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Hobie Sailboats

Since 1950, Hobie Cat Sailboats has been shaping a unique lifestyle based around fun, water, and quality products. From the iconic Hobie 16 and family fun Hobie Getaway to the innovative and fun Tandem Island and Hobie Wave, Hobie Cat offers a boat for every one. We look forward to helping you get out in the water on a new Hobie Cat. Go ahead, build some memories!

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Make Sailing Fun with a Hobie Catamaran

In the past four decades, more people have taken to the water in a Hobie catamaran than almost any other sailboat design. Hobie's sailing range includes three distinct categories. First is the Hobie 16, the fiberglass beach-launchable catamaran that revolutionized sailing. Fly a hull and you’ll understand the global obsession. Second are Hobie’s rotomolded sailing catamarans, which are super durable yet performance-oriented. There’s a model for every skill level including the Getaway and Wave. Third, the Mirage Tandem Island offers a unique multi-mode platform to sail, fish, pedal, and paddle, remaining approachable thanks to the hands-free power of the MirageDrive 180.

Looking for Hobie Cat parts?

Visit our Hobie Parts and Accessories page. We have everything you need to replace and upgrade parts on your Hobie Cat.

Backed by 15 Years of Industry Experience

West Coast Sailing was founded in 2005 with one vision: to be the leading resource for products, services, and information in the small sailboat industry. Over the past 15 years we've worked with thousands of sailors around the world, outfitting individual sailors, families, programs, and sailing centers with the right boats. Our team is dedicated as ever to this vision and is here to help you find the perfect boat to enjoy your time on the water. Find out more about our story by clicking here .

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Hobie Getaway

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The Hobie Getaway is the "social boat" of Hobie Cat's rotomolded catamaran line. With significantly more hull volume than the ever-popular Hobie Wave, plus huge carrying capacity, the Hobie Getaway comfortably accommodates six adults. Or take the whole family out for a comfortable evening cruise. A lot of boat at a tremendous price, the Hobie Getaway is designed to withstand rigorous use and provide years of sailing enjoyment for the entire family. The Hobie Getaway. serious performance in a very playful, manageable boat.

Specifications: Length: 16' 7" Beam: 7' 8" Mast Length: 25' Sail Area: 180 Sq. Ft. Weight: 390 lbs. Hull Construction: Roto-Molded Polyethylene Designed By : Greg Ketterman and the Hobie Cat design Team

Standard Features: >> Super Durable, Impact-Resistant Polyethylene Roto-Molded Hulls >> Special Keel Shape Eliminates Daggerboards for Easy Beaching >> Kick-Up Rudders Allow Easy Beaching >> Multi-Colored Main Sail >> Forward Trampoline >> Roller Furling Jib >> "Hobie Bob" Mast Float Helps Prevent Turtling if Capsized >> Comptip Mast for Safety >> Cooler/Storage Compartment in both Hulls

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Small Boat Spotlight : The Everlasting Hobie 16

By: Pat Reynolds Learn To Sail , Sailboats , Sailing Fun

When you stop and think about what types of boats are most responsible for luring people into the wonderful world of sailing the Hobie 16 has got to be in the top three on the list. For children of the 1970s and 80s this sexy little catamaran seemed to be sitting on a trailer in every other backyard.

What most simply call the Hobie 16 is an iconic sailboat that is considered by many to be the most popular catamaran in the world. In the beginning, the H16 was marketed as more than some ordinary sailboat that could be easily trailered, rigged and beached. Instead Hobie Alter put forth the idea that to sail this boat was to be part of a lifestyle – the “ Hobie way of life .” Instead of making the pitch that it was a fast fun little boat that could make your summer a little brighter, Alter suggested that sailing a Hobiecat was a reflection of an energized youth with a dash of good-natured rebellion.

There have been over 135,000 of these boats produced since 1969 and they are the second largest boat fleet in existence. The H16 is simple to rig (especially on a beach) and pretty easy to sail, although capsizing is par for the course and regarded by some as fun. Once launched, the full batten main and relatively lightweight construction (320 pounds) makes the boat quite fast and responsive. The Hobie folks state the max speed is nearly 24-knots and there are plenty of Hobie sailors who will agree and verify. At speeds like that you can bet whoever is sailing the boat will be utilizing another element Hobie sailors love – the dual trapeze setup they are equipped with. In 10-15 knots of breeze, skipper and crew can hike their entire bodies out on the wires simultaneously, suspended above the water and as the hull begins to rise, life becomes very sweet. Any beach cat sailor will tell you that sailing along at 15-knots, hiked out and flying a hull is one of the most blissful feelings known to man.

The other very positive aspect of the Hobie 16 is the cost of entry. It remains one of the more inexpensive roads into the world of sailing. A 2017 Hobie 16 is just over $11,000 and that’s ready to sail. Lots of sailboats have a base price and then silly little extras like… sails!! And if the used market is explored, a ready to sail H16 can be picked up for under $1,000, which is pretty incredible.

And lastly, Hobie 16s are also versatile. They’re small enough to throw in the backyard next to the garage without causing marital dismay but once rigged and ready, they’re hearty enough to do some serious coastal sailing. While many Hobie sailors head out for a few hours for some low-key albeit amped up daysailing, others like to actually get in the surf, hit the adrenaline button and use the boat as a surfboard.

It’s a design that has definitely stood the test of time (for good reason) and one that is positive for the sport. The cost to fun ratio is right where we like to see it, so if you don’t have a boat and don’t want to spend a fortune – grab a Hobie 16 and getcha sail on!

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Hobie Catamarans

Over the past four decades, more people have taken to the water on a Hobie catamaran than almost any other sailboat design. Hobie’s rotomolded sailing catamarans are super durable, yet performance-oriented. There’s a model for every skill level. While Hobie’s fiberglass beach-launchable catamarans revolutionized sailing. Fly a hull and you’ll understand the global obsession.

