With marijuana being one of the biggest controversial topics in America, many states are deciding to favor the decriminalization of marijuana. There are currently 22 states that have passed the law of legalizing small amount of marijuana, allowing first-time marijuana possessions to be released of all jail time, no arrest, or criminal record and be treated as a minor traffic violation. However, some states like Virginia are still up in debate on whether they will follow the trend and decriminalize marijuana. The executive committee of the Virginia State Crime Commission is currently conducting a study that will determine if small amounts of marijuana will become legal in the state. Virginia current laws prohibit all purposes and possession of marijuana and will result in a criminal misdemeanor. Virginia’s new governor, Ralph Northam, voiced his support on the decriminalization and legalization of marijuana, stating that Virginia’s current marijuana enforcement and sentencing laws remain “costly and disproportionately harmful to communities of color.” In a letter he wrote to Virginia’s State Crime Commission, Northman compares the spending amount of marijuana enforcement to the amount of money that could be used to open 13,000 pre-k spots for kids. He also states that African Americans are three times likely to get arrested for marijuana possession that could include jail time. In addition, Virginia senate majority leader Tommy Norment favors lifting the penalties in place
The truths about marijuana are slowly starting to resurface, the government keeps ignoring that cannabis could one day be as powerful for the U.S. Unfortunately, these truths about marijuana are under a lot of criticism because of the stereotype of what people see as a "marijuana or cannabis smoker." There is a great difficulty in this law because marijuana is still recognized as a harmful and dangerous substance in some states. This can cause problems because each state has their different views and opinions on the matter, and have their own rules and how the rules apply towards it. The twenty-six states and the District of Columbia currently have laws legalizing marijuana in some form, but California, Massachusetts, and Nevada just passed the law for recreational use. The states that have medical marijuana and recreational legalization are Washington, Oregon, California, Colorado, Nevada, and Alaska. The states that only have medical marijuana legal are Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut, New Jersey, Maryland, Delaware, Florida, Louisiana, Arkansas, New Mexico, Arizona, Hawaii (Ingraham). However, legalizing marijuana could have some benefits instead of being a drug with some bad reputations. Marijuana should be legalized because of medical reasons, safety reasons, and have some benefits to society.
Marijuana, a substance that was used frequently during the colonial times, has taken a social downfall in recent times. Although it is still illegal to possess or use for any means by federal law, states like California and Arizona have taken steps in the other direction.
Marijuana in the United States has been a big issue for decades dating back to when it was first made illegal in 1937. Using scare tactics, propaganda, and false facts, the government decided to classify the plant as a schedule one drug along with substances such as ecstasy, LSD, and heroin. Marijuana has since become a more common and socially acceptable (Not by the government) drug in recent years. This past year Colorado, Washington, and Oregon had decided to vote on the issue of legalizing marijuana for recreational use. Focusing on Colorado, Amendment 64 passed on November 6th, 2012 which would legalize the possession of up to an ounce of the plant.
Cannabis is a popular topic amongst teens, adults and medical doctors these days. Cannabis, also known as marijuana, pot, weed and hash can be quite controversial across America, since you have those who disapprove and those who condone its use. You might know someone who uses it, or maybe you have even tried it before. They say more than 1 in 3 people in America have tried marijuana at one point in their lives (Web MD). As of 2017, 29 states plus the District of Columbia have legalized medical marijuana to some extent (Healthline). Recreational use of marijuana has been legalized in 8 states, with the age restriction being 21 years or older (CNN).
If it is already legal in one state it should be legal in all states, it is only fair. Marijuana is legal in a few states such as Colorado and Washington. These are the only two states that have legalized it for “recreational” use, for ones enjoyment. According to the Governing the States and Localities website, Montana, New Mexico, Arizona, and of course, California are just some of the states that have legalized the use of medical marijuana (Governing the States and Localities).
Last week the Delaware legislature followed in the footsteps of so many other common-sense states and decriminalized possession of small amounts of marijuana. An individual may now possess up to an ounce of marijuana without threat of criminal prosecution.
Over the past two decades, 16 states have de-criminalized possession of small amounts of marijuana, and 22 have legalized it for medical purposes. In November 2012, Colorado and Washington went further, legalizing marijuana for recreational purposes. No state has decriminalized, medicalized, or legalized cocaine, heroin, or methamphetamine.
In the United States, more than ten states have legalized the use of marijuana for medical reasons. These states include California, Hawaii, Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, Vermont, Rhode Island, Nevada, and Washington among others. The Supreme Court of
B. A federal law was passed in 1937 making the possession and sell of the plant genus cannabis illegal. Medicinal marijuana has been legal since as early in 1996 in California via state law. Across the United States, 24 states allow cannabis for medical reasons and four allow marijuana for all purposes, including recreational. Washington, Oregon, Alaska, Colorado and Washington D.C. are all states that allow the drug to be used for purposes exceeding medical needs. These states can be used as examples as the rest of the country decides to legalize the plant or allow the federal law to remain in effect.
In 2015 twenty states had legalized marijuana, of those states two had legalized recreational use, but without a unified decision by congress many may encounter the chaos that some states currently are.
It's been a long, difficult trek to get to the point where marijuana, in any form, is legal. Currently, there are 23 states that have legalized medical marijuana and four states and the District of Columbia have legalized recreational use. That number is expected to increase over the next year, as more states are expected to vote on bills to legalize medical and/or recreational marijuana. Lawmakers, environmentalist, and growers alike are all learning what works, and what doesn't in this growing industry. There are
Recreational marijuana is now legal in four states (as of June 19, 2015), Colorado, Washington, Alaska, and Oregon. Medical marijuana is legal in twenty-three states (as of June 19, 2015). I believe no more states should legalize it. California was the first state to prohibit marijuana use about a century ago. People should be entirely careful about using marijuana because of the negative effects it produces. Marijuana should be illegal because it is harmful to young people’s brains, it can cause breathing problems, it increases your heart rate, and it can become addictive. Some people think marijuana is okay (especially for medical purposes), because it can reduce nausea during chemotherapy and it decreases pain and inflammation in autoimmune diseases.
Marijuana entering the mainstream and the legalization of marijuana go hand in hand. From 2004 to 2015, 24 states including D.C, have legalized medical marijuana and they are Connecticut, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota, Arizona, Delaware, Hawaii, Alaska, Nevada, Rhode Island, Maine, New Hampshire, Oregon, New York, California, Maryland, Vermont, New Mexico, New Jersey, Washington, Michigan, Massachusetts, the District of Columbia and Montana. Fourteen states have decriminalized certain amount of marijuana possession and four states legalized marijuana use and they are Colorado, Alaska, Oregon Washington, as well as the District of Columbia. In the state of New York marijuana has been decriminalized so possession of 25 grams or less is considered a citation which is like a traffic ticket. If you are carrying more than 25 grams in New York City then it is considered a misdemeanor and you can receive a jail sentence. According to recent opinion polls more than half of Americans support legalizing marijuana, but particularly for medical use. “Cannabis is the world’s most widely used illicit
The use, sale and possession of marijuana is still illegal under federal law in the United States. However, it is allowed in 20 states and
Recreational Marijuana is legal in eight states. In Alaska, adults 21 and over can light it up. California, which legalized medical pot in 1996, became even more friendly with the drug in 2016 when it made it legal to use and carry up to an ounce of Marijuana.