The Austro

The Austro-Prussian War Austrias War with Prus Essay sia in 1866TheAustro-Prussian War Austrias War with Prussia in 1866One nation. A single, unified nationpowerful enough to plunge Europe and the world into two of the most devastatingwars in history. That is the legacy of Germany. Two world warsare all we remember of a unified Germany. But, we never rememberthe struggle that took place to create such an entity. As GeoffryWawro covers well in this book, the Austro-Prussian War was the turningpoint in German history that allowed Prussia to become the major figurein German affairs and start to unify the German confederation under onepower, ending years of Austrian interference. Although wading throughthe tactical and strategic events of this war in detail, Wawro does notlose sight of the very important political aspects of this war, which beganGermanys unification in earnest. This unification of Germany wouldprove to be one of the most influential events in Europe, with its effectsbeing felt well into the next century. A unified Germany , and othersfear of it, would be one of the stumbling blocks that would lead to thefirst Great War and quickly after it, another one. But withoutPrussias ascendance to the top of the German states, both World Wars mightnot have happened. So it is about time to lavish some of the attentiongiven those two wars on one of its major causes, which Wawro does a greatjob of. We will write a custom essay on The Austro-Prussian War Austrias War with Prus specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Geoffry Wawro himself is a rather youngwriter. A recent graduate of Yale, Wawros book is an expansion onhis doctoral dissertation, which won him a fellowship from the AustrianCultural Institute in 1994 for Best Dissertation on Austrian Culture. This fellowship allowed him to spend two years converting his dissertationinto this book. Although young and relatively new to book writing,Wawro shows a good grasp of the tools necessary to be a successful writer. He has another book, on the Franco-Prussian of 1870, in planning. Wawro builds his book chronologically,beginning with the Congress of Vienna in 1815. He describes the problemsassociated with the German peoples attempts to unify after the allieddefeat of Napoleon. He then goes on to detail how Austria and Prussia bothvied for supremacy in the confederation of German states. He focusesmainly on the direct confrontations between the two nations and the abilitiesof their leaders. Wawro appears almost to be a Germanophile as hefawns over the ingenious political strategies of Prussian Chancellor Bismarck,while constantly berating the sub-par performance of Austrian Emperor FranzJoseph. He also uses the beginning of the book to describe past Austriandomination in Italian affairs, and the animosity that was building betweenthese two states. He reviews the history of Austrian interferencein Italy that drove the Italians into a military alliance with Prussia,and eventually into the war. Although he is less enamored of Italysleaders, he still holds them abov e the Austrian leaders whom he portraysas foreign interlopers trying to prevent Italian unity as much as German. He moves through the months and years quickly, going from one crisis tothe next until the three nations were on the brink of war, with Austriafacing a double-edged sword, Italy in the south and Prussia in the north. The main force of the book is Wawrosretelling of the war; planning, mobilization, and engagements. Heuses a whole chapter to detail all three nations problems in organizationand preparedness. He repeatedly praises the Prussians for their efficiencyin mobilization of troops and superior strategy. Wawro humbles boththe Austrians and Italians as he berates both nations military state insupplies, manpower, technology, and strategy. He takes special interestin pointing out the ineptitude of Italian and Austrian generals and thepolitical intrigue and maneuvering that got them their commands. .u439e5b6ab9cb51d6b04319932393a0bf , .u439e5b6ab9cb51d6b04319932393a0bf .postImageUrl , .u439e5b6ab9cb51d6b04319932393a0bf .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u439e5b6ab9cb51d6b04319932393a0bf , .u439e5b6ab9cb51d6b04319932393a0bf:hover , .u439e5b6ab9cb51d6b04319932393a0bf:visited , .u439e5b6ab9cb51d6b04319932393a0bf:active { border:0!important; } .u439e5b6ab9cb51d6b04319932393a0bf .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u439e5b6ab9cb51d6b04319932393a0bf { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u439e5b6ab9cb51d6b04319932393a0bf:active , .u439e5b6ab9cb51d6b04319932393a0bf:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u439e5b6ab9cb51d6b04319932393a0bf .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u439e5b6ab9cb51d6b04319932393a0bf .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u439e5b6ab9cb51d6b04319932393a0bf .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u439e5b6ab9cb51d6b04319932393a0bf .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u439e5b6ab9cb51d6b04319932393a0bf:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u439e5b6ab9cb51d6b04319932393a0bf .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u439e5b6ab9cb51d6b04319932393a0bf .u439e5b6ab9cb51d6b04319932393a0bf-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u439e5b6ab9cb51d6b04319932393a0bf:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Walmart EssayAs the war begins he first covers the Prussian advance from the north andtheir quick defeat of the Austrian allies, before their new envelopmenttactics on a poorly placed and poorly led Austrian army. He showerspraise on this new Prussian tactic that proved unbeatable against an Austrianarmy that ignored its natural defenses, limited its own mobility, and whosegenerals ignorance and laziness allowed it to be swallowed up by a superiorPrussian force. He then focuses on the belated Italian attack, whichwas a case study in ineptitude, as both Italian and Austrian commandersbungled from one battle to another. Eventually, he covers the mainbattle of Custoza which t he Austrians barley winning, mostly due to theirsuperior firepower and weapons. After repulsing