Many Christian evangelicals in the United States believe that their government has been taken over by corporations and foreign agents that seek the expansion of evil and corrupt forces within their nation (Jesus Camp). This threat often takes form in secular institutions and policies that are often demonized publicly by evangelical leaders who lobby their communities to vote for a particular candidate who will accurately represent their traditional values. The ongoing expansion of Christian fundamentals and their active political involvement in public affairs makes them a considerable force that can effectively influence the political spectrum of multiple nations. Despite this, few western scholars consider Christian fundamentalism a real threat to the stability of their nations as they wrongly believe that the most dangerous face of fundamentalism is to be associated with Muslim faith. Religions of revolution and their radical answer to globalization The modern social stability of Western secular societies has been built on the free practice of religion in the private sphere. This explains why, westerners are so fearful of the public imposition of a single religious tradition that could violate the freedoms and rights of individuals. According to Stahl, religious complaints against globalization focus on two main themes: the demand for justice and the defense of tradition (Stahl 339). Stahl uses these themes to draw a comparison between Osama Bin Laden whose exemplifies Islam fundamentalism and Dwight Hopkins who embodies Liberal Christianity (Stahl 339). Osama’s complaints are addressed in Letter to America (2002) and Resist the New Rome (2004). He believes that Muslim fundamentalists are fighting a defensive war against the forces of imperialism and aggression which are responsible for the establishment of corrupt and dictatorial regimes throughout the Muslim world (Stahl 339). He claims this religio-economic war is a co ntinuation of the Crusades and other past struggles between Muslims and Christians (Stahl 340). He criticizes the economic, environmental and cultural decline of the West and defends Islamic tradition from what he believes to be an infectious and corrupt culture (Stahl 340). He also denounces the theft of Muslim wealth and America’s refusal to ratify Kyoto. Despite this, most of his criticism is directed towards individual behavior, especially the treatment of women and sexualisation of culture (Stahl 340). Immorality is high on his list, economic exploitation is not. His call for Muslim community to violently resist the enemies of Islam appealed to many devoted people regardless of their socio-economic background (Stahl 341). On the other hand, Hopkins’ complaint based on liberal Christianity is one dimensional because it focuses on the economic aspect of globalization (Stahl 341). As Bin Laden, Hopkins advocates for justice and defense of tradition, although he clear ly understands these concepts differently than his counterpart. On the demand for justice, he criticizes the grotesque accumulation of wealth and power into the hands of few individuals. He attributes this to be the cause of corrupt politics and the unrestricted destruction of the environment (Stahl 341). In defense of tradition, he claims that globalization is a competing form of religious organization that seeks to promote material realities and economic values over moral principles (Stahl 341). Bin Laden and Hopkins are quite different. Bin Laden was ready to kill to achieve his version of Islam whereas Hopkins liberation theology called for spiritual resistance and struggle for freedom and justice (Stahl 342). Liberal Christian has slowly become a religion of resistance that has struggled to mobilize its followers against globalization. On the other hand, Islamic fundamentalism is religion of revolution that violently opposes globalization. The means advocated Islamist fundament alism are not that different from Christian fundamentalists who have also adopted a confrontational direct tone to send out powerful political messages. Conclusion To conclude, Christianity’s position and role within the Western World is being redefined by two competing religious movements that aim to democratically capture political power within their state to reassert religion’s role on the public sphere. On the one side, Liberal Christianity appears to have a renewed interest in opposing globalization and neoliberalism which has motivated many liberal Christians to join forces with the secular left. The success of Jubilee 2000 attests on what this cooperation can provide in terms of progressive and inclusive social policies. However, liberal Christianity’s moderate critique of globalization has also been qualified as too passive by many of its members that are drawn by Christian conservatives’ more pro-active and direct message. As Christian evangelical’s popularity and numbers continues to grow, they have become an influential political force that opposes secularism and modernization in their own nations. As the dominant forces within Christianity are slowly turn it a religion of revolution, they are adopting various fundamentalist values and premises which threaten to unbalance the social stability of these secular societies. Western societies tend to picture Islam as the main motor of religious fundamentalism in the world. However, what they ignore is that the real threat to their society’s stability comes from the radicalization of Christianity which supports a more confrontational approach to promote their religious values.