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Hobie Getaway

Taking Orders for Summer  Now

The Hobie Getaway is the "social boat" of Hobie Cat's rotomolded catamaran line. With significantly more hull volume than the ever-popular Hobie Wave, plus huge carrying capacity, the Hobie Getaway comfortably accommodates six adults. Or take the whole family out for a comfortable evening cruise. A lot of boat at a tremendous price, the Hobie Getaway is designed to withstand rigorous use and provide years of sailing enjoyment for the entire family. The Hobie Getaway. serious performance in a very playful, manageable boat.

Specifications: Length: 16' 7" Beam: 7' 8" Mast Length: 25' Sail Area: 180 Sq. Ft. Weight: 390 lbs. Hull Construction: Roto-Molded Polyethylene Designed By : Greg Ketterman and the Hobie Cat design Team

Standard Features: >> Super Durable, Impact-Resistant Polyethylene Roto-Molded Hulls >> Special Keel Shape Eliminates Daggerboards for Easy Beaching >> Kick-Up Rudders Allow Easy Beaching >> Multi-Colored Main Sail >> Forward Trampoline >> Roller Furling Jib >> "Hobie Bob" Mast Float Helps Prevent Turtling if Capsized >> Comptip Mast for Safety >> Cooler/Storage Compartment in both Hulls

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• Last update: 2nd April 2020

Hobie Cat Getaway's main features

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Hobie Sailboats

Since 1950, Hobie Cat Sailboats has been shaping a unique lifestyle based around fun, water, and quality products. From the iconic Hobie 16 and family fun Hobie Getaway to the innovative and fun Tandem Island and Hobie Wave, Hobie Cat offers a boat for every one. We look forward to helping you get out in the water on a new Hobie Cat. Go ahead, build some memories!

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Hobie Mirage Tandem Island

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Make Sailing Fun with a Hobie Catamaran

In the past four decades, more people have taken to the water in a Hobie catamaran than almost any other sailboat design. Hobie's sailing range includes three distinct categories. First is the Hobie 16, the fiberglass beach-launchable catamaran that revolutionized sailing. Fly a hull and you’ll understand the global obsession. Second are Hobie’s rotomolded sailing catamarans, which are super durable yet performance-oriented. There’s a model for every skill level including the Getaway and Wave. Third, the Mirage Tandem Island offers a unique multi-mode platform to sail, fish, pedal, and paddle, remaining approachable thanks to the hands-free power of the MirageDrive 180.

Looking for Hobie Cat parts?

Visit our Hobie Parts and Accessories page. We have everything you need to replace and upgrade parts on your Hobie Cat.

Backed by 15 Years of Industry Experience

West Coast Sailing was founded in 2005 with one vision: to be the leading resource for products, services, and information in the small sailboat industry. Over the past 15 years we've worked with thousands of sailors around the world, outfitting individual sailors, families, programs, and sailing centers with the right boats. Our team is dedicated as ever to this vision and is here to help you find the perfect boat to enjoy your time on the water. Find out more about our story by clicking here .

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• Email [email protected]

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Single kayak, tandem kayak, soft surfboard, rent a hobie getaway catamaran, the hobie getaway catamaran is a ton of fun and can comfortably seat up to 5 passengers this high-speed catamaran is ideal for those seeking a thrilling & exhilarating sailing adventure, * please note, you must have hobie cat sailing experience prior to renting from us., hobie getaway catamaran, description.

Our Hobie Getaway catamarans are loads of fun. There’s nothing like the exhilaration of hitting the wind just right and taking off in a catamaran. This catamaran is big enough for groups of 5 and performs excellent in wind over 8mph. They’re well maintained by our knowledgeable staff and all our rentals include all the safety equipment you need to have a fun, safe day sailing in San Diego.

1 - 8 Hours

Cancellation policy: 24 hours advance notice needed for a full refund.

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Maximum of 5 passengers

Sail in style on our 16′ Hobie Getaway Catamaran

Great activity at Bahia Great way to spend the afternoon! It was easy to rent and easy to use. The guys who set up the rental were helpful and gave us a tutorial and speed limit rules (It was my first time operating a boat, super simple). Once in the water, it was easy to cruise the bay and enjoy our time. We rented for 2 hours, which was the perfect amount of time for a lunch date for two.

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Catamaran for beach: Hobie Wave/Getaway or something else?

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Some family members are building a home on the beach in Florida (Gulf side) and they'd like to get a beach cat to keep there for the occasional jaunt into the Gulf. They are beginners and probably won't sail it much themselves, but want to have it for visitors, most of whom (like me) will probably be intermediate-at-best sailors. After some initial poking around ( this thread was particularly helpful ), the Hobie Wave seems like the leading contender. It's simple, light, and has those tough rotomolded hulls. I like the idea of the Getaway to take out multiple people at once (something tough to do with the Wave), but given that there will likely be times when only one adult is sailing, I'm concerned that at 400lbs the Getaway may be too heavy to haul to the beach and too hard to right after capsizing. Are there other viable options for a boat that will likely spend most of its time sitting in the dune grass on the beach? I've thought about looking for a used Hobie 16, but I think it's worth paying a bit more for the Wave/Getaway's more-durable hulls and anti-turtling mast bobs (although a dolly and an aftermarket anti-turtle bob might make a used 16 a viable option). Are there other beach cat manufacturers out there, or is Hobie pretty much it? Anything else to consider?  