Italy, the Austriansthen sent reinforcements to the north, which is where Wawro then takeshis book. He finishes be explaining how the Prussian army moved furtherand further south by enveloping, breaking, and then chasing down the Austrianarmy at every instance. Eventually, the immobile and demoralizedAustrians retreated and the Prussians marched on Vienna where the Austrianswere forced to sue for peace. After discussing the devastating termslaid on the Austrians and their allies by Prussia, Wawro goes on to discusstheir political aftermath. He shows how once Prussian dominance wasestablished in the German confederation and Bismarck had absorbed the opponentsto Prussian rule, Prussia tossed Italy aside and forced them to sign aseparate peace. After Austria was defeated, Prussia turned its backon the lesser powers of Europe and focused on unifying the rest of Germanyin the west. Wawro discusses Prussian policy after the war with aheavy focus on their turn towards the west, foreshadowing their war withFrance in 1870. Prussia had defeated its biggest foe to this pointand as was recognized by the Austrian minister of state in 1866, and quotedby Wawro in this book, Prussia will not neglect the opportunity to showthe world and especially France- the immense power of its new position(p. 296). Not only does Wawro provide a blow-by-blowaccount of how the Prussian-Italian alliance eventually defeated the Austrianarmy, but he also goes to great lengths to explain why. Throughoutthe book Wawro reiterates several times how superior Prussian technology,tactics, and leadership carried the war. He gives an in-depth lookat how Hapsburg complacency and inefficiency, especially by the Austriangenerals, blundered away the war. Even before his discussion of thewar, he derides Austrian preparedness and pales them in comparison withthe Prussians. As for the war, he does not get so deep into the tacticsof every battle without explaining the strategic problems and poor judgmentsthat led to it. He gives a biting, almost vindictive, criticism ofthe inept Austrian army. Their lack of supplies and training, horriblemorale, ignorance of technology and tactics, and need for innovative leadershipis all scrutinized. He explains how the Austrian General Staff foolishlyplaced themselves away form th eir natural defenses, cutting their mobilityand offensive capabilities to nothing. Their laziness and reluctanceto engage the Prussian enemy, hoping to draw them into one decisive battle,is particularly scathed by Wawro. He places the Prussians and theirinnovative tactics on a pedestal, showing again and again how their strategyof envelopment, along with their superior weapons, overwhelmed the Austrians,first in Bavaria and Saxony and then against the Austrian North Army atKoniggratz. He does not treat the Italians much better, and doesnot focus much of the book on the southern front, except for the majorbattle at Custoza where he chides both sides repeatedly. Wawro finishesthe book sounding almost germanophilic, but his thesis holds true without. .u44ad61b70ac2a54d04314b94fe8887db , .u44ad61b70ac2a54d04314b94fe8887db .postImageUrl , .u44ad61b70ac2a54d04314b94fe8887db .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u44ad61b70ac2a54d04314b94fe8887db , .u44ad61b70ac2a54d04314b94fe8887db:hover , .u44ad61b70ac2a54d04314b94fe8887db:visited , .u44ad61b70ac2a54d04314b94fe8887db:active { border:0!important; } .u44ad61b70ac2a54d04314b94fe8887db .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u44ad61b70ac2a54d04314b94fe8887db { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u44ad61b70ac2a54d04314b94fe8887db:active , .u44ad61b70ac2a54d04314b94fe8887db:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u44ad61b70ac2a54d04314b94fe8887db .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u44ad61b70ac2a54d04314b94fe8887db .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u44ad61b70ac2a54d04314b94fe8887db .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u44ad61b70ac2a54d04314b94fe8887db .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u44ad61b70ac2a54d04314b94fe8887db:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u44ad61b70ac2a54d04314b94fe8887db .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u44ad61b70ac2a54d04314b94fe8887db .u44ad61b70ac2a54d04314b94fe8887db-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u44ad61b70ac2a54d04314b94fe8887db:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Killer Instinct EssayPrussia defeated Austria through the overwhelming force of superior Prussianweapons and tactics, coupled with the inexcusable complacency and ineffectivenessof the Austrian Army and General Staff. Wawros selected audience for this bookis most likely that portion of history students known as armchair historians. This is a perfect book for those who are fully into the field of historybut consume their free time with it. However, the general publicwould shy away from a book with so much detailed tactical information. Although Wawro provides good maps of troop placements and battles, whichhe uses to back up his points about Austrian and Italian mistakes, he clearlystill assumes a lot of knowledge on the part of the reader as to Austrian,Italian, and German geography. Also, Wawros bibliography is a longlist from Austrian archives and the few published works are almost allin German or Austrian. Thus, Wawro would overwhelm the common readerswhile historians of this time would likely not discover anything new inthis book. More scholarly than popular, Wawros book is perfect forthe at-home historian. Wawros book serves it purpose well. A former dissertation, the book is converted nicely into a format perfectfor those with an interest in the subject. Although a bit of pro-Prussianbias lurks throughout, Wawro accomplishes what the title promises, a thoroughrecollection of the Austro-Prussian War of 1866. Again, I would notrecommend it to just anyone on the street because the author is writingto a more scholarly audience than that. However, the book is enjoyableand enlightening as to the tactics of mid-nineteenth century warfare, andis a good read for anyone with a real interest in the field.

