"In any civilized society, it is every citizen 's responsibility to obey just laws. But at the same time, it is every citizen 's responsibility to disobey unjust laws." Martin Luther King Jr. Many people ask “why should marijuana be legalized”? when the real question that we should be asking is “why shouldn’t marijuana be legalized”?. Marijuana also known as hemp is a naturally grown plant that has been around for decades dating back to around 2697 B.C., when the Egyptians would use it to cure many common ailments, and the Chinese would use it for therapeutics. Using marijuana not only to cure common illnesses but for your pleasure as well should be up to you the free citizens of California and not to the government. The first major reason
Question #2: Are individuals given “prescriptions” for medical marijuana? If not, what do they get and how does the process work?
Right after the U.S. Department of Justice announced in March 2009 that it would no longer prosecute marijuana patients and providers whose actions are consistent with state medical marijuana laws (Meyer & Glover, 2009, para. 1), political windows suddenly opened for California marijuana reform advocates to push for legalizing the recreational use of marijuana. As a result, California Proposition 19, the Regulate, Control & Tax Cannabis Act, became a ballot initiative on November 2, 2010 statewide ballot. Supporters argued that legalizing creational use of marijuana would help California to regulate the use and sale of marijuana, reduce correctional costs, redirect its court and law enforcement resources to other more serious crimes, and collect additional exercise taxes and sales taxes that would help with California’s budget shortfall. In spite of being a
Since 1996, the state of California, and by default, the city of Desert Hot Springs, have allowed the use of medical marijuana. Under proposition 215, any individual with a prescription could legally possess and use cannabis. And this was the case until recently, when a chain of events led to the legalization of consumption for non-medical reasons in California. Proposition 64 legalizes the private use of marijuana as of January 1st, 2018. However, this decision appears to have been made prematurely as the effects of such an abrupt decision are beginning to manifest themselves. Aside from the palpable consequences of marijuana consumption, including sluggishness and impaired judgement, there are far more serious unintended consequences impacting
The decriminalization of marijuana has been a great issue and has contributed to the arrests of thousands. In Jon Gettman’s article, “Arrests, Usage, and Related Data,” he reports on the reasons for arrests in California. Gettman asserts that, “Marijuana arrests in California have increased from 61,375 in 2003, to 74,024 in 2007.” This suggests that law enforcement has focused on this issue immensely, and it has proven to affect many lives. It goes to show that the arrests for marijuana possession are only increasing as the years go by as well. Gettman also claims that, “Marijuana possession arrests accounted for 80% of all marijuana arrests in California during 2007”(Gettman).This suggests that so many people have a marijuana offense on their record for simply having it, and not being caught using it. If marijuana is legalized, as much as 80% of these users would no longer face arrests as possessing marijuana would no longer be a crime. In his article, “California Arrested Nearly Half a Million People for Pot over the past Decade,” Christopher Ingraham also stresses that although an effort to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana in 2011 was made, thousands are still getting arrested for it. Many are getting arrested for misdemeanors and felonies. The perfect records of many are being destroyed
Twenty-five states and the capital of the United States, Washington D.C. have legalized the use of medical marijuana. This poses a problem for employers that have a strict zero tolerance drug policy while abiding by the Americans with Disabilities Act. For example, an employee can be prescribed medical marijuana by their doctor to relieve certain diseases or symptoms such as cancer and migraines. The objective of this paper is to discuss and illustrate the right of an employer to apply their drug policy and not be required to accommodate an employee and/or applicant’s need for medical marijuana.