I say go with the the Getaway. You should be able to pick one up used for a good price.... Now if you really want to impress the kids get a Hobie 18 or Nacra. Both of which are fast and fun. ALthough you could pick up a used Hobie 16 for less than 500 and add a bob for 100. (or just mount a fender to the top of the mast) No matter what yall get... just sail it and bring the kids on it. My kids love our Hobie 18 and are always asking to take a friend with them. Todd  

I've read in a couple places that the Getaway is hard for a single adult to right. How hard is it? And how hard would it be to pull the Getaway down to the water through a hundred or so yards of dunes? Would a single adult be able to do it with a catamaran dolly? I have zero experience with catamarans on beaches (my sailing has all been on dinghies and small cats that sit right at lakeside or big pre-rigged monohulls that dock in a marina) so I apologize if this is a stupid question.  

themicah said: I've read in a couple places that the Getaway is hard for a single adult to right. How hard is it? Click to expand...

Beach cats are easy to move along the beach using beach wheels... I have moved my Hobie 18 alone several times. As far as righting the cat after its flipped... yes their is a technique to right it but it is not hard. If you have a "bob" on the mast the righting will be very easy. Check out the following sites for a little info...: Catsailor.com Forums - Forums powered by UBB.threads™ Hobie Cat Forums • Index page TheBeachcats.com - Catamaran Sailing Texas City Dike Yacht Club | Dedicated to all who sail the muddy waters of Galveston bay Hobie 18 Social Network ALso once you are in the beach area try to find the local Yacht club. They may have a few used cats forsale.  

The rotomolded hulls are generally tougher, but if they get a hole, they are irreparable. I don't know all the science involved, but repairs won't stick to the plastic used for those hulls. The local Hobie rental outfit near me switched to the 16 for lessons, but he still does use Waves for rentals. YMMV.  

I owned both H16's and an H18 before buying my lead sled. I also did demo sails and new owner training for the Getaway. Go for the H16. You can have3 adults (thogh very crowded) on it, it sails fast, there are thousands of used ones waiting for some one to buy them, and they can take a beating. I like the fiberglass hulls better because you can repair any damage that may happen and they do not flex as much as the rotomolded hulls. Hobie crosslinks the plastic in the hull mold for the Getaway. This means that you will not be able to heat or chemically weld any more material to the hulls. So, if you have a big gouge in the hull, you will not be able to repair it. Getaways are heavy for thier size compared to the H16 or the H18. With the H16 if it is windy enough to capsize it is windy enough to right the boat solo. On a dolly the H16 is very easy to move up and down the beach. The H18 is tough to pull up a beach on a dolly. I am a sizeable guy at 6'2" and 260lbs and I had trouble over long distances. In summary I say the H16 because it is affordable, fun, easy to sail single handed or with two others on board, and they are solid boats.  

Nacra 500 or 570. Simple, fast, repairable.  

Personally, I lost all respect for Hobie when they switched from catamarans to ... ... beach toys. Although I may change my tune if I can find a ride on a Wildcat. What I saw looked very intersting. Buy a used 16, 17, or 18. Much better sailors. Or for that matter a Prindle 16 will be lighter and easier to haul (320 pounds). Beach wheels work if it is pretty level and flat. Otherwise, with 2 people they can manage a lot. Whether they are hard to right depends on many variables; weather (actually easier when it's blowing), size of the person, the boat, and whether the mast gets water in it. All are simple with 2 people. I like the Hobie 17 or the Prindle 16 for ease by a single sailor (160 pound minimum).  

all of the advice to get an H16 comes from people who already know how to sail. I too like the 16's better but they are bad boats for a complete beginner. They WILL overpower them. They WILL capsize them. They WILL have trouble getting them upright again. I got a Hobie Wave for the visitors at my house for three reasons 1. Though you cant repair plastic, it is pretty nearly bulletproof and wont need repairs. I have had a wave for 5 years and it is pretty near impossible to break the plastic hulls. Believe me, my teenage son and his friends tried and if it were easy they would have done it. 2. It is very forgiving for new sailors. No boom means they can't kill themselves (unlike an H16 or the others like it) and it is hard to capsize - it has more buoyancy than the fiberglass boats do. There is a good reason that this is the boat the resorts rent out. 3. It is fast. Maybe not as fast as a 16 but plenty fast for a beginner (or for me most of the time) with the added benefit that a Wave can go out in winds that would keep the 16's on the beach. It is an inherently safer boat. As for righting it, get a collapsible canvas bucket to add weight. And do get beach wheels. You will want them. A getaway would be impossible without and a wave difficult. and if it were up to me, i would get two waves instead of one getaway. then you can race!  

While I can't agree that that all of the posters suggesting Hobies... had sailed before; I suspect many of them, myself included learned on a Hobie 16 (a Prindle 16 was my first boat, not counting a 2 hour rental on a Sunfish). That said, I'm not sure cats are a good choice in general. If there isn't enough wind to power them up--and they don't come to life until you can get one hull light in the water--they aren't much fun. If there is enough wind, they are really for people who want to sail with gusto. I would start asking about small monohulls, like the Laser and Sunfish; they are popular for good reasons. I would NOT be comfortable letting a non-cat sailor borrow a beach cat on a breezy day. Most rentals shut down if there is enough wind (more than 10 knots) to be interesting. Better yet, have then sail on the intracoastal side. They've no business on the Gulf or Ocean unless they KNOW they can right the boat. I should have read the OP more closely.  

I have sailed the Wave, Getaway and the Hobie 16 out of the sailing center I am a member of. Based on your implication that the people sailing the boat will not likely get into sailing, the Wave is probably the best choice of the three. Wave: Simple to rig and sail and it can easily handle three adults or two adults and two children. I have seen two kids capsize this boat (160# total crew weight,) but it is generally very difficult to put this boat on its side. If someone develops even a remote interest in sailing well, (s)he will quickly get frustrated with the boat's lack of sail adjustments. Getaway: Also easy to rig, but as you surmised it's too heavy for one person to manhandle on the beach. The mainsheet traveller allows for better sail control, and multiple clew positions allows you to tune the sails for different wind conditions (and of course you can always furl the jib if things get harry or only one person will be sailing.) I capsized once and found the boat impossible to right by myself but two could right it easily. Hobie 16: This boat is much faster than either of the other two and more technical with jib sheet block tracks, battons in the jib, and an outhaul on the main. I'd hesitate to allow a beginner to sail this boat alone. I haven't capsized this one so I can't say much about it in that regard.  

