Persuasive Essay On Legalization Of Marijuana

The Detroit Free Press Editorial Board’s Article Let the people decide about legalizing marijuana(2016) was an attempt to convince readers that Michigan Legislature is currently a “dysfunctional waste,” determined to keep Marijuana legalization off the ballots.The Press got their opinion across by using uncredited polls, tugging at the reader's emotions when describing both parties, and overall biased tone with underlying motives. The author uses pathos, ethos, and logos very effectively when trying to persuade the reader. Pathos is being used when the author attempts to appeal to our emotions while trying to pity MILegalize. Logos is being used when the authors tries to connect with our common sense in order to persuade by reason. Lastly ethos is being used when the author attempts to sway our opinion of michigan legislature, but altering our view of their character and morals.This article was written with intentions to get voters riled up, discredit the michigan legislature and provoke change within the court systems. The Editorial Board only presented their side of the argument, concluding they are targeting left-wing moderates that are for the legalization of marijuana.

Since 1937, when the Marijuana Tax Act was passed, federal law has prohibited the medical and recreational use of Marijuana. This act banned its production and use in all states. In 2012, however, Colorado and Washington legalized recreational use of marijuana, becoming the first states to do so. This was a very controversial decision on the states’ part, and it created a debate between the two levels of government. The main cause was the issues of federalism and supremacy. While under the supremacy clause the federal government's law takes precedence to the state law, there is also a debate on which level of government, federal or state, should handle the issue of marijuana legalization. The complexity of federalism is shown very well here

Marijuana is a schedule I substance, meaning that it has the potential for abuse and no accepted medical treatment options in the United States. Already, twenty-four states have legalized some form of cannabis. The majority of those states have just legalized marijuana for medicinal purposes; however recreational marijuana is fully legal in Alaska, Colorado, Washington, Oregon, and the District of Columbia. In Texas, it is illegal to possess, sell, transport, and grow marijuana. According to the Texas Controlled Substance Act, possession of 2oz or less of marijuana is a misdemeanor with a jail sentence of up to 180 days. However, Texas officials are now working to create a framework for the

Indeed this article reminds us that the use of cannabis in Colorado as well as the state of Washington is legal since 2012. Most of this use is for recreational purposes, as other states like California had tolerated a medical use of marijuana.

It is federally illegal to have marijuana in your possession however in state such as Washington and Colorado you can legally purchase it. “The federal prohibition of marijuana was enacted when the Controlled Substances Act passed Congress in 1970” (Schlesinger). Due to the state law that past in Washington and Colorado the United States government must decide if it will enforce the federal statues on possession of marijuana. Some states believe the government should not interfere whereas other states believe that this is federalism as gone wild.

The topic of legalizing marijuana has been on the fore front of controversial issues ever since marijuana, cannabis, was brought into the United States from Mexico in the early 1920s. Twenty-four states and the District of Columbia have legalized medical marijuana use in the past two decades, however, only four of those states, Alaska, Colorado, Oregon, and Washington, have passed the law legalizing recreational marijuana use. Some states have already enacted laws that allowed for the possession of marijuana to such individuals that received a written prescription from their doctors. Federal law, however, has continued to prohibit doctors from writing patients a marijuana prescription, meaning

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.

One of the major problems with federal and state drug laws is jurisdiction issues. State laws are only enforced in the state where the individual committed the crime whereas federal laws can be enforced anywhere in any state.  Furthermore, when there is a state law that corresponds with a federal law, the federal law can only be enforced if the crime was committed on a federal property.  Occasionally, federal laws may come into conflict with laws at the state level. For instance, under the laws of California, “medical” marijuana can be grown legally and dispensed for medicinal purposes to persons who have a prescription for it.  However, there is no differentiation involved at the federal level and the growth or possession of marijuana is prohibited

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

The legalization of marijuana has been a debate in the public eye within the United States for quite some time now; however, as time progresses many states continue to pass legislation. As of, March 2017, 26 states and the District of Columbia have laws legalizing marijuana use in some fashion and 24 remaining states with pending legislation. Although states are in debate for legalization it remains that federal law still prohibits any form of usage, selling, or buying. Federal law supersedes state law on this issue as it is written, “Legalizing Marijuana: Why Citizens Should Just Say No” from the Legal Memorandum Published by the Heritage Foundation,

It gives twenty-eight states where medical marijuana is legal. It provides a link to the rules, laws and regulations of each. The resource presents the year passed, how the law was passed, and the amount of possession.

Marijuana use is still illegal according to federal laws. It is only under state law that some have

Numbers of states have also decriminalized the possession of small of amounts of weed in other states has passed medical marijuana(weed) law allowing for limited use of cannabis some states such as Virginia enacted laws decades ago allowing for possession of marijuana if someone received weed (marijuana). Like many obsessions

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.