An Investigation to Show How Water Temperature and Alcohol Concentratio

An Investigation to Show How Water Temperature and Alcohol Concentration Affect Membrane Permeability Aim The aim of the experiment is to show the cell’s membrane permeability is affected by being placed into different temperatures of water. Also the effect of placing beetroot in to different concentrations of alcohol. Beetroot cells contain a red sap, which leaks out of the cells if their membranes are damaged or altered. Cell membranes are made up of a bilayer of phospholipids, which also contains proteins. Which either float around or are fixed. Some are found in the inner or outer layer and some span the whole membrane Carbohydrate chains attach themselves to the external membrane forming glycoproteins and glycolipids. It also contains cholesterol. We will be able to tell how damaged they are because we will see a deeper coloured red in the water from where more of the red sap has leaked out of the cells. Method A fresh cylinder of beetroot was taken and using a scalpel any skin was removed. Care should be taken when a scalpel is used to cut objects into small pieces. It was then cut into 40 discs using the scalpel. Next the discs were placed in a boiling tube and rinsed repeatedly in till the water ran clear. Then two sets of five boiling tubes were set up into racks. Then using a measuring cylinder measured 10cm ³ of tap water was placed in five of the boiling tubes of the set that would be testing the effect of different temperatures. These were then left in the different water baths to adjust to the temperature. The other five had 10cm ³ different concentrations of alcohol ranging from 25%-100%. There was also one with 10cm ³ of water. Next four discs of the beetroot were placed into each boil... ...es down to 24%. I think this an anomalous result as after researching this 100% alcohol is used to preserve food so the light transmission percentage should of gone up but this needed to be repeated. I think the main source of error in these two experiments that could have lessened the accuracy was that there was some variation in the thickness of some of the beetroot discs. I think this is hard to improve as this is generally down to human error of not being able to cut beetroot exactly into 1-2mm discs. The experiment needed to be repeated to see more clearly if there were any anomalous results. Works Cited: Advanced Sciences Biology 1, Mary Jones, Richard Fosbery and Dennis Taylor AS guru Biology, John Graham and Anthony Lewis Biology Principles and Processes, Michael Roberts, Michael Reiss and Grace Monger Www.bbc.co.uk/asguru/biology

Unit 207 Use Electronic Message Systems

KNOWLEDGE & UNDERSTANDING QUESTIONS Unit 207 Use Electronic Message Systems Learning Outcome 1 | | |Learner’s Name xxxxx Signature | | | |Assessor’s Name Signature Date 31/1/12 | Learning Outcome 1 – Understand the use of electronic message systemsDescribe the main types of electronic message systems The main types of electronic message systems are email, fax and instant messaging chat. Describe the different features of electronic message systems Emails come direct to your pc and are easily accessible. Fax machines send information electronically but relayed at the other end in paper form. Instant messaging chat pops up on the computer screen when you receive a message. 1. 3 Explain the purpose of keeping an electronic message system up to date (ie why is it important)Old emails take up space and should be deleted when finished with in order to free up space. Also, under the data protection act, we should only keep patient information for as long as it is nee ded so therefore it is important that once we no longer need the email, that we destroy it. 1. 4 Describe how to use an electronic message system to check and delete or discard messages Email systems work in different ways, when I get an email, my computer displays an envelope in the task bar area, plays a sound and also pops up on my screen to let me know that I have mail.To delete a message when I am reading the message, there is an X which I can click on and the message will delete, if I am in my inbox, I can highlight on the email to be deleted and right click to delete, to delete multiple messages I can click on the Ctrl key and highlight all messages to delete, then right click and select delete. 1. 5 Explain the purpose of leaving clear messages for others( ie why is it important) Leaving clear messages increases the chances of the email being opened by the recipient and read and understood.If you use a clear subject for the email, the recipient will have an understanding of what the email is about and prioritise it. It is important that the opening sentence of the email is clear and specific so the recipient can understand and decide their course of action. It is also important to check the grammar and spelling of the email and not use abbreviations that the recipient will not understand. Do not use CAPITALS AS IT LOOKS LIKE YOU ARE SHOUTING. ———————– [pic]