These types of drugs are classified to have a high potential for abuse, no recent acceptable medical use in treatment, and a low acceptable safety for use. The FDA has studies the drug for decades and keeps confirming that there are no medical benefits given by smoking marijuana, and actually can cause harm by using it (Drug Enforcement Administration, 2006). Citizens against Legalizing Marijuana (CALM) are opposed to any State law that tries to destroy the Federal Controlled Substances Act. Their place is that California Proposition 215 was misrepresented under the misguided claim that ingesting marijuana gives effective medical value, and that there are unimportant, harm and negative effects from the use of it. However, SB 420 failed to attempt to verify some qualities of Prop 215 (Drug Enforcement Administration, 2006). The SB 420 settles agreements with patients’ advocates and law enforcement, which involve controversial new state guidelines concerning how much marijuana patients can grow and own without being exposed to arrest (California,
In the current state of our society, there are many issues that have the ability to affect citizens on a daily basis. Some of these issues spark debates all the way up to presidential candidates, while others continue to hide in the shadows. A major issue in today’s society is the use of marijuana and other elicit drugs. Marijuana legalization has been a topic on many state house floors and senate meetings. Many states have legalized medical marijuana or some form of the two active ingredients: THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) or CBD (Cannabidiol). Few states have legalized recreational use, which allows citizens over 21 to purchase marijuana for personal use. I want to propose a study on the effects of recreational use of marijuana in the US and
On November 9, 2016 proposition 64 known as marijuana, was legalized with a rate of around "56% to 44%" (Steinmetz) of votes. In the Times newspaper opinionated article, “What to Know About Marijuana Legalization in California,” by Katy Steinmetz she explained complicated details of the legalization. She clarified the importance of “where can marijuana be consumed,” “growing pot plants inside your house,” and “what happens if I smoke or ingest marijuana and drive” (Steinmetz). Katy Steinmetz publicly advises her readers, so that individuals could be well informed about the drug. However, marijuana can become a bad habit, it is unsafe, and an excuse to later on using other dangerous drug as well. Consuming or smoking
In the end of 2016, 56% of Californians voted to approve Proposition 64, which legalizes the recreational use of marijuana in the state (The Times Editorial Board, 2017). The new Proposition passed with 56% of the popular vote. The Control, Regulate and Tax Adult Use of Marijuana, Proposition 64’s full name, gives permission to those over 21 to acquire marijuana for personal use and cultivate up to six plants in private residences (Fuller, 2016). Following the steps of states such as Colorado and the District of Columbia, California’s new measure would regulate and tax marijuana in all levels: cultivation, use, distribution, and sale. Also, according to the Act’s own wording, by regulating and licensing the weed industry, one would prevent
Proposition 64 permitted adults 21 years or older to have and utilize cannabis for recreational purposes. The measure made two new assessments, one required on the development and the other on retail cost. Income from the taxes will be spent on medication research, treatment, and requirement, wellbeing and security stipends tending to cannabis, youth programs, and keeping natural harm coming about because of unlawful cannabis creation.
They believe Proposition 64 would end the need for a huge number of problems and deal a blow to the illegal market, which thrives on prohibition. To them, the reality is that California has already, essentially, legalized marijuana. Virtually any adult can get a medical marijuana recommendation and buy pot products legally at a dispensary. And those who can’t be bothered to fake a headache or back pain can buy it on the black market without fear of going to jail. If it is passed, adults 21 and older would be allowed to grow, buy and possess marijuana for their personal use in private homes or at businesses licensed for on-site consumption. The state would license and regulate businesses that grow, process, deliver and sell marijuana. Pot shops could not sell tobacco or alcohol. Cities would have the ability to set local regulations and even ban marijuana businesses, but they couldn’t bar adults from growing, using or transporting marijuana for personal use. Proponents believe this system to be a much stronger and better setup as it allows cities to regulate to regulate and everything is confined to your own personal
Growing up I had a friend named Todd. He lived down the road from me, about 2 streets down. Todd use to stay at my house three or four nights a week. I never knew why, it didn’t bother me in fact, it was like having another brother. We did everything together, played on the same football team, played video games together, and went on vacationing together. To Todd my parents were his parents, they did everything he wished his parents would do. It wasn’t until high school that I finally asked Todd why he didn’t like staying at home. His response will stick with me forever. He said he didn’t like being at home because his parents were always high and because of this they would never talk to him, cook for him, or spend any amount of time with him.
Currently the use of marijuana, or cannabis, is illegal in the United States under federal law. According to Jeff Darnell, the Stanislaus County deputy district attorney, even the use of medical marijuana is illegal. This is due to the Controlled Substance Act. The Controlled Substance Act regulates the use and distribution of certain substances. Many states have started to ignore this law and legalize the medical use of marijuana. Some have even legalized recreational use. These events raise the question, who should decide on the legality of use of marijuana? Should the federal government, state, or local government hold the power to decide? The states should have the power to
In 2012, Colorado and Washington became the first two states that legalized recreational marijuana. The sale of marijuana was no longer illegal. Even in Colorado’s law, growing marijuana for personal use was allowed. Whether recreational marijuana should be legalized has been a controversy since the last century. Those who oppose the legalization suggest that marijuana is addictive and harmful to health, and government should ban it in to protect citizens’ health. Those who support the legalization hold the view that marijuana is less harmful than alcohol and tobacco. Also, they insist that they have personal right to use