We went to Belize, and the resort had Hobie Waves available for visitors to use. They're simple, relatively cheap, and pretty difficult to damage. Belize is built on coral, and repairing anything takes months, not weeks, so they have to have things that will hold up to abuse from careless guests. My background in Solings made me disappointed by the performance, but that's the tradeoff. Those suggesting a Hobie 16 are headed in a performance direction, but what are you going to do when your guest zips off five miles before he capsizes and starts drifting towards Cozumel, just when you've mixed the marqueritas?  

I learned to sail on an H16 with no experience. I can rig and right one solo. Granted I am not a small guy (6'2" 230lbs when I owned the boat) but there are several inexpensive aids (righting line) and some easy to learn techniques to right them. $1000 - $2000 will buy you a decent used one. The Hobie forum is very helpful (wish they were around when I started sailing) and almost anywhere you see boats someone has sailed an H16 so getting help and advice is easy. I plan to get one for my daughter when she is old enough... OK it's for me too. I think it helped me become a better mono sailor since I had to fully understand sail trim and think ahead of the boat or uncomfortable things would happen. The best part is the thrill of flying a hull while trapping out. You just don't get that feeling on any mono dinghy. If you decide to go for a used H16, pm me and I will be glad to share some advice on what to look for. Also, take a look at the hobie forum and they will be glad to help. I find beach cat sailors to be the most friendly and helpful around. I even saw experience racers helping a rookie to tune his boat.  

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The rotomolded Getaway catamaran's performance-minded hulls, its efficient, mainsail-driven sailplan and its roller-furling jib and you quickly discover a sailing pedigree that leaves "party boats" stalled out. ... When the agenda involves sailing with friends and family, the Hobie Getaway is a sure-fire ticket to multihull fun. Stir in the ...

The Hobie Getaway is the perfect family boat of Hobie Cat's rotomolded catamaran line. The Hobie Getaway is fun, fast, and simple for 1-6 crew. Sailsport Marine has Hobie Cat sailboats and Hobie parts and accessories for sale in Traverse City, Michigan and all of Northern Michigan.

Description. The Getaway is the largest, most roomy catamaran platform around. Simple sailing, focused on comfort, stability and room for 4-6 people without breaking a sweat. The Hobie Getaway is all about fun. It is an extremely spacious and stable catamaran for families and friends to enjoy. With a boomless mainsail and furling jib - the ...

Hobie Getaway hull detail Hobie Getaway. The Getaway is a small recreational catamaran, with the dual hulls built of rotomolded polyethylene.It has a fractional sloop rig, including a roller furling jib and a full-batten mainsail, dual transom-hung rudders and no keel or daggerboards.It displaces 390 lb (177 kg) and can carry 1,000 lb (454 kg) of occupants.

The starting price is $6,500, the most expensive is $13,750, and the average price of $6,750. Related boats include the following models: 16, Getaway 17 and H16. Boat Trader works with thousands of boat dealers and brokers to bring you one of the largest collections of Hobie Cat Getaway boats on the market.

The Hobie Cat Getaway is a 16'6" (5.04m) double handed sport/beach catamaran designed by Hobie Cat Design Office (United States). She was built since 2002 (and now discontinued) by Hobie Cat (United States).

The Hobie Getaway is the "social boat" of Hobie Cat's rotomolded catamaran line. With significantly more hull volume than the popular Hobie Wave, plus huge carrying capacity, the Hobie Getaway comfortably accommodates six adults. Or take the whole family out for a comfortable evening cruise. Standard equipment includes a colored main sail and ...

The Hobie Getaway is the "social boat" of Hobie Cat's rotomolded catamaran line. With significantly more hull volume than the ever-popular Hobie Wave, plus huge carrying capacity, the Hobie Getaway comfortably accommodates six adults. Or take the whole family out for a comfortable evening cruise. A lot of boat at a tremendous price, the Hobie ...

The Getaway, Hobie's most social sailing catamaran, is newly redesigned for 2017. Its rotomolded polyethylene hulls feature reverse bows and an additional six inches of length, accentuating the Getaway's playful performance. Other enhancements to this capable catamaran include an accent chine, new graphics and a molded-in rear carrying handle.

Hobie Cat; Hobie Cat Catamaran boats for sale. Save Search. Clear Filter Make / Model: All Hobie Cat Category: Sail - Catamaran. Location. By Radius. By Country. country-all. All Countries. Country-US. United States. All. All 25 miles 50 miles 100 miles 200 miles 300 miles 500 miles 1000 miles 2000 miles 5000 miles. from your location ...

Offering the best selection of Hobie Cat boats to choose from. ... 2023 Hobie Cat Getaway. US$13,750. ↓ Price Drop. Nautical Ventures | Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Request Info; Sponsored Boats | related to your search. 2024 Yamaha Boats 255 FSH Sport H. US$97,399. Performance East Inc | Goldsboro, North Carolina.

MISSION BAY SPORTCENTER MAIN LOCATION. 1010 Santa Clara Pl. San Diego, CA 92109. 858-488-1004. The Hobie Getaway is the largest catamaran we have to offer for rental, so you can bring up to 6 people for a thrilling day of catamaran sailing on Mission Bay! Our catamarans are kept directly on the sand, on our private beach behind the facility on ...

