p. 1 Marijuana, formally known as cannabis, is a plant that contains a chemical called THC that produces certain psychological and physiological effects when inhaled or ingested. Although the use and possession of marijuana is considered illegal in most of the country, many people still consume the drug every day. The recent legalization of marijuana for medical and recreational use in some states has caused a nation wide debate. Marijuana users and supporters argue that the drug’s benefits out way the possible risks, while non-supporters argue that the potential addictiveness and health issues associated with the drug are strong enough reasons to keep it illegal. The effects of marijuana are less harmful than most other drugs, including alcohol and tobacco. Yet, marijuana is the most common drug that Americans are arrested for possessing. Our current U.S. drug policies and federal laws on marijuana are inadequate and in need of change. I support the legalization of marijuana throughout the nation because of the drug’s medicinal benefits, and its potential to stimulate the current economic recession by creating new jobs and tax revenues. The Controlled Substance Act (CSA) is a federal U.S. policy that ranks drugs into five categories based off their abuse potential, medical applications, and overall safety. In the United States, the CSA classified marijuana as a schedule I substance claiming the drug offers no medical benefits and has a high potential for abuse (Marijuana). However, in recent years, several U.S. states have legalized the use of medicinal marijuana. Modern research suggests that marijuana is a valuable aid in the treatment of a wide range of clinical applications. Cancer patients undergoing p. 2 chemotherapy use marijuana to relieve pain and increase appetite, while patients suffering from neurological disorders use it to reduce muscle tension and spasticity. Medicinal marijuana is also used to reduce stress and anxiety in patients suffering from depression. DEA Director Asa Hutchinson stated, “We all have sympathy for folks that need medication, but we have to listen to the scientific and medical community, and they’re saying that marijuana has no legitimate medical purpose” (About Marijuana). The legalization of medicinal marijuana is rapidly expanding throughout the country as more state governments are beginning to see the beneficial effects of the drug. However, there is a vast difference between the use of marijuana for its medical purposes, verse its use recreationally. Colorado and Washington were the first two states to legalize marijuana for recreational use. This means that anyone over the age of twenty-one can possess the drug without a medicinal marijuana card. I support Colorado and Washington’s decision on legalization, and believe all criminal penalties associated with personal and recreational marijuana use should be removed from federal law. In the state of Iowa, possession of marijuana can result in up to six months in jail or a fine of up to one thousand dollars (About Marijuana). Marijuana is undoubtedly becoming more acceptable in today’s society, and the constant availability to new studies and research allows our culture to understand the drug’s composition and effectiveness more accurately in recent years. Through the use of social media programs, documentaries, and online websites, information on marijuana can be easily accessed to anyone with a computer or television. Police prosecuted 858,408 p. 3
Americans for marijuana violations in 2009, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s annual Uniform Crime Report (10 Facts About Marijuana). With all the information and knowledge circulating online, adults should be able to make their own decision on whether or not they want to use marijuana. Those who oppose the legalization of marijuana often argue that it is an addictive drug that may be linked to long-term health issues including brain damage and memory loss. Studies have confirmed that marijuana is far less dangerous than alcohol or tobacco. Around 50,000 people die each year from alcohol poisoning. Similarly, more than 400,000 deaths each year are attributed to tobacco smoking (About Marijuana). Opponents also argue that legalization could threaten public health by increasing the availability of the drug and undermining the prevention of its use by minors. The United States is currently suffering from a major recession and legalizing marijuana could potentially create an economic boost by providing several new businesses and job opportunities. According to government surveys, some 25 million Americans have smoked marijuana in the past year, and more than 14 million do so regularly despite the harsh laws against its use (About Marijuana). Marijuana is a highly valuable cash crop that is grown, processed, and distributed all over the country. Ending marijuana prohibition would most likely cause a large increase in the drug’s popularity and usage, creating an even higher demand for growers and suppliers. In states like California and Colorado, the sale of marijuana

p. 4 has already created millions of dollars in tax revenue, proving that legalization would help reactivate our battered economy. The United States war on drugs recently adapted its century long stance on the use of marijuana, as Colorado and Washington state voted to legalize the possession and consumption of the drug, both medicinally and recreationally. The social perspective on marijuana use is moving into a more lenient era as the medical benefits of the drug are being utilized every day. I support Colorado and Washington’s recent marijuana legalization, and I believe the medical benefits and feasible economic prosperities are justifications for expanding the legalization of marijuana across the nation.