Legalizing Marijuana Pros And Cons

Studies prove otherwise; the short-term effects of smoked marijuana did not seem to be unsafe in people with HIV infection. Patients inhaling marijuana had improved immune function compared with those receiving a placebo.  They also gained weight which is a common problem with HIV patients. Medical marijuana helped these patients with their pain, showed signs of improvement in the patient’s immune systems, and even helped them increase their appetite so they could gain weight. Again what little testing that has been done has been positive, and the government has no proof that marijuana is more life threatening than America’s over the counter drugs. Another issue raised is that we would be setting a bad example for our children legalizing marijuana.

The question of whether or not marijuana should be legalized for recreational and medicinal use has been a three decade long conversation. There are many pros and cons to legalizing marijuana. There are many different ideas about the effects of marijuana, but as with any drug answers are going to vary depending on the person you survey. Age, health, and mental stability are all factors to consider how a drug can positively or negatively affect you, and marijuana is no different. To be legal or not to be legal is the million dollar question up for debate.

Recreational marijuana legalization in Colorado, Washington, Oregon, and Alaska have, technically, broken federal law. As long as the federal government does not do anything about the state’s blatant disregard for higher law they can do what they want. I think that because state and federal law contradict at the moment there should be clarification. States should only be able to pass a law such as this if it is also legal on a federal level, but if there are no repercussions for violating federal law where does it end? Recreational marijuana is a state issue, in my opinion. If it is to be legalized in America at a federal level then each state should be allowed to choose their side. At this point, federal government is showing its cracks. 4 of our states are currently not obeying the Constitution; federal law trumps state law. Our government needs to pull itself together and start paying attention to what the states are doing.

Before 1937, marijuana was freely bought, sold, grown, and smoked in the United States. Since that time, all of these activities have been illegal, but many groups and individuals have fought to decriminalize marijuana. The congressional decision to classify marijuana as a Schedule I drug in 1970 has made the legalization campaign more difficult, since it officially established marijuana as a dangerous, addictive drug with no medicinal benefits.

Medical marijuana has been proven to be a very curable substance. According to Donald Abrams (N.D), as referenced in Kim Ann Zimmermann (2015), “the idea that marijuana may have therapeutic effects is rooted in solid science. Marijuana contains 60 active ingredients known as cannabinoids. The body naturally makes its own form of cannabinoids to modulate pain” .This supports the idea that marijuana can help individuals medically. It can also be helpful for many who need its medical help .Many people will be having the chance to buy and use it if it gets legalized. Marijuana is not in reach of everyone because when individuals want to buy weed they need to get a doctor’s prescription or have an excuse and not everyone can fake an excuse or get a doctors prescription; as a result, many people cannot purchase it except illegally. As long as marijuana is not legalized many individuals won’t be able to use it. Zimmermann (2015) explains that the primary psychoactive cannabinoid in marijuana is THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol. THC is responsible for the psychological effects of marijuana. Moreover, the THC targets cb1 which is located in the brain, nervous system, liver, kidney and lungs the cb1 becomes active most of the time to relive pain (Kim Zimmerman, 2015). Many people call that process of reliving pain as getting “high”. In fact, most of the people who use marijuana use it to feel “high”. Because, when someone

Several states are taking advantage of new beliefs in medical marijuana. The State of Illinois has also adapted an Act that outlines the use and guidelines for medical marijuana titled, “Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program Act - Illinois Act 410 ILCS 130”. Some of the information on this Act is not clearly stated, one instance is regarding the Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Fund (410 ILCS 130/20). This section has limited information regarding these funds and how they may be used, collected, and invested. Because there are limited explanations to how the funds are to be distributed, invested, and held in the State treasury, Illinois Act 410 ILCS 130 should not be passed.

Legalizing marijuana has always been an interesting topic for many people to dispute about. Some people say it is good, while others say it is bad. No matter what topic you speak about, it has its pros and cons. For example, marijuana can be used in great ways if legalized. Through money given from dispensaries to the crime rate lowered because of the ability to acquire marijuana in legal ways. Some bad examples are that it can be a gateway drug and can cause one to want a “better high” to people thinking it affects people's lives. Legalizing marijuana (medical and recreational) will help the United States with money, crime, and other numerous ways.

The use of marijuana is quite a controversial topic. Some people believe the use can be helpful, to society, while others greatly disagree. Three of the popular marijuana uses, which are smoking, eating, and vaping, are a great representation of this dispute.