2014 Hobie Cat Getaway Take the party on the water with the Hobie Getaway. When the agenda involves sailing with friends and family, the Hobie Getaway is a sure-fire ticket to multihull fun. Stir in the boat's performance-minded symmetrically shaped hulls, its efficient, mainsail-driven sail plan and its roller-furling jib and you quickly ...

31' Mariner Ketch - Major Restoration & Repower - New Rigging & Sails Tenants Harbor Maine, Maine Asking $45,000

Category Catamaran Sailboats . Length - Posted 5 Days Ago. New Hobie Cat Getaway 16 Sailboat- Now taking orders for Spring 2024 deliveries! 2016 Hobie Cat Getaway. $8,199 . Gilford, New Hampshire ... 2014 Hobie Cat Getaway Take the party on the water with the Hobie Getaway. When the agenda involves sailing with friends and family, the Hobie ...

Since 1950, Hobie Cat Sailboats has been shaping a unique lifestyle based around fun, water, and quality products. From the iconic Hobie 16 and family fun Hobie Getaway to the innovative and fun Tandem Island and Hobie Wave, Hobie Cat offers a boat for every one. ... The Getaway is the largest, most roomy catamaran platform around. Simple ...

The Hobie Getaway Catamaran is a ton of fun and can comfortably seat up to 5 passengers! This high-speed catamaran is ideal for those seeking a thrilling & exhilarating sailing adventure! * Please note, you must have Hobie Cat Sailing experience prior to renting from us. Hobie getaway catamaran. Sailboat.

2023 Hobie Cat Getaway. US$13,750. ↓ Price Drop. Nautical Ventures | Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Request Info; Price Drop; 2023 Hobie Cat Wave. US$7,995. ... Famous for their Catamaran, Daysailer, Multi-Hull and unpowered-kayak, Hobie Cat boats, in general, exhibit favorable attributes such as a very shallow draft and average beam, which ...

Among other classes and models, Hobie Cat is well known for its Sail Catamarans, Beach Catamaran, Daysailer, Canoe/Kayak and other. ... Some of the best-known Hobie Cat models at present include: Getaway, 16, Getaway 17, H16 and Mirage Tandem Island. Hobie Cat Models. Hobie Cat Getaway. Hobie Cat 16. Hobie Cat Getaway 17.

The Getaway is heavier, but more durable. It can carry more weight. The hulls won't scratch, but they can't be patched, either if something does manage to ding the boat. There's no racing class. The 16 is lighter, faster and there's lots of racing. Fiberglass scratches. Fiberglass you can fix - seamlessly.

Hobie crosslinks the plastic in the hull mold for the Getaway. This means that you will not be able to heat or chemically weld any more material to the hulls. So, if you have a big gouge in the hull, you will not be able to repair it. Getaways are heavy for thier size compared to the H16 or the H18.

Joined: Mon Mar 07, 2011 6:29 pm. Posts: 52. Hello fellow sailors, Here's a question about how to use the beach wheels or cat trax for the Hobie Getaway. 1. BEFORE SAILING. The Getaway is sitting flat on the beach sand, 30 yards from the water. As a One-Man show, how does a person get it onto the type of beach wheels specifically shown in the ...

Again, the Getaway is a great boat, but it is no Stiletto 23. A Hobie 16 is a great boat, but it is no Getaway when it comes to comfort.--Joshua Texas Gulf Coast '82 Prindle 16 (Badfish) '02 Hobie Wave (Unnamed Project) '87 Hobie 18 (Sold) '89 Hobie 17 (ill-advised project boat, Sold)--

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Local Moratoriums for Ohio Adult Use Marijuana Operators

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Introduction

In November 2023, 57% of voters in Ohio voted for Issue 2 , a ballot initiative which legalized adult recreational marijuana use and tasked the Ohio Departments of Commerce and Development with implementing a legal recreational cannabis industry in the state. As of December 7, 2023, individuals 21 years and older can legally consume and possess marijuana throughout Ohio, although recreational dispensaries are not expected to open until the summer or early fall of 2024. Like most other states that have legalized cannabis for recreational use, Ohio allows local jurisdictions to enact ordinances to prohibit or limit the operation of adult-use cannabis businesses within their boundaries.  This page presents information on 68 active local moratoriums enacted by Ohio jurisdictions as of July 19, 2024. Please note that the list of moratoriums may not be comprehensive and will continue to be updated as new information becomes available.

Figure 1. Map of Ohio Jurisdictions That Have Enacted a Moratorium for Adult Use Marijuana Operators

Local Prohibition Statute and Host Community Fund

The incorporation of a local business prohibition statute is common among the 24 states that have legalized adult cannabis use for recreational purposes. Only four states out of these 24—New Mexico, Rhode Island, Maryland, and Minnesota—do not give localities the power to prohibit businesses, although these states give localities the right to enact reasonable restrictions on time, place and manner of consumption. The extent to which localities opt out of the legal recreational market varies. For instance, in Michigan 73% of municipalities (1,300 out of 1,773) opted out; [1] in New York, only about 50% of municipalities (753 out of 1,520) opted out of allowing dispensaries within their boundaries. [2] . In comparison, the 71 Ohio municipalities that have passed moratoriums as of July 19, 2024, represent only a small fraction (just over 3%) of the 924 incorporated municipalities and 1,307 townships in the state of Ohio.

Ohio’s Issue 2 enacted Ohio Revised Code Section 3780.25, under which localities can enact ordinances prohibiting the operation of adult-use businesses, although they may not prohibit the operation of existing medical cannabis operators that are already located within their jurisdiction. Additionally, localities cannot pass ordinances prohibiting or limiting marijuana-related research conducted at state universities, levy a tax, fee, or charge on adult-use operators that are not being levied on other businesses within the municipal corporation or township, and they cannot prohibit or limit home grow, or any other activity authorized under Chapter 3780.

