Katuran - Harold and Kumar

I find that Harold and Kumar deals with a lot of underlying issues in the society of America. Most of their issues are brought about through stereotypes to make it funny and appealing to a younger crowd. One issue is terrorism and racial profiling. Kumar was searched in the airport, and then once he got past security an old lady imagined him as a terrorist. They made it funny by having all hell breaks loose in the movie, but racial profiling is a huge issue that government officials are dealing with right now. Another form of racial profiling was when there was Harold and Kumar get into a car crash. After crashing the proceed to run away because a big black man comes but they are afraid just because of his race. Another stereotype being presented in a funny matter is the stereotype of prison guards. No one knows how they treat their prisoners at guantamo bay, but in this film they all want “cock meat sandwiches”. Obviously the bong hitters of society are going to find that funny, yet it is an issue that the world is dealing with. Although this movie is funny and is appealing to those who do relate to marijuana, it does deal with important issues that are going through the system today.

Phoebe's Harold and Kumar Post

I think that the makers of the move Harold and Kumar: Escape from Guantanamo Bay never indented for the movie to convey any sort of big political message. If anything, this movie is a social commentary on our American society and its convoluted relationship with marijuana. On one hand its illegal, on the other over one third of our nation has experimented with it, etc. I also think that the movie is a social commentary on the viewer. The Harold and Kumar franchise has a target audience of approximately 14-25 so crude humor is used to grab attention and entertain. Personally I like the movie. It is by no means a great or even good movie, but there are times when you don’t want to watch anything serious and admittedly stupid movies that will make you laugh sounds just right. In my opinion, movies like this are our generation’s slapstick comedy; they serve no higher purpose than to make you laugh.

Krotulski - H and K Escape G Bay

The film Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay is a continuation of the first movie and is about two good friends who decide to take a trip to Amsterdam to find Harold’s girl. On the plane on the way to Amsterdam, Kumar uses a homemade bong that looks like a bomb. The passengers freak out and the plane is taking back to the United States where the two are arrested and sent to Guantanamo Bay. Harold and Kumar escape and the rest of the film is the investigation lead by Fox to find the two men. Although the movie does glorify Kumar’s use of marijuana, I think there is also a political message. Throughout the film, the Secretary of Homeland Security, Fox, is portrayed to be a very ignorant even stupid, investigator. At separate points he is scene pouring out grape juice in front of an African American male and also spilling coins in front of Jews. I think that this is trying to show that people feel as though out country is being run by unintelligent people who do not know what they are doing. At a separate part at the end of the movie, the viewer sees President Bush smoking weed. He then says not to trust the government but to the trust the country itself. This is also giving the message that the people should not be looking to the government because it has things wrong with it, including the people, but rather they should be united through the country.

War on Drugs

The legalization of marijuana has always been one that I have been a little torn between. I don't think there is any reason it should be illegal, yet I also feel, for many reasons people often overlook, that it should not be used. I am very well aware that it is less dangerous than alcohol, but it can cause an "emotional" addiction, even if it doesn't cause a physical one. Many people that use marijuana obviiously use it to enhance the experience of whatever they are doing, whether it is film, music, or anything else. The problem with this is if everything appears "beautiful" under the substance, many people are unsatisfied with these things off the drug, which can cause some people to find it hard to stop usage, and yes, it does cause short term memory loss, laziness, and the smoke can still cause cancer (many scientists believe at a higher rate than cigarettes, and studies have shown that it increases risk of testicular cancer.) However, the assignment is whether or not I think it should be legal, which I suppose I do. If people are going to use it, which obviously they are, I think the government should at least be able to tax it and have some control over the circulation of it. It should not be the government's place to dictate the choices other make with their lives as long as those choices don't interfere with the well-being of others.

"Leagalize It"

The article I found on the legalization of medical marijuana was about supporting its legaliztion, but there also included some counter arguments as to why medical marijuana should not be legalized. One supporting statement from the article was, ".. not allowing those suffering from illnesses caused by diseases such as AIDS, chemotherapy-related malaise, and glaucoma, is a violation of their natural rights to live without pain. Pain and suffering should not have to be something one should have to live with simply because of a law that is only in place for different purposes". A statement of the opposing position stated in the article was, "For instance one critic of numerous states proposals to allow the drug for medical purposes states that as a country, "We cannot afford to further erode youth attitudes toward drugs by allowing marijuana to be falsely depicted as a safe drug and as effective medicine. Labeling marijuana as 'medicine' sends the wrong message to children that it is a safe substance." (Khatapoush 2004)".