Euthanasia-Assisted Suicide essays

Euthanasia-Assisted Suicide essays Euthanasia in any one of its forms is the deliberate ending of life or the hastening of death at the instance of the patient. Over the last few years, Euthanasia or more specifically assisted suicide has become a much-debated topic not only in the medical circles but also in the legal and the social domains. When we look into the topic of mercy killing we find that it is the fear factor that underlies both the sides of the issue of the debate. From the patients perspective it is the fear of unbearable pain that cannot be assuaged, the embarrassment of dependence and the feeling of worthlessness and loss of self-love from the other angle we have a fear of doctors and nurses and the possibility of the abuse of the power. However, currently there are some countries (Netherlands, Oregon in US) where assisted suicide is legalized and practiced. Let us analyze this issue in a little detail and look into the ethical, social, medical aspects and in particular the nursing perspective to this highly controversial issue. Euthanasia is a combination of two Greek words Eu (easy, painless or happy) and thanatos meaning death. So the essential meaning of the term Euthanasia is pain free and happy end to life. So Euthanasia is the term for the act of delivering the suffering patient from his troubles by putting him to death. In other words it is nothing but physician assisted suicide (PAS). [Michigan Technological University]. There are basically two different forms of Euthanasia namely Active or Passive Euthanasia and Voluntary or involuntary Euthanasia. Passive Euthanasia is the case where the patient is left to himself without providing any treatment to restore or stabilize his vital life functions. Typical of this type of Euthanasia is the withdrawal of life support devices. On the other hand, active Euthanasia is a case where the patient is put to death by means of administering some lethal dosage. (Such as s...

