The Legalization Of Recreational Marijuana

Marijuana, the plant of the cannabis, has been around since the early 1900’s. Throughout history, marijuana has been used illegally, for both recreational and medical uses. Recently, marijuana has been used for medicinal purposes, like aiding HIV/AIDs patients, healing migraines and controlling nausea caused by chemotherapy. Today, there are currently 21 American states that have legalized medicinal marijuana including two states that have legalized recreational marijuana. Since December of 2007, the economy has been declining, the unemployment rate has been increasing and the value of money has been inflating. The legalization of marijuana can help solve both medical and economical conflicts.

One of the biggest controversies with butane hash oil is how the hash oil concentrates are extracted from the marijuana plant.

Cannabis, also known as Marijuana, has been used by humans throughout history for medical, recreational, as well as spiritual purposes. Its fiber, oil, and seed are also refined into products such as hemp oil, wax, rope, cloth, and paper (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 2013, para. 1). With 56% voters overwhelming supported for medical cannabis, California became the first state in the United States to pass Prop 215 in 1996 ensuring the patients and their primary caregivers to “have the right to obtain and use marijuana for medical purpose” (California Department of Public Health, 2013, Text of Law section, para. 1).

As a country, we have been fighting and struggling with the war on drugs since the turn of the century. In recent times two states, Washington and Colorado, have legalized cannabis for recreational use with the same stipulations as alcohol. It seems to be that the general public has begun to accept cannabis as a “recreational drug”. While the federal government does not recognize cannabis as a legal drug in these states, the states are allowed to govern themselves with laws passed within the state. This literature review inspects

patients in most medical cannabis states can grow an allowed supply of cannabis at home and thereby become maximally self-reliant. However, for various reasons such as illness or disability, lack of skill, lack of germplasm access, start-up expense, or housing rules, many patients cannot fully self-supply their medicinal cannabis and need or want other alternatives. Centers and sites for dispensing cannabis for medical purposes, in addition to direct home delivery services, have appeared throughout the United States and have been met with varying degrees of acceptance and scorn at all levels of governance.” - (Aggarwal M.D et al.,

In the United States institutionalized prohibition-based cannabis policies defy widely accepted societal values, delegitimizing the state's authority of law, neglecting its responsibility to respect individual free will and ultimately, the right of self-determination. These unjustified policies take a heavy financial and social toll on society, forcing law enforcement to spend time and money to arrest a majority of non-violent, low level-offenders. In addition, marijuana policies and enforcement have been seen as inherently biased and discriminatory. Not only that, but the medical applications of cannabis are increasingly becoming recognized and accepted as a standard in terms of treating diseases and relieving physical or mental ailments. Furthermore, statistics have shown that legalization leads to a decreased use of marijuana among teens and minors. Dollar wise, cannabis

In our society, especially in recent times, the topic of interest for many is the highly stigmatized drug marijuana. Marijuana is currently under national debate on whether it should be legalized on a federal level. A myriad of news and media outlets report that marijuana is legal in multiple states for numerous reasons, but the federal government still fails to legalize it as of now. To provide insight, marijuana also referred to as cannabis, is derived from the leaves and flowers of the hemp plant and can be used in many ways—smoking, edibles (food or drink), vaporizing, tinctures, ingestible oils, topical lotions or balms, and dabbing (delivers a higher THC in the form of hash oil, wax, or shatter). THC and CBD are called cannabinoids, which are the major chemicals in marijuana that assist the user for medical purposes or recreationally. As stated by Americans for Safe Access (ASA), “The federal government claims that marijuana is not medicine and in Gonzales v. Raich (2005) the United States Supreme Court held that the federal government has the constitutional authority to prohibit marijuana for all purposes… States have recognized marijuana’s medical value” (Americans for Safe Access). Furthermore, marijuana is used recreationally and medicinally in some states and the District of Columbia under state specific laws. Although the use of cannabis is legal in certain states, in the federal government’s eyes, marijuana use,

Today more and more states are passing ballot initiatives in order to make medical and or recreational marijuana legal. The progressive figures of our country continue to pitch this façade that this plant is completely harmless and can be financially rewarding to states who collect tax revenue from this Schedule I drug. Fellow drugs in this class include: heroin, LSD, MDMA, and bath salts. Some have an affinity to argue that this classification is unreasonable and outdated; however, when the factual evidence is displayed one can easily see why marijuana has no place being moved from this class, and without a doubt no justification for legalization. The tremendously detrimental effects marijuana has on the health of those who use it, the

The legalization of recreational marijuana has recently been a widely debated topic, especially since medical marijuana was legalized in several states. Critics say that cannabis is a Class I drug that has both negative health effects and behavior effects. However, there is minimal evidence to support these claims, and none of the benefits of marijuana are taken into consideration when the arguments are made. The possession and use of recreational marijuana should be legalized in the United States because it would provide a steady source of income for the government in the form of taxation, it would reduce the sale of more dangerous drugs since they would not be present in dispensaries.

