The Pros And Cons Of Authorizing 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.

There have been many arguments that have been raised against marijuana whether it has to do with recreational marijuana, medical marijuana and in any other ways. Most arguments against marijuana are centered on the use of the drug for pleasure and imagination. Is it morally permissible to use marijuana, does it cause violence, is it a gateway drug, is it addictive, should using marijuana be regulated by law and what regulations should there be, should it be fully legalized and regulated, should it be decriminalized are questions that are usually asked when it comes to recreational marijuana. Providing answers and solutions to this dilemma is not as easy as pointing the wrongness of crimes such as rape or murder. Therefore, the debate on marijuana cannot be held on similar platforms as those crimes and it needs a philosophic analysis to identity the moral rightness, wrongness or the neutrality of the use of recreational marijuana. In this paper, I will argue that there is pros and cons to recreational marijuana and why there are pros and cons to it.

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.

The role of how marijuana is used in the United States is being reexamined, rethought, and recalibrated, Barcott emphasize throughout his book. The new adjustment in America's relationship with cannabis cannot be measured in just monetary or social terms, “there are more profound movements going ahead here; social realignments, social alterations, and budgetary modifications” Barcott believes. Barcott show marijuana came to be one of the most vilified drugs in the market ever since the war on drugs was announced in the 1980s. However, the author shows how those who were against that movement are now cheerful that the way of that line of thinking is finally coming to a close. “Weed the

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.

Why Medical Cannabis is still federally banned? Well Marijuana has been illegal since the 1950’s, due to the enactment of federal laws like the “Narcotics management Act of 1956” that set necessary sentences that relate to drug-related offenses, as well as marijuana. A Montana grower is now in prison. “Chris Willams a Medical Marijuana grower in Montana now faces the rest of his life in prison because a Medical Marijuana law was canceled.”This law didn't include the medical use of Marijuana. I believe Medical Marijuana ought to be legal below tax and distributed to only patients with treatable diseases.

When it comes to dealing with marijuana and deciding between legalization, decriminalization, or leaving it how it is now the best option would be legalization. Decriminalization of marijuana would still not make it legal, but it would lessen the criminal penalty. Therefore, some states treat possessing a small amount of marijuana like a minor traffic violation. Whereas legalization would make marijuana legal like states such as Colorado and Washington have already done. But why is this the better option?

Over the past 46 years there has been an increased in the number of people who are in favor of legalizing marijuana. In a survey conducted in 1969, “12 percent of Americans thought marijuana used should be legal” (Jones 1). Nothing really change in the 1970’s and 1990’s, but in 2000 it “exceeded 30 percent…and was higher than 40 percent by 2013” (Jones 1). Several reasons for this dramatic increase is that more Americans are becoming aware of its medicinal use, also how the legalizing marijuana can help boost in revenue, and “newer generations of adults are more in favor of marijuana, replacing the older generation of adults who aren’t” (Jones 1).

The use of marijuana in the United States used to be a rather taboo subject. The infamous slogans of “Just Say No” and “Reefer Madness” filled the ears of society and many listened. However, in recent years marijuana legalization has come to the forefront of politics, as more and more Americans are opening up to the idea of legalizing marijuana nation wide for medical and recreational purposes. With about half of adults in the United States in favor of legalizing marijuana it shows that this may be the first time in history where complete legalization of the drug could be a real possibility. It’s not just millennials at the forefront of this fight either. Support from Generation X, the Baby Boomers, and even the Silent Generation have been steadily climbing over the past decade (Nathan). Legalization of marijuana would not mean a free for all for those who use cannabis for either medicinal or recreational purposes. Supporters of legalization propose that marijuana should be regulated and taxed similarly to how alcohol is. There would be a set legal age for those who wish to purchase it, the marijuana would only be available at certain retail outlets, it would be taxed, and there would still be criminal charges placed on those who drive under the influence. Colorado, Washington, Oregon, Alaska, and the District of Columbia have already passed legislation to legalize marijuana and have seen positive effects from doing so. Washington and Colorado were the first two states to do

The purpose of this content is to strategically examine the overwhelming plethora of information surrounding the legalization of marijuana. Many sources available have been used to identify the mental, physical, economic and social issues surrounding the facets of marijuana use on both ends of the spectrum. While the judicial system is holding to the values entrusted to them through society; they are red taped by the economic repercussions. The health benefits that are aspired through marijuana are undoubtedly alluring to those who suffer with chronic illnesses. Research shows marijuana has the potential to enhance medical innovation and patient well-being. Weighing all aspects of both sides is the only fair way to determine whether the legalization of marijuana will be beneficial to society and the judicial system.

The proponents of prohibiting marijuana would probably argue that a state can not be involved in distributing drugs that increase the rate of heart attack, severe anxiety, cause problems with coordination and reaction time and most of all, increase addiction. On one hand I see the negative aspects of marijuana but I still insist banning marijuana is equivalent to banning one’s personal freedom. A state obligated to respect individual's “life liberty and pursuit of happiness” as stated in the constitution. Thus, one’s freedom is more important than one’s health issues. The politicians would indubitably use the term “War on Drugs” in order to show their stances on moral issues and gain popularity. They advocates stricter laws that limits the

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.

The use of cannabis toward medicine should not be shocking to anyone, since it has been around for centuries. As a matter of fact, it has been under medicinal aid for an estimated 5,000 years. Western medicine truly grasped marijuana’s medicinal abilities in the 1850’s. Infact, doctors documented over one hundred papers about how marijuana helped numerous disorders, such as nausea, glaucoma, movement disorders, pain relief, depression, and anxiety. It also helps cancer patients and those with HIV or Aids. Currently, many American patients have access to marijuana use so that they can have effective treatments for their illnesses. Medical marijuana use is achievable because

Legalization or decriminalization of marijuana is opposed by a vast majority of American’s and people around the world. Leaders in Marijuana prevention, education, treatment, and law enforcement adamantly oppose the substance, as do many political leaders. However, pro-drug advocacy groups, who support the use of illegal drugs, are making headlines. They are influencing decision making thru legislation and having a significant impact on the national policy debate here in the United States and in other countries. The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) is the oldest drug user lobby in the U.S. It has strong ties to the Libertarian party, the Drug Policy Foundation, and the American Civil Liberties Union.

The medical marijuana debate is important today because of today’s high cost of prescription drugs as well as the huge opioid crisis occurring in the United States through prescribed medicine. Big Pharma’s stranglehold on prices of much needed prescription drugs and the inability to import cheaper drugs from elsewhere force alternative drugs into necessity. Kentucky Senator Rand Paul is combatting Big Pharma and its manipulation of “the system to keep prices high.” While Congress fights within itself on how to properly drive drug prices down ethically, medical marijuana could serve as a cheaper alternative while also driving attention away from dangerous narcotics. People suffering from cancer, AIDs, and other deteriorative diseases can not only have a more natural medicine, but one far cheaper than what Big Pharma is charging currently. Consequently, lessening suffering within society as a whole, combatting corruption within the pharmaceutical industry, and lessening financial burden on those seriously ill.