Best Podcasts for Law Students

Best Podcasts for Law Students Blogs can be helpful for new law students, but many people enjoy listening to podcasts as well. Podcasts can be a great way to get information and give your very tired eyes a break from reading online. To help you update your podcast subscriptions, here is a list of some of the best podcasts for law students. Best Law Podcasts Enchanting Lawyer Podcast: This podcast is hosted by Jacob Sapochnick who runs his own solo practice and focuses on helping lawyers understand how to run and grow a business. Tips will be shared for using social media to grow your business and general marketing tips. Gen Why Lawyer Podcast: This weekly podcast is hosted by Nicole Abboud who interviews Gen Y attorneys who are accomplishing great things in their legal careers. She also talks to non-practicing attorneys who are using their legal knowledge to explore other ventures. Law School Toolbox Podcast: The Law School Toolbox podcast is an engaging show for law students about law school, the bar exam, legal careers, and life. Your hosts Alison Monahan and Lee Burgess offer practical tips and advice on academic matters, careers, and more. You might not always agree with them, but you won’t be bored listening. The goal is to impart useful, actionable advice in an entertaining manner. Lawpreneur Radio: This podcast is hosted by  Miranda McCroskey  who hung out her shingle over ten years ago to found her own firm. Her goal is to create a community where members are both lawpreneurs who’ve figured out how to successfully start their own firm and the vendors who support them. If you are ever thinking of hanging out your own shingle, check this out. Lawyerist Podcast: The  Lawyerist  is a popular legal blog and is also a podcast. In this weekly podcast, the hosts Sam Glover and Aaron Street chat with lawyers and interesting people about innovative business models, legal technology, marketing, ethics, starting a law firm, and much more.​ Legal Toolkit Podcast: This podcast is a  comprehensive resource for professionals in law practice management. Your hosts Heidi Alexander and Jared Correia invite forward-thinking lawyers to discuss the services, ideas, and programs that have improved their practices. Legal Talk Network:  The Legal Talk Network is an online media network for legal professionals that produces a large number of podcasts on a variety of different legal topics. The programs are available on-demand through various channels, including on the Legal Talk Network website, iTunes, and iHeartRadio. The flagship show called  Lawyer 2 Lawyer  has over 500 shows for you to listen to and download. If you are looking for a podcast to fill some extra commute or downtime, this may be the one for you. Resilient Lawyer: This podcast is hosted by Jeena Cho who offers mindfulness training for lawyers and is the author of The Anxious Lawyer. Jeena interviews a number of attorneys who share their stories about practicing law and finding a path to happiness. Thinking Like a Lawyer: This podcast is brought to you by the folks at Above the Law. Your hosts are Elie Mystal and Joe Patrice. They discuss a variety of topics, promising an entertaining and fun listen for those interesting in talking about the world through a legal lens.

Discuss changes and similarities in Roman Republic art and Essay

Discuss changes and similarities in Roman Republic art and architecture as opposed to Roman Imperial art and architecture - Essay Example This research aims to evaluate and present one feature which is noticeable from the Republican period of Roman art. This is the tendency to imitate Greek models of sculpture. Hellenist artists were much admired by the Romans, not just in sculpture but also in literature, music and all kinds of arts and crafts. In sculpture this influence can be seen very clearly in the muscular, semi-naked bodies and the static poses which exude a sublime and noble authority: â€Å"Critics are united in acknowledging the enormous debt owed to Greece by all branches of Roman art.† A good example of the way that Romans imitated Greek culture in the early days of the Republic can be seen in the statue of Diaoumenos which is a marble copy of a Greek bronze. The different material makes it somewhat stiffer and more formal than the bronze original must have been, but it shows a similar preoccupation with physical prestige. Vergil’s account of the early history of Rome contains an illuminating passage on the differing value systems that existed between Greeks and Romans. Anchises says: â€Å"Others will cast their breathing figures more tenderly in bronze and bring more lifelike portraits out of marble. Roman, remember by your strength to rule earth’s peoples for your arts are to be these: to pacify, to impose the rule of law to spare the conquered, battle down the proud.† This suggests that the emphasis for Romans may have been more on the symbolism of power and authority that these statues conveyed, than appreciation of the physical beauty of the piece. There are also technical differences in the way that the Romans adapted Greek techniques and styles. Jackson points out that the Roman funerary rights often involved the production of realistic death masks, from which also portraits in three dimensional marble could be made later, and explains the verism of late republican portrait statues as being partly derived from this tradition: â€Å"the death mask emphasizes the construction of the face and skull, whilst Hellenistic art shows more concern for the plastic rendition of muscle and for the surface detail generally.†

