The Controversy: The Legalization Of Marijuana

The subject matter of the legalization of marijuana incites great controversy. Throughout America, and other countries in the world, the legal, moral, and scientific efficacy of this plant based drug is being questioned. In more recent decades, states all across America have pursued the retraction of laws previously allocated on the use of marijuana both medicinally and recreational. This trend has erupted from the aspiration to remove outdated laws against marijuanas use to better reflect laws already in place on other legal substances such as alcohol. Moreover, recent scientific studies have brought to light the medicinal benefits of this drug; which to many Americans greatly outweighs the side effects. This ideology is likely attributed

to the social trend towards a more holistic approach to medicine; combined with the fact that marijuana is considered a more natural plant based option, with less side effects when used for medicinal purposes. Americans should abandon their perceived view on marijuana and legally make an educated decision about its use; therefore, marijuana should be legalized for both recreational and medicinal use nationwide.
Cannabis, widely known as marijuana, is derived from the Cannabis plant.

An academic article explains that, “It is an ancient plant in terms of use, having been known in central Asia and China as early as 3000 BCE and in India and the Middle East shortly thereafter”(“Drug Use”). The tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) derived from the marijuana plant is responsible for its hallucinogenic effect. The strains and potency of the cannabis plant vary widely. In addition, research has shown that cannabis “has been regarded as having medicinal value, and it was used as a folk medicine prior to the 1900’s”(“Drug Use”). Marijuana has varying affects on the body which include: “analgesic, topical anesthetic, antispasmodic, antidepressant, appetite suppressant, appetite stimulant, anti-asthmatic, and antibiotic”(“Drug Use”). Consequently, these medicinal values were not taken into consideration when enacting government laws that ban recreational and even medicinal marijuana

use.
In regard to marijuana, Americans have fallen into the social pitfall of “groupthink”. This is a phenomenon in which “individual members of small cohesive groups tend to accept a viewpoint or conclusion that represents a perceived group consensus (…) groupthink reduces the efficiency of collective problem solving within such groups”(“Groupthink”). This trend is likely the result of accepting the governments classification as well as criminalization of marijuana. Consequently, the current classification of marijuana is grossly outdated.
Currently the federal law “classifies marijuana as a Schedule I drug under the 1970 Controlled Substances Act (CSA), placing it alongside such illegal drugs as heroin, LSD and MDMA (commonly known as ecstasy)”(“Marijuana”). The CSA also imposes punishments on users that do not fit the crime. Currently a marijuana user can receive up to a one year prison sentence or a $1,000 fine for possession of marijuana. Moreover, intent to distribute marijuana can “garner up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000” (“Marijuana”). Opposers of marijuana often believe that this is an acceptable punishment for the use of this drug. However, convicted marijuana users take up valuable space in prisons that should be reserved for criminals who have committed more severe crimes. Furthermore, the cost and outcome of the war to criminalize marijuana does not support the ideology to continue this crusade.
Opposers to the legalization of marijuana argue that: “the government would have to spend just as much money on treatment for addicts as it would save from not enforcing marijuana laws”(“Addiction and Substance Abuse”). However, in order to come to an educated conclusion on this matter, both sides must be examined. In a published cover story, Ethan Nadelman explains that:
The federal government has spent billions of dollars on advertisements and anti- drug programs that preach the dangers of marijuana—that it’s a gateway drug, and addictive in its own right, and dramatically more potent than it used to be, and responsible for all sorts of physical and social diseases as well as international terrorism. But the government has yet to repudiate the 1988 finding of the Drug Enforcement Administration’s own administrative law judge, Francis Young, who concluded after extensive testimony that ‘marijuana in its natural form is one of the safest therapeutically active substances known to man’(Nadelman).
Supporters of keeping marijuana banned also argue that: “it significantly impairs bodily and mental functions, and its use is related to increased violence”(“Addiction and Substance Abuse”).

