Reasons not to legalize marijuana
COMPOSITION II / EN-1420
Module 6 – Final Paper

Come on have some fun and relax. Take a long drag on a funny little cigarette, chill for a while. Float in the sky like a bird and land on a cloud. BAM! You crash into a brick wall. Because its illegal.

Several people say that Marijuana is a new fade. I disagree. The first direct reference to the use of marijuana was documented in China, in 2737 BC. The Chinese Emperor Shen Nung determined after using it as a social drug, it worked as a medication for pains in the joins, when taken it as a tea and smoking. As a recreationally drug it spread to India were the Muslims too used instead of alcohol consumption. It was the Muslims who introduced hashish, whose popularity spread quickly throughout 12th century Persia (Iran) and North Africa. It made its way to the new land in the mid 1500’s. Marijuana became a major crop like tobacco through the 1600’s in James Town. It stayed that way for over two hundred years until it was replaced by cotton in the 1890’s. It was used as medicine, intoxicant and a social drug through 1930, where it was considered a “Gateway” drug. (Tagliaferro)
Medical uses
Supposed benefits of medical marijuana are: decrease anxiety, slows Alzheimer's disease, helps multiple pains/muscle spasms, side effects Hepatitis C, treats inflammatory bowel diseases, relieves arthritis discomfort, increases symptoms of lupus, an autoimmune disorder, soothes tremors from Parkinson's and helps with PTSD (Loria, 2014)
The State of Oklahoma – Has recently had potions signed to have the legalization of marijuana put on the ballot for this upcoming election, fail do to a technicality. The potion fail by two thousand signatures were not put on the wrong form. This topic has had such an impact on the governor, she is looking at have liquid marijuana legalized for special medical cases in for children and very special cases for adults. But not like other states have opened it up. Unlike Colorado, Oklahoma does not have a Medical Marijuana Program.
Conditions to qualify for the Colorado program are as follows: cancer, glaucoma, HIV, AIDS, cachexia, severe pain, severe nausea, seizures, persistent muscle spasms, multiple sclerosis. Each state differs to what it will use it for. Currently, there are four types of state programs that determine whether medical marijuana is legal.
Side effects of marijuana
Lung – a New Zealand broad study found that one joint has the same effects as smoking 2.5 to 5 tobacco cigarettes and complains of wheezing, coughing and lung congestion
Brain - brain scans on long-term marijuana users and compared them to the brains of people who had never used the drug. The marijuana users showed structural changes that were similar to changes found in people with schizophrenia.
Birth Defects and Risk – Research indicates that babies affected by prenatal marijuana use show lower birth weight, poorer eyesight and a higher incidence of a defect in the heart. These babies also have a higher risk of developing asthma, chest infections and breathing problems.
Stomach and intestines - Heavy marijuana use has recently been identified as the cause of severe stomach pain, vomiting and nausea that no drugs or treatment will alleviate. The only remedy has been to spend hours in a hot bath or shower. Some people will literally spend days in the shower, trying to relieve the pain. When they stop using marijuana, the condition finally ceases.
Mind - According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, marijuana produces distorted perceptions, poor coordination, difficulty thinking or problem solving and problems with judgment, learning and memory. These changes can increase one's risk for accident or injury, or for injuring another person. (Tagliaferro)
As pointed out earlier, there is not a Food and Drug approval for marijuana use.
THE LAW There are many that want marijuana to be legal for medical reasons and private use. And others that want it banned for life. Besides the twenty three states and the District of Columba, members of the federal government wishes to make it legal. (MJNN HEAD LINE NEWS) In February 2013 a motion has been set in place to remove marijuana from the federal legal substance list by Rep. Polis, Jared.(Rep. Polish, 2013) No dission has been bad on it as to date.
However, the Controlled Substances Act of 1970 classified marijuana as a Schedule I drug, i.e., having the relatively highest abuse potential and no accepted medical use.