Analysis on Language, culture and communitcation Article - 1

Analysis on Language, culture and communitcation - Article Example 88 interviews, a review of 10,000 documents and 12,000 photos and video, was completed only on Tuesday morning, just hours before the hastily called news conference. The investigators recommended that the UN Security Council require Israel to launch its own credible investigation into the conflict within three months. If that is not done, the investigators called on the council to refer the matter for action by the International Criminal Court prosecutor within six months. However, Israel does not accept the courts authority. "The mandate of the mission and the resolution establishing it prejudged the outcome of any investigation, gave legitimacy to the Hamas terrorist organisation and disregarded the deliberate Hamas strategy of using Palestinian civilians as cover for launching terrorist attacks," Israels Foreign Ministry said. Goldstone, who is Jewish and has strong ties to Israel, told reporters at UN headquarters that "to accuse me of being anti-Israel is ridiculous," anticipating such criticism. He said it was in the interest of both Israelis and Palestinians to establish the truth of what happened in the conflict. In a joint statement, nine Israeli human rights groups said the findings join a "long series of reports" indicating that Israeli and Hamas violated the laws of war. It called on the Israeli government to conduct an "independent and impartial investigation." "Notwithstanding its reservations, Israel will read the report carefully," the Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday of the UN report, noting that the military has examined more than 100 allegations regarding the conduct of its forces during the Gaza operation, resulting in 23 criminal investigations. It found seven incidents in which civilians were shot while leaving their homes trying to run for safety, waving white flags and sometimes even following Israeli instructions, as well as the targeting of a mosque at prayer time, killing 15 people, were also war crimes. "Where there is no intended

Beowulf: A Christian and Pagan Poem Essay -- Epic of Beowulf Essay

Beowulf – a Christian-Pagan Poem  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In Beowulf the pagan aspect is revealed through many passages and many heathen rites or customs in which the form of expression or the thought suggests pagan usage or beliefs. The Christian aspect is revealed through 68 passages in which the form of expression or the thought suggests Christian usage or doctrine (Blackburn 3). The Christian element seems to be too deeply imbedded in the text of Beowulf for us to conclude that it is due to additions made by scribes at a time when the poem had come to be written down. The Christian element had to be included by the original poet or by minstrels who recited it in later times. The extent to which the Christian element is present varies from about ten percent in the first part to much less than that throughout the rest of the poem.    In Christianizing the local culture which produced Beowulf, Catholic missionaries to Britain in the early centuries took many words belonging to heathen beliefs and practices and adopted them into the church (Blackburn 3). For example, Hel was at one time the goddess of the world of the dead; Catholic missionaries used Hell to indicate the place of the dead, later of the damned. Likewise with words such as Yule, Easter, God, haelend, nergend, drihten, metod, frea; the latter ones have fallen from usage. We see these words used in Beowulf as well as other Anglo-Saxon poetry.    The theology which appears in the Christian allusions in the poem is very vague and indefinete: there is no mention of Christ, the saints, miracles, Mary His Mother, specific doctrines of the church, martyrs of the church, the New Testament (there may be one possible brief exception), rites or ceremonies of the church... ...l Interpretations: Beowulf, edited by Harold Bloom. New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 1987.    Chadwick, H. Munro. â€Å"The Heroic Age.† In An Anthology of Beowulf Criticism, edited by Lewis E. Nicholson. Notre Dame, IN: University of Notre Dame Press, 1963.    Chickering, Howell D.. Beowulf A dual-Language Edition. New York: Anchor Books, 1977.    Frank, Roberta. â€Å"The Beowulf Poet’s Sense of History.† In Beowulf – Modern Critical Interpretations, edited by Harold Bloom. New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 1987. Robinson, Fred C. â€Å"Apposed Word Meanings and Religious Perspectives.† In Beowulf – Modern Critical Interpretations, edited by Harold Bloom. New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 1987. Ward & Trent, et al. The Cambridge History of English and American Literature. New York: G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 1907–21; New York: Bartleby.com, 2000   

