Cannabis In California

As of November 8, 2016, the usage of recreational marijuana in the state of California had officially become legal for use by adults over the age of 21. Although the Department of Justice under President Obama does not prosecute most individuals and businesses following state and local marijuana laws, both medical and recreational marijuana are technically illegal under federal law. Proposition 64 only made recreational marijuana legal in California state law. The reason for this is because there are both extensive amounts of positive and negative effects of a drug such as this and some states may deem the risks worthy of the benefit.

In today 's society the legalization of medicinal use of marijuana is becoming more common amongst the states. There are 24 states that recognize and accept patient registry or ID cards for medicinal use. Out of these 24 states, California is the only state to not have a specification on the condition you have to have to get prescribed a patient ID. Epilepsy is the main condition that the other 23 states recognize as a condition worthy of prescribing the use of medicinal cards. Of the 24 states only Colorado and Washington allow citizens to use the drug recreationally.

In 1996, California Proposition 215 passed with 55.6% votes in favor and 44.4% against it (Baird 2011). That is more California votes than Bush, Clinton, or most other elected presidents have received. Proposition 215 was the first statewide medical marijuana voter initiative adopted in the USA. This proposition was envisioned by San Francisco marijuana activist and owner of the San Francisco Cannabis Buyer’s Club, Dennis Peron, in memory of his partner, who smoked marijuana to help with symptoms of AIDS. Initially, California claimed its support for the legalization of medical marijuana by voting 80% in favor of Proposition P, the San Francisco medical marijuana initiative in 1991 (Baird 2011). Three California polls show a majority siding with Proposition 215, which would require only a ' 'doctor 's recommendation ' ' for marijuana use by patients with AIDS, cancer, glaucoma ' 'or any other illness for which marijuana provides relief (Goldberg 1996). ' ' A Field Poll ending Oct. 9, 1996 showed that 56 percent of those surveyed would vote for the measure, a private poll in the same period by the campaign for Proposition 215 found 57 percent supporting it, and a Los Angeles Times poll found 58 percent in favor. The opposition

To recreationally legalize marijuana in California means to use it for not only for medical purposes as well as recreational purposes. In California today you are able to purchase marijuana legally from dispensary and no other places. Adults that posses more than an ounce of marijuana will continue to face misdemeanor charges, including a $500 fine and up to six months in jail. Adults 18 to 21 will continue to face a $100 infraction for marijuana possession, while youths under 18 can get counseling or community service instead of a fine.

With more studies being completed, along with states legalizing medical marijuana the acceptance for this once “harmful” drug is increasing. There are twenty-eight states that have legalized marijuana for medical use. The first state to legalize marijuana was California back in 1996 ("What Are the Non-smoked Ways to Use Marijuana Medically? - Medical Marijuana - ProCon.org"). Within then the other twenty-seven states have followed, setting possession limits. Each state has compiled a list of approved conditions allowing patients to obtain marijuana for medical purposes. Patients also must register with the state and pay a registry fee before they are allowed to start treatment, this fee varies state to state. Some states accept other states’ registry ID card while other state do not. There are a general estimate of 2,604,079 nation wide users of medical marijuana.

Cannabis, also known as Marijuana, has been used by humans throughout history for medical, recreational, as well as spiritual purposes. Its fiber, oil, and seed are also refined into products such as hemp oil, wax, rope, cloth, and paper (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 2013, para. 1). With 56% voters overwhelming supported for medical cannabis, California became the first state in the United States to pass Prop 215 in 1996 ensuring the patients and their primary caregivers to “have the right to obtain and use marijuana for medical purpose” (California Department of Public Health, 2013, Text of Law section, para. 1).