Penalties
Oklahoma has not decriminalized marijuana as of yet where the State of Colorado has. We will soon see how the penalties are great and different from state to state. Oklahoma law states: possession of any amount (first offense) is a misdemeanor, punishable by up to a year in jail and a fine to be determined by the judge. Diversion is possible to substitute for the jail time.
Possession of any amount (subsequent offense) is a felony, punishable by 2-10 years in prison and a fine to be determined by the judge. Cultivation of 1,000 plants or less is a felony, punishable by 2 years to life in prison and a $20,000 fine.
Cultivation of plants is a felony and can be punishable by 20 years to life in prison and a $50,000 fine.
Distributing is a felony, punishable by 2 years to life in prison and an up to $1,000,000 fine. Possession of paraphernalia is a misdemeanor, punishable by 1 year in jail and a fine between $1,000 and $10,000 (depends on the number of previous offenses). Any conviction results in suspended driving privileges for 6 months to 3 years. In addition to the above penalties, offenders have to pay a $100 dollar fee to the ‘Trauma Care Assistance Revolving Fund.’
Any type of financial assistance (state, federal, scholarship, etc.) for higher education can be terminated due to any conviction. In other states, the feds require this, but this is a rare case where the state will also deny your assistance. (http://www.theweedblog.com/oklahoma-summary/)
The State of Colorado has decimalized the use of marijuana – Possession/transfer of less than one ounce or less carries no penalty. Cultivation of 6 plants or fewer carries no penalty. Penalties for open, public display of or uses of less than two ounces are a petty offense, punishable by 15 days in jail and a $100 fine, up to twelve years in jail and $500,000 fine. A sale to a minor carries an additional penalty of four years in jail – mandatory sentence. (http://www.theweedblog.com/colorado-summary/)
Federal marijuana laws are the laws that the federal government enacts to criminalize marijuana possession, sale, and cultivation. Each U.S. state also passes its’ own laws on marijuana. Traditionally drug crimes are prosecuted at the state level. But because some states have decriminalized marijuana crimes (such as for medicinal purposes), federal prosecutions for marijuana possession/sale/cultivation are becoming more common. (http://www.legalmatch.com/law-telibrary/article/federal-marijuana-laws.html)
Marijuana, Is it really legal
There are growing groups of people that use marijuana. The baby boomers, the youth of today and people that used it for medical needs. I am not here to judge you if you use it for whatever purpose or not. Drugs (legal and non-legal/prescribed and non-prescribed) have side effects of one type or another. It’s up to if side effects are worth it or not for any drug. I am here to look at the law that governs the use of marijuana. Section VI paragraph 2 of the Constitution of this United States simply put says that when state laws conflict with federal laws the federal laws take president. (Constitution of the United States) This law pertains to any state laws, not just drugs such as marijuana. So regardless of what individual state laws legalize or doctors prescribe when it goes against federal laws, it is illegal!

References
Works Cited
Constitution of the United States. (n.d.). Retrieved from Section VI: http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution_transcript.html http://www.legalmatch.com/law-library/article/federal-marijuana-laws.html. (n.d.). http://www.theweedblog.com/colorado-summary/. (n.d.). http://www.theweedblog.com/oklahoma-summary/. (n.d.).
Loria, J. W. (2014, 04 20). BUSINESS INSIDER. Retrieved from 23 Health Benefits of Marijuana: http://www.businessinsider.com/health-benefits-of-medical-marijuana-2014-4?op=1
MJNN HEAD LINE NEWS. (n.d.). Retrieved from MJNN: http://mjnewsnetwork.com/lifestyle/reefer-madness-11-fun-facts-about-marijuana
Rep. Polish, J. (2013, 02 05). H.R.499 - Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act of 2013 113th Congress (2013-2014). Retrieved from Congress.gov: https://beta.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/499
Tagliaferro, D. A. (n.d.). NARCONON INTERNATIONAL. Retrieved from Health Risk of Marijuana: http://www.narconon.org/drug-information/marijuana-history.html