Teacher/Student Memorandum

The paper aims to provide new knowledge and view in the legalization of a harmful substance or drug. The paper’s purpose is to let people understand the sides of argument. The topic caught my interest and I figure that drug abuse is a timeless tale in the society that concerns every one of us. Through research on the topic, I was able to learn so much from it and the alarming statistics of marijuana usage.Writing the paper is not easy. I was having a difficult time trying to arrange the enormous facts I was able to gather and present them in a way that the reader will not be overwhelmed by it. The paper is well-researched and well-written. People will get a lot of insights from the paper. Revision is improving my writing skills and the paper should be subjected first to criticisms before I will revise it.The paper is about legalization of marijuana. I did not expound more on the effects of marijuana to humans that might help the reader understand more of the topic. The paper i s regarded as an intellectual piece that is full of knowledge and view. It serves my purpose to inform and to impart knowledge on people. I would like people to react on what they think of the data and if they agree or disagree on the proposal of legalizing the drug. I want people to be critical when they read my paper.Should Marijuana be Legalized? One of the most persistent problems of the society is drug addiction. Drug addiction is a very crucial dilemma in the society. Using illegal drugs poses threats not only on the health of the people but it also creates other dangers to the society. One of the illicit drugs that are commonly used by people is the marijuana.The use of marijuana is the most common in the United States (â€Å"NIDA InfoFacts: Marijuana†). There are various reasons why some people attempt to use marijuana. And as such, when the individual has been addicted to it, dependency, withdrawal symptoms and the craving for the drug make it difficult and almost impossible to quit using the drug. Long duration of marijuana intake can lead to people’s addiction on the substance.They feel the need to use the drug even though it interferes with their school, family and recreational activities. As the most commonly used illicit drug in the United States, statistics shows that over 83 million Americans within a particular age bracket have tried to use marijuana at least once.The use of marijuana is considered illegal according to the current legal system. But there are arguments clamoring for the legalization of the use of marijuana due to the claims of its health benefits in some psychological and mental conditions. But the legalization of the drug posed new problems of drug abuse especially among children and adolescents.Marijuana (Cannabis Sativa)Marijuana is the psychoactive product of the plant Cannabis Sativa. The drug is composed of the dried flowers and leaves of the plant. Evidences claimed that marijuana is used since the early times and during the 20th century due to its prevalent use in medicinal, spiritual and recreational purposes. Evidences have proven the existence of the marijuana and its relevance in the religious rituals and practices of other countries.Marijuana is consumed in various ways. Inhaling and oral intake of marijuana are two of the most common ways of usin g the substance. Over the years, certain devices such as joints and smoking pipes were developed to aid in the intake of marijuana. Each society has a different method in preparing the plant before it can be consumed.The increasing use of this drug both for legal and illegal purposes became alarming. And as such, the possession, intake and selling of the various psychoactive substances from cannabis became illegal in most countries.   Thus, majority of the countries have already enforced laws prohibiting the proliferation of the drug.Intake of marijuana is most of the time detrimental to the health of the people dependent on it. A recent study conducted by the Canadian researchers found out that the smoke coming from the marijuana contains a higher level of toxic substances than the normal tobacco smoke. The toxic substances include ammonia and hydrogen cyanide making it a greater risk for health problems (â€Å"Marijuana Smoke Contains Higher Levels of Certain Toxins than Tobacc o Smoke†).Legal Status and Decriminalization of MarijuanaSince the start of the 20th century, most countries have already enacted laws prohibiting the possession, cultivation and use of marijuana. The laws created considerable impacts on the legal and non-recreational purposes of the plant. Because of this, there are some regions wherein the handling of the cannabis sativa is considered legal.There are jurisdictions that lessened the penalties for the possession and use of marijuana in small quantities. The offense is penalized by a fine or confiscation of the substance, instead of imprisonment. The laws focused more on the trafficking of the drug in the black market.Some jurisdictions, on the other hand, focused on the treatment and rehabilitation of the children and frequent users of marijuana. Other jurisdictions allowed the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes. Some countries retain the restrictive notion making drug tests mandatory, particularly in Canada, Denmark, Net herlands and United Kingdom. In some countries, simple possession of the drug is punishable by life sentence or execution.Although the use of marijuana remains as illegal, marijuana possesses a superior safety record as compared with other legal drugs. Misuse of over-the-counter and prescription drugs had caused death to a great number of Americans each year, while marijuana is one of the drugs with the lowest cause of fatality.There has not yet been a known case of over-dosage for marijuana causing death (Gerber & Sperling 84). Despite the instituted laws that prohibit possessing, cultivating, using and selling of marijuana, many people are opposing the enacted law and claim for the decriminalization of the handling of marijuana.The claims are based on the health benefits and non-drug purposes served by the plant. One of the non-drug purposes of the marijuana is its function in the industry. The common name of marijuana is hemp and cultivation license may be acquired from the Europ ean Union for the industrial purposes of marijuana. Fiber and fuel are the main products of industrial hemp cultivation.