It is necessary that a federal agency be created to control the standardization of production, manufacturing, distribution, and vending of products containing THC, just as there are agencies controlling over the counter medications, alcohol, and tobacco. I have proposed that this agency be called the Federal Marijuana Regulatory Agency (FMRA). This agency will oversee the implementation of legalization, furthermore, it will function as the standing agency for all marijuana related commerce and practices. The policies enforced by the FMRA will include but are not limited to the following: All THC containing products will be marked as such and present a warning of the negative effects. Furthermore, all THC containing products will display an ingredient list and potency information. The manufacture and production of any THC containing products will be subject to all OSHA regulations, and all safety and standards practices in the FMRA guidance manual. Any discrepancies found during annual inspections will incur a fine of up to $25,000, based on annual sales. No person under 21 will be eligible to work in direct contact with any THC containing products. Any merchant selling/serving marijuana must have the required permit and no persons under 21 will be allowed inside. A permit must be acquired at the expense of the grower, distributer, vendor, or merchant. This permit will

A controversial social topic surrounding our time has been the issue of legalizing marijuana for recreational purposes. Cannabis sativa, also known as marijuana, was classified by the United States government as a class I drug in 1970, which means that it is against the law to possess and distribute this illegal substance (Source 2). However, in recent years, many states have made marijuana more accessible for medical and recreational use. States such as Colorado and Washington have not just decriminalized possession and distribution, but have enacted laws that encourage the recreational use of cannabis. Around 100 million Americans have experienced this drug (Source 1). Essentially one in four Americans

In 2013 there was over a hundred thousand drug related crimes recorded in Canada. Some countries around the world, such as the Netherlands, have loosened their restrictions on recreational drug use in an attempt to lower crime rates in their nation. The current law in Canada strictly prohibits the use and distribution of all recreational drugs. Many people, however, question if this is the best way to regulate drugs. Some would argue that legalizing drugs would create an economic opportunity for the government, reduce crime, reduce drug illnesses and fatalities, and give citizens their justified rights. Thus, the government should legalize recreational drugs to be consumed and distributed in the same way as alcohol.

The legalization of medical marijuana has brought into question various components of medical care for advance practice nurses (as well as others within the larger healthcare profession). In addition to navigating the legal complexities of care associated with this particular method, advance practice nurses must understand prescriptive rights, best practices for us and how statutory language as it is currently written has been amended for medical use. This is a growing movement in the healthcare sector and one that will continue to evolve as legalization continues to be a large part of the national health care conversation. Advance practice nurses, as professionals that can and often do prescribe medication, must be knowledgeable about the parameters surrounding prescriptive rights. Moreover, they are required to know the latest information from a legalization perspective in order to ensure professional boundaries are not being crossed in the process of helping patients.

When most people are asked about their opinion of marijuana, not very many actually have a problem with the drug itself. The driving force behind their decision to be against marijuana is based mostly on the fact that it is illegal. TIME magazine held a poll on their website in which they asked their readers if marijuana should be legalized. Given that TIME’s website is not likely to be a full representation of ALL their readers, nor the rest of the people in the United States, an astonishing 80% of the poll agreed that the legalization of marijuana should be put into effect (St. Pierre 1). One philosopher who would probably side with this 80%

For the past fifty years, the public has been fed incorrect information about marijuana’s risks by law enforcement and anti-drug groups. Time has changed, because Colorado and Washington State became the first states to legalize recreational marijuana, this has arose the possibility of a rippling effect across the nation. Now, many states such as Oregon and Alaska are voting on this issue. Although medical researchers have claimed that marijuana may help patients and the drug is not as dangerous as informers noted before, legalizing the drug will create a downfall to society by expanding its accessibility to our future generation. Not only will expose our youth to more harmful drugs, but it will also endanger the safety of our community.