Tourists have been found attempting to take marijuana out of the country where it is not legal. “Tourists as they come and go through Amsterdam they are not legally allowed to take marijuana out of the Country” (Hawkins). And although it is illegal, many still do it since there are many large quantities being sold and distributed. The problems that The Netherlands are facing with marijuana should also be taken into consideration before it is legalized in the United States. Some may argue why bother bringing Amsterdam into the picture? Well there are multiple reasons, take into mind that Colorado has legalized marijuana in their state. Colorado although having the benefits of medical marijuana throughout the state, their drug crime rate has skyrocketed and their crimes have increased. This has to do with medical marijuana. Since it is able to be purchased freely, the distribution of the drug has increased tremendously. Tying medical marijuana into Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson, when Jekyll had first discovered Hyde he was ecstatic and felt younger and lighter, but as time wore on Jekyll realized how pure evil Hyde was (Stevenson 69). Medical marijuana can also be put with it being evil. Although it may work, the herb is addictive and can leave a patient with strong cravings and a constant need of marijuana. Taking

According to Council Bill 20-409 the targeted population of those affected by this bill “a person 18 years of age or older who possesses marijuana weighing less than one ounce shall not be guilty of a criminal offense. Such possession shall be a civil violation, subjecting the person to a civil fine of $100 and forfeiture of the marijuana” (Simple Possession of Small Quantities Of Marijuana Decriminalization Amendment Act, 2013). The bill also targets individual under the age of 18 years of age. “A person under the age of 18 who possesses marijuana weighing less than one ounce shall not be guilty of a criminal offense. Such possession shall subject the person to the same civil penalties in (3)(A) and the person under the age of 18 shall be

“Legalizing and regulating marijuana could bring the nation's largest cash crop under the rule of law; this could create jobs and economic opportunities in the formal economy instead of the illegal market” (Marijuana Legalization and Regulation, 2014). For example in Colorado after legalizing marijuana, first year sales rained in at $63 million in tax revenues with an additional $13 million for licenses and fees. Marijuana is such a debatable topic and brings so much confusion amongst society. While debating if it should be legalized there are different models and methods used in the framework of the legislation in regards to this topic.

Opponents of legalization will typically admit that some of the arguments presented by proponents are legitimate and persuasive but believe that both the physical and societal results outweigh any right to personal autonomy or economic benefit. They begin by pointing out that any revenue gains that will be achieved by legalization will be completely mitigated by the cost that usage of marijuana imposes on the society. In 2016 alcohol and tobacco imposed a societal cost of almost $500 billion on account of related medical care, loss of life, and workplace productivity. It is also questionable that the government will actually be able to raise the revenues predicted because many growers and distributors sell their products on a cash basis and will not report this income to the state government. They also respond to the arguments related to alcohol and tobacco being legal by stating that marijuana is clearly addictive and allowing it to be legal simply because other addictive substances are currently legal, is like shooting yourself in the left foot simply because you have already been shot in the right foot.

Cannabis is becoming increasingly widespread and increasingly common in modern-day society for both recreational use and for medication. The article by Craig Reinarman, ‘Criminalisation, legalisation and the mixed blessing of medicalisation in the USA’ generates many controversial issues of cannabis.

Currently drug abuse is the issue that has plagued almost all the societies in the world. This problem poses serious threat to the life of people both in developed and underdeveloped countries. There are different kinds of drugs such as heroin, cocaine, cannabis, hallucinogens, ecstasy, and methamphetamine and so on (McGeorge & Aitken, 1997). Young and age-old people largely use many of these drugs. People usually consider these drugs as a relief from their worries, but these drugs lead them towards addition and psychotic disorders that eventually destroy their health. Legislative authorities in almost every part of the world have been trying to save their generations from the abuse, but the use of these drugs never ended. However, these legislations help to minimize the numbers of drug users where their implementation is done properly (Hall et al., 2004). The aim of this research paper is to provide knowledge about the Cannabis Legalization in Australia and the people’s approach who favor or oppose this legalization. Cannabis drug use, impacts, cannabis legalization in Australia and its advantages and disadvantages will also

Should Marijuana be Legalized? Over half of Americans answer ‘’Yes.’’ Marijuana is greatly frowned upon, not just in America, but all across the globe. But these laws against Marijuana are up for debate in several countries. Especially in the United States. There are sixteen states in this country that allow medical usage of Marijuana.