If a dispensary license is issued by the Division of Cannabis Control for a locality that does not have a moratorium in place, the locality has 120 days to enact an ordinance prohibiting the operations of the dispensary. Upon passage of the ordinance, the dispensary has 60 days to cease operations, or begin the process of initiating a petition to operate that would have to be voted on at the next general election.

Host Community Fund

While the current law gives communities the power to prohibit adult-use cannabis operators from their jurisdictions, it also created an incentive for municipalities to allow operators by establishing the Host Community Fund. Thirty-six percent of the recreational cannabis excise tax revenue collected by the state will be directed to the Host Community Fund, which is then distributed to municipal corporations or townships that have adult use dispensaries. This revenue, along with the local sales tax collected from the sale of recreational marijuana, can be used by communities to fund their own priorities. [3]

The State of Local Moratoriums

As of July 19, 2024, 71 Ohio municipal corporations or townships have passed moratoriums prohibiting adult-use cannabis businesses. We were able to collect the language of 59 of these moratoriums. [4] The 68 jurisdictions with active moratoriums represent just over 12% of Ohio’s population, with the average population of these localities hovering just above 21,000 residents.

Figure 2. Ohio Moratoriums by Jurisdiction’s Population Size

Of the 59 ordinances we collected, 58 jurisdictions enacted full moratoriums for all types of adult use operators. As shown in Table 1, 18 of these jurisdictions have left the length of the moratorium undefined, while the other jurisdictions averaged a moratorium of approximately nine months—30 are a full year or longer, while two are six months or shorter. A handful of jurisdictions that enacted adult-use moratoriums already have operating medical marijuana establishments.

Table 1. Ohio Jurisdictions That Have Enacted a Moratorium for Adult Use Marijuana Operators

The moratoriums are generally brief and often describe the need to ensure “public peace, health, safety, and welfare of [the locality’s] citizens.” The moratoriums also often cite the need for time to review current ordinances and identify any conflicting laws with state laws legalizing marijuana, or to wait for lawmakers in the Ohio General Assembly to revise Issue 2 before making any changes to their own code. Multiple jurisdictions have indicated an intent to actively study current law and create recommendations for their locality once the final state rules for the adult-use recreational industry are adopted.

Table 2. Stated Purpose and Intent of Local Moratoriums

Enduring Consideration for Localities

While approaching a recreational cannabis market carefully might be prudent, localities that prohibit adult-use operators are foregoing potentially significant tax revenue stemming from cannabis businesses being located within their boundaries. Though Ohio tax revenues will not begin to accrue until the second half of 2024, revenues soon thereafter are forecasted to be considerable. [5] In addition to money allocated through the Host Community Fund, localities with active adult-use operators will generate local sales tax revenue that can be used for purposes specific to the community.

Moratoriums also limit opportunities for local entrepreneurs seeking to enter the adult-use market as well as possible employment prospects for local residents. For instance, according to some reports, Michigan’s cannabis industry has created 45,000 full-time positions. [6] Because cannabis businesses advance economic development in myriad ways, municipalities and townships considering moratoriums need to weigh not only public health and public safety concerns, but also the potential benefits of economic development, job creation, and tax revenue.

Lastly, localities should consider the possibility that prohibiting adult-use operators could have the unintended effect of increasing efforts to access cannabis through other means by local residents. Localities cannot make cannabis possession or use or even home grow illegal, and some local citizens are likely to seek out cannabis despite local bans through home grow efforts, or by traveling to nearby localities to find legal stores, or by turning to illicit markets to fill the void. Localities should continuously examine whether public health and public safety concerns are best served through local prohibitions or through well-crafted regulatory efforts.

[1]  Ken Haddad, “Here is which Michigan communities are opted out of adult-use marijuana sales”, December 12, 2023. Click on Detroit . https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/michigan/2023/12/12/heres-which-michigan-communities-are-opted-out-of-adult-use-marijuana-sales/

[2] Marijuana Opt-Out Tracker, Rockefeller Institute of Government, SUNY. https://rockinst.org/issue-areas/state-local-government/municipal-opt-out-tracker/

[3] The wording in the statute is as follows: “Thirty-six per cent to the host community cannabis fund for the benefit of municipal corporations or townships that have adult use dispensaries, and the municipal corporations or townships may use such funds for any approved purpose.” It is not clear what “approved purpose” means and which department, if any, is tasked with defining “approved purposes”.

[4] Avon Lake has enacted both a public consumption and adult use retail moratorium ordinances. Our center has collected language for both ordinances but does not include the public consumption ordinance in our count.

[5] Jana Hrdinova and Dexter Ridgway, “What Tax Revenues Should Ohioans Expect If Ohio Legalizes Adult-Use Cannabis?”, August 2023. Drug Enforcement and Policy Center. https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4537855

[6] Angela Mulka, “Michigan's cannabis industry employs more than 46,000 workers”, April 26, 2024. Pioneer . https://www.bigrapidsnews.com/news/article/michigan-cannabis-industry-second-largest-in-us-19420833.php

Cannabis Rescheduling And Green Thumb Industries: A Powerful Combination

• July 22 marks the end of the public comment period for cannabis rescheduling, with a potential effective date as soon as September 22.
• Rescheduling is likely to move forward quickly due to the 2024 national election and the Democratic Party's support for pro-cannabis legislation.
• Green Thumb Industries stands out as a top performer in the cannabis industry, with consistent positive earnings, strong cash flow, and responsible funding strategies.

GeorgiNutsov/E+ via Getty Images

Cannabis rescheduling approaches

July 22 marks another step forward in the highly important process of rescheduling cannabis from DEA Schedule 1 to Schedule 3. As we get closer to rescheduling, it's time to look at how and when cannabis investors can be ready for this momentous event. In this article, we will nail down the timeline, review what it means, and look at one company well-prepared to benefit from it.