Although truthfully this can also be argued about other currently legal substances such as alcohol; which also has the same effects on the human body. The Encyclopedia explains that, “The effects [of alcohol] on major organ systems are cumulative and include a wide range of digestive-system disorders…cardiovascular problems… blackouts and memory loss may occur, and the central and peripheral nervous systems can be permanently damaged”(“Alcoholism”). In addition, it is written

that:
Alcohol abuse and alcoholism are linked with an increased death rate from automobile accidents from recreational and on-the-job injuries. Hallucinations delusions, and extreme tremor may occur…alcohol withdrawal syndrome, alcohol withdrawal delirium… in some cases can prove fatal…This is in contrast to withdrawal from narcotic drugs…which, although distressful, rarely results in death (“Alcoholism”).
Society has deemed these side effects of alcohol qualitative as a legal substance, but continues to advocate the criminalization of marijuana for recreational use. Opposers simultaneously fail to be cognizant of the tax revenue benefits that the legalization of recreational marijuana can procure.
In an article titled “Marijuana Legalization and Taxes: Federal Revenue Impact”, Gavin Ekins and Joseph Henchman illustrate key findings showing that, “A federal excise tax on marijuana similar to that of cigarettes, approximately $23 per pound of product, would raise approximately $500 million in additional revenue”(Ekins and Henchman). In fact, in the state of Washington where recreational marijuana is currently legal “sales [of marijuana] are now averaging over $2 million a day with revenue possibly reaching $270 million per year”(Ekins and Henchman). With the recent federal and state budget deficit, these facts should be carefully considered as a benefit to society and not overlooked. By the same token, the health benefits that marijuana provides to patients with chronic pain and cancer must also heed careful attention.
In an online article written about the effects of marijuana on patients with cancer it is explained that, “a number of studies of smoked marijuana found that it can be helpful in treating nausea and vomiting [caused] from cancer chemotherapy”(“Marijuana and Cancer”). Studies have also shown that smoked marijuana helps improve food intake in HIV patients, and can be helpful for the treatment of neuropathic pain (“Marijuana and Caner”).
Moreover, “scientist reported that THC and other cannabinoids such as CBD slow growth and/or cause death in certain types of cancer cells growing in laboratory dishes. Some studies also suggest certain cannabinoids may slow growth and reduce spread of some forms of cancer’’(“Marijuana and Cancer). Making marijuana legal across all states for both recreational and medicinal use, will in effect propagate easier access for patients with these ailments to obtain their chosen form of medicine without insurance; or subsequently being forced to find a doctor who will actually prescribe cannabis as a form of therapy. There are many patients who are just now receiving, and greatly benefiting from a form of cannabis known as CBD(cannabidiol); and subsequently using it for medical treatment of certain conditions, due to changes in their own state laws.
Although Marijuana is still considered a Schedule I drug by the federal government, on November 08, 2016, California passed Proposition 64; known as the California Marijuana Legalization Initiative. The passing of this proposition will directly impact lives of California residents who desperately need marijuana for medical conditions. One such resident is Brittnee Galvan who was diagnosed with epilepsy when she was thirteen years old.
In a personal interview with Ms.Galvan she explains in detail that, “after fifteen plus medications and zero success and a VNS [Vagus Nerve Stimulator: used to treat seizures] implant, we finally got the determination of my epilepsy being refractory [medication resistant]”(Galvan,Brittnee). Since her specific type of epilepsy is medication resistant, Brittnee was forced to pursue other options such as cannabis derivatives. She spoke with her Epileptologist about using medical marijuana and her doctor was supportive and stated that she had “seen people become very successful with using it to control their seizures”(Galvan,Brittnee). These stories help to humanize the use of medical marijuana, but the government has still elected not to revisit the classification of marijuana, and remove the fear of federal repercussions from residents such as Brittnee.
When considering the state and federal legalization of marijuana for both medicinal and recreational use it must be taken into careful consideration that no drug is perfectly safe. Currently drugs such as tobacco and alcohol reap severe social consequences. In fact the CDC statistics show that, “in 2014, 9,967 people were killed in alcohol-impaired driving crashes”(‘Impaired Driving”), which is in direct contrast to the findings on drivers under the influence of marijuana. In an article that reviewed the scientific evidence of marijuana and driving it is noted that:
Although cannabis intoxication has been shown to mildly impair psychomotor skills, this impairment does not appear to be severe or long lasting…crash culpability studies have failed to demonstrate that drivers with cannabinoids in the blood are significantly more likely… to be culpable in road crashes(“Marijuana and Driving”).
If the laws surrounding the recreational use of marijuana were to be reconsidered, the laws should closely reflect the current laws in place surrounding alcohol consumption. While many residents can greatly benefit from the medicinal applications of cannabis, there are still many who would likely abuse the drug. If society choses to deem substances such as controlled prescription drugs, alcohol, and tobacco legal for consumption then a plant based drug with proven scientific efficacy studies to show its benefits should not continue to be illegal.