I, personally, believe that medical marijuana should definitly be legal. There are other drugs that doctors prescribe and give out for reasons such as pain and medication of some sort, most of those drugs are highly addictive, and not safe (cauing dependency and other health issues). I agree with the article posted above 100% percent. People who are in pain, have a right to live without it, which is why they go to doctors to get prescribed pain pills and muscle relaxers and sleeping medication. Marijuana can be used to solve problems such as the ones that are solved with highly addictive pills. Those pills are ALSO NOT intended for recreational use, but many people and children use them anyway, and without prescriptions. Most of the pills given for pain and sleep can be easily overdosed on, causing serious health problems or death. It is also illegal to have any kind of medication on you that is not prescribed to you. Marijuana cannot be overdosed on, and it cannot kill anyone. Just because marijuana is illegal because of tax purposes, the goverment finds other reasons to make it illegal. The precautions about any drugs should be learned about just like any other legally prescribed medication. I do not think that if medical marijuana were to be legal that it would encourage our society's youth to think that other drugs were okay to use. The only reason that marijuana is seen as a "hard drug" is because it is already illegal.

Many believe that marijuana is a "gateway drug", but anything that gives you any sort of high could be considered a gateway drug. It is a personal choice to take other drugs because you want to get a bigger and better high. Tabacco and alcohol are both legal, and are both drugs. Those who drink and smoke at the same time do it because they want to maintain their high, or get higher. Over the counter medicines are drugs also, they can also give you a high, and they can also build up a dependency and be overdosed on (leading to serious health problems or death). I think the only reason that marijuana is illegal is simply because it cannot be taxed, and that would mean when doctors prescribe it to their patients, they will not be getting paid for it. But the whole reason for medicine in itself, is to better and help someone else, as is having a profession as a doctor, so the money should not really matter after all.

Marijuana relieves pain, and helps those who cannot sleep or have no appetite. It also makes people happy. If it were legal, people would not be so uptight and worried about things that do not really matter. There would be less fighting, and more money and reason to help those who need to be incarcerated for other things such as acutally 'hard' drugs, murder, etc.

"Put a smile on ya face, make the world a better place. Put a smile on ya face, do what ya wanna do"

Marijuana...

Historically marijuana was made illegal to protect citizens from a drug labeled as dangerous. Marijuana has been linked with narcotics. When first illegalized it was because the government wanted to regulate narcotics and because it was compared with heroin, opium and cocaine it was linked to the negative aspects of narcotics. It is also linked or associated with a lifestyle that is unwanted of the government. It is thought to be strictly used by self-righteous hippies fighting against “the man.”  It is also linked to different ethnic groups other the superior white race. Because it was associated with the minorities it was thought that if marijuana was illegal it would be less likely for those minority groups to be popular through out America. In this instance white Americans would not be superior if marijuana was legal, the government did not want this. However it is used in many ways though. Early in the history of marijuana it was used as a woven fabric (hemp), it was used in food, for incense, and rope. Through out the beginning years of marijuana it was legal and used but not publicly displayed like your typical drug tobacco. It should be legalized for many reasons. The prohibition of marijuana has not been quite successful. Many Americans with no regards to the law use it. It is also known to be one of the largest, if not the largest cash crop in the United States. If marijuana was legalized the market would be reduced. This would affect the sales of the drug and also the usage (mostly by teenagers). The teenagers going out of their way to secretively buy the drugs today are usually exposed to other street drugs that are harder and more intense. It would also keep them from selling it to their peers and it would be less of an influence for those who do not want to smoke marijuana. Another reason for marijuana to be legalized is smuggling. If there were dedicated farms or produces to grow weed there would be no need to smuggle the drug from one country to the next. It is very expensive and if legalized it could be taxed to benefit the governments programs. The arrests for marijuana usage are taking up way too much money. If it were to be legalized and grown under the government rule it could allow the government to get a grossly income rather than stealing money from other governmental programs in need. All together marijuana could help the medical world immensely. The drug provides relief from pain, nausea, and a lot of other symptoms that other conventional medical treatments not only can’t help but also cause. It is used by most as a mild relaxing technique. It has been said from scientific research that marijuana is not toxic to humans. It is almost impossible to overdose on it and has hardly any signs of addiction. The usage of marijuana is obviously less dangerous and hazardous as other harder illegal drugs and legal drugs. I think the case of legalizing marijuana is worth a try. If it has such benefits for patients with terminal disease why not make their lives easier with using such a simple, organic drug.