July 22 is the end of the public comment period for the proposed rescheduling rule. After a review by an administrative law judge, the final rule will be published in the Federal register, possibly as soon as August 22. Thirty days after that, the final rule goes into effect, which means that rescheduling could occur as soon as September 22.

This regulatory timeline is by no means certain. A full administrative hearing, if it occurs, would delay the process, and no doubt there will be lawsuits filed by anti-cannabis groups to stay or negate the new rule. Such roadblocks are by no means certain, however. A full hearing is not mandatory, and litigation does not require a stay -- the new rule often remains in effect while it is being litigated. The timeline for re-rating cannabis stocks higher is also uncertain. My best guess is around August 22 when the new rule is promulgated or around September 22 when it goes in effect. There were two occasions in the past 12 months when stock prices jumped:

• August 29, 2023: When the Biden administration announced that they had initiated the process of rescheduling.
• April 29, 2024: The proposed rule was submitted for a public comment period.

The table below uses AdvisorShares Pure US Cannabis ETF ( MSOS ) as an industry proxy. After each announcement, stock prices rose substantially, with the lion's share of the gains in the first day. The message is clear: To participate in a news-driven cannabis rally, you should be fully invested beforehand; if you wait for the event, you can miss most of it. Similar cannabis stock behavior also occurred at developments in earlier years as well.

The powers behind rescheduling

There is one very powerful reason why rescheduling is likely to move forward with utmost speed: The 2024 national election. The Democratic Party, and specifically the Biden administration, recognize that pro-cannabis legislation is a strongly favorable issue for them. Surveys repeatedly show that a large majority of Americans favor legalization. This sets up a stark comparison with the Republican Party, which has repeatedly tried to block access to cannabis. Just this year, we have had headlines like:

• Cannabis stocks slip as House committee clears bill against marijuana rescheduling (July 9)
• GOP Congressman Will Attempt To Remove Marijuana Banking Protections From Spending Bill Due To 'Overwhelming' Concerns (June 5)
• Florida GOP Formally Opposes Marijuana Legalization Ballot Initiative (May 6)
• South Dakota Marijuana Legalization Initiative Trails In New Poll, As State Republican Party Opposes 'Dangerous' Proposal (June 16)

President Biden is responsible for getting the rescheduling this far, by using his power as chief executive. While it seems to be a setback that Biden has decided not to pursue re-election, he is still President until January. He and the incumbent administration will do all they can to get it across the finish line before the election to benefit from the political advantage.

Recap of why rescheduling is important to the cannabis industry

As a Schedule I substance, companies are not allowed to deduct most business expenses on tax returns. Consequently, they pay income taxes at very high rates. This punitive tax treatment would go away with a move to Schedule III, and free up many millions of dollars. For example, last year Verano paid $145 million in taxes on $938 million in sales. In a recent interview , Verano founder George Archos stated:

But when you actually think about what rescheduling can mean for us, you are right, 280E going away is probably the biggest near-term catalyst for our business, to the tune of over $80 million would drop to the bottom line if 280E didn't exist in our world.*

(*280E is the part of the IRS Code that mandates punitive tax rates on cannabis companies.)

Mr. Archos is being somewhat hyperbolic here. Yes, canceling 280E may mean $80 million less in taxes paid, but much of that potential gain will be lost to competitive pricing pressures. Still, the major reduction in tax liability will strengthen Verano and all other US cannabis companies in numerous ways. To begin with, lower prices will increase sales volume.

Rescheduling will bring positive changes to virtually every company doing business in the US. But we all have limited funds and must still make decisions on whom to trust with our money. My overarching strategy is to invest in the best, most successful companies. The rationale is that companies that have shown the most success in cannabis so far will be the ones to most successfully adapt and take advantage of new developments in the industry. In other words, invest in superior management, not companies that are average or worse in this very tough industry. Rescheduling is the start of a new race, so to speak, and I want to be in the car with the best driver and best engine.

So how do we determine which companies have superior management? Fortunately, legal cannabis has been around long enough that companies finally have a substantial history. By looking at financials across companies, we can see which management have been successful (and most likely to continue their success). Spoiler alert: Green Thumb Industries ( OTCQX:GTBIF ) is at the top of the pack.

Comparing cannabis companies

Most of the following charts and tables below show data for five large multistate operators [MSOs] that can be considered peers: Green Thumb Industries, Curaleaf Holdings ( OTCPK:CURLF ), Verano Holdings ( OTCQX:VRNOF ), Cresco Labs ( OTCQX:CRLBF ) and Trulieve Cannabis ( OTCQX:TCNNF ).

EPS Comparison

A company will not survive without profits. The table below shows the GAAP earnings per share for five larger companies: Green Thumb, Curaleaf, Verano, Cresco, and Trulieve Cannabis. Green Thumb is almost the only one with positive earnings over the last five years, and they have been remarkably consistent.

For readers curious about smaller competitors, here is EPS data for Green Thumb and four smaller cannabis companies: Terrascend ( OTCQX:TSNDF ), Planet 13 Holdings ( OTCQX:PLNH ), Ascend Corp. ( OTCQX:AAWH ), Ayr Wellness ( OTCQX:AYRWF ), Vireo Growth ( OTCQX:VREOF ). The superiority of Green Thumb is just as clear as in the previous chart.

The data in table form shows that yes, it is possible to make a profit in cannabis, but only Green Thumb has cracked the code for doing it consistently. The numbers are for annual EPS, as opposed to TTM EPS in the charts above.

Seeking Alpha

Operating cash flow is a metric that can be used in industries that have not yet reached GAAP EPS. Green Thumb stands out here as well. Not only does it generate the most cash from operations, but its consistency of growth stands out among the Big 5, along with Cresco.