Disadvantages of medical marijuana can range from side effects with medications, increased psychosis, and public health issues. In addition, those in California have to be residents to obtain a medical marijuana identification card. In order to qualify for a medical marijuana identification card, one has to have a debilitating medical condition. According to Cohen (2010), a debilitating condition means: cancer, glaucoma, positive status for human immunodeficiency virus, or acquired immune deficiency syndrome, or treatment for such conditions. The identification card also calls for physicians to comply with these regulations. The physician must have a good standing license to practice in California, take responsibility of the patient's care, disclose a medical examination on the patient beforehand, document the serious medical condition and how medical marijuana is necessary, and have the patient sign consent and copies of his or hers medical records (California Medical Association, 2011). Physicians also have to look at the health risk that their patient might face if prescribed medicinal marijuana. According to the California Medical Association, 9% of adults become addicted to cannabis. This can lead to cognitive deficits that can range from impaired memory to the inability to learn. This article also indicated that long-term use can increase risk of developing schizophrenia due to

Since government funding is not permitted, private dispensaries are generally set up to administer marijuana prescriptions with varying levels of restrictions ranging from strict to almost nonexistent (Kleber & Dupont, 2012). Physicians may issue a “marijuana card” to patients who apply for drug treatment programs within their authorized state of residence and processed for approval or denial (Harding, 2013). Conventional pharmacies cannot administer marijuana prescriptions; therefore insurance companies do not cover it. Patients have the option of having a personal supply (if approved in their state) or the use a dispensary facility.

The practice of medicinal cannabis dates all the way back to proposition 215 in 1996 when it was passed and became legal in the state of California. Unfortunately, many counties have begun closing down medical dispensaries in their cities for various reasons. In Orange County, city officials and people from the community believe that dispensaries have brought a rise in crime to their streets. In the last coming years Anaheim, Santa Ana, Costa Mesa and even Newport Beach have cracked down on countless dispensaries in their area. The citizens of these cities are not informed what this plant does to these sick impaired people. Veterans usually need to buy and smoke this herb herb for them to be

In the essay “Marijuana Should Not be Legalized in Canada”, the author’s controlling idea is that marijuana should not legalized in Canada because of health, tax, and societal impacts. To begin with, the author tells us “if store-bought marijuana becomes overtaxed, people will fall back on the already established underground market”. This example discusses how black market will continue existing because of the overtaxed of the marijuana. Moreover, “street marijuana has other drugs mixed into it” so that more people prefer and that will also increase the establish of underground market. Secondly, the author states “marijuana constrain 33 chemicals that are known to cause cancer”. This reinforces the idea that marijuana cause health problems.

The issue at hand is the legalization of marijuana in California. Five research questions are as follows: 1. Do you believe that marijuana should be legalized in California as it has been in Colorado and Washington? 2. Do you believe that marijuana is harmful? 3. Should marijuana be sold is the same manner as alcohol and tobacco, with ID checks? 4. Would you support legalizing the importation of marijuana from other countries or transporting it into California across state lines? 5. Is the legalization of marijuana a high priority for government officials or a low priority?

McGrath, J., Welham, J., Scott, J., Varghese, D., Degenhardt, L., & Hayatbakhsh, M. et al. (2010). Association Between Cannabis Use and Psychosis-Related Outcomes Using Sibling Pair Analysis in a Cohort of Young Adults. Arch Gen Psychiatry, 67 (5), 440. http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2010.6

Also known as California Proposition 215, the Compassionate Use Act of 1996 made headlines around the country as the first law ever to change the legality of medical marijuana for public consumption statewide. Originating in San Francisco, it was passed by 55.6% of California voters on November 5, 1996 (Human Rights and the Drug War). The ideology behind passing Prop. 215 is that marijuana contains a number of legitimate medical uses and should be made available to those who would benefit from it. The text of the proposed law states that “seriously ill Californians have the right to obtain and use marijuana for medical purposes where that medical use is deemed appropriate” (NORML, 2009). All patients possessing a reasonable amount of

This article is about many people that want to make profit from selling marijuana, and the challenges that it brings in the California markets. For all these people that cultivate and sale this drug will be hard for them to make a profit in the California market because of the state's legendary regulation and the enormous black market. California will be another state in the united states that will be legal to sale marijuana to adult 21 and over starting, on January one, but before all this happen the states of California will have to prove some rules. In my opinion not matter how good the regulation is it will be impossible to stop people of misusing this drug. There will be many young people walking into a wrong path because many young people

In this essay I will explore the positive and negative effects of legalizing Cannabis in California. I support the legalization of Cannabis, these are my reasons why; If California does legalize Cannabis then it would decrease the money spent on drug enforcement and criminal persecution. Legalizing Cannabis would also reduce the value of the black market product. It would also generate revenue for the California economy because it would be a taxable item that is in high demand.