Funding: Long-term debt and shares outstanding

In a fast-growing emerging industry like cannabis, investors pay close attention to how growth is funded. Specifically, is it funded by debt, equity, or cash flows. In the table below, we see that Green Thumb used to be in line with other larger companies, but debt for the others has ballooned upwards. They now have significantly less long-term debt than the others, even those with a smaller market cap, i.e., Cresco and Verano.

Green Thumb has also kept shares outstanding under control, as shown in the following chart. In fact, Green Thumb is already half-way through a $100 million share buyback, which is a strong statement of confidence in their financial position - buybacks are rare in the industry.

The three charts above point indicate Green Thumb is able to fund its business from operational cash flow rather than borrowing money or diluting shareholders to a much greater degree than other big companies (and other, smaller cannabis companies). This is a more mature position to be in, particularly when the path to cash flows to pay off debt or reduce reliance on share issuance is quite opaque for much of the industry.

One of the biggest risks to this thesis is a delay or cessation in the rescheduling process, which would be a setback for all companies. Donald Trump is not a friend of cannabis. However, if the process is complete by election day as planned, it would be very difficult to reverse. On the company level, there are also the usual risks of investing in small emerging growth companies. A change in leadership at Green Thumb, or changes in business strategy, could hamper their performance. Fortunately, Green Thumb has had stable leadership which has, so far, managed the challenges of their industry well. They are the best in the current environment, where most business flows through MSOs -- an environment likely to hold for the foreseeable future.

Investment case for Green Thumb

Rescheduling is an important milestone for the advancement of legal cannabis in America, marking a big step forward in the slow but inevitable progress of the industry. I fully expect a significant re-rating of cannabis stocks around the time when rescheduling is approved, before election day in November. The more volatile stocks, like Ayr Wellness and Ascend Wellness, may go up more than relatively stable stocks like Green Thumb. Some of the relative volatility is illustrated in the following chart.

I am certainly taking advantage of this volatility by investing in a number of cannabis stocks for the short term. However, the overall investment case for cannabis is based on its strong projected growth over the long term, and it follows that that perspective will be most fruitful. The bulk of my cannabis portfolio is oriented this way, and my largest holding is Green Thumb. As the data in this article shows, Green Thumb has a long record as the strongest company in the industry. While the share price may not go up as much as others immediately upon rescheduling, this makes it a solid choice for the long term. Many companies have a poor record and a roadmap to profitability that is doubtful. They may be among the biggest gainers in the next few months, but unfortunately some will cease to exist in the years ahead.

I prefer to trust my money to Green Thumb, with its record of excellent management and success. They will participate in the rescheduling excitement, and continue to generate superior performance over the long term.

Editor's Note: This article discusses one or more securities that do not trade on a major U.S. exchange. Please be aware of the risks associated with these stocks.

This article was written by

Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have a beneficial long position in the shares of GTBIF, TCNNF, MSOS either through stock ownership, options, or other derivatives. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.

Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.

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The Supreme Court Can’t Outrun Clarence Thomas’ Terrible Guns Opinion

In the late 1960s, when conservatives felt that the Warren court was tilting too far to the left, magicking up in their opinions a Constitution that did not exist, Robert Bork, the patriarch of originalism, took a revelatory position: The Constitution should be interpreted (and only interpreted) in the ways intended by the people who wrote it. This was necessary, he made clear, so that judges could not just impose their own views of what the Constitution was supposed to mean.

Bork’s idea was deceptively simple and deeply appealing to those of a conservative bent. Constitutions were precise legal documents meant to endure into eternity unless and until amended. Judges should and must be kept from imposing their own views on the document. And if you were a conservative, what understanding of the Constitution could be presumptively better than the one dating all the way back to the late 18 th century, when the Constitution and Bill of Rights were ratified?

As with so many things in life, the deceptively simple is often just that : deceptive. If this past Supreme Court term showed us anything, it is that originalism is a fig leaf, covering up the parts of right-wing jurisprudence most movement conservatives never wanted us to see. Which is to say that whatever else originalism is, it doesn’t limit judicial discretion an iota. Indeed, beyond the fact that it is not a theory of judicial humility, it turns out it may not have much content at all.

If any case made this clear, it was the fractured conservative majority in United States v. Rahimi , in which eight justices agreed that it does not violate the Constitution to keep guns out of the hands of those who are subjects of adjudicated domestic-violence restraining orders. But they seem to have agreed on little else. In particular, the six conservative justices gave us at least four different views of how originalism is even supposed to work. Some half-century into the great originalist project, which was intended to tether judges to a fixed original meaning and constrain their discretion, those justices cannot even agree on what originalism is.

Zackey Rahimi was indicted for violating a domestic-violence restraining order by keeping a gun, which he fired at pretty much anyone who pissed him off, even slightly. Picture a non-cartoonish Yosemite Sam . Fighting those charges, he argued he had a Second Amendment right to his pistol packing. Just three years ago, this claim would have been inconceivable, but in 2022, in New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen , the six justices in the conservative supermajority decided that there was a constitutional right to carry a gun in public almost anyplace one wanted.

Bruen didn’t just dramatically alter the entire American gun-toting landscape; it also became the paradigm for a whole new way of interpreting the Constitution: the supposed big triumph for conservatives of their belief that originalism is the one true interpretive methodology. In the olden days (say, up till about 2015), the justices had used something called means-ends analysis to resolve most claims about individual rights. It worked like this: The world is divided into regular liberty and fundamental rights—things like free speech, the right to a jury trial, and, yes, apparently also carrying weapons to the Stop & Shop. If the government’s regulation infringed on a fundamental right, it bore the burden of showing two things: that the end —the reason for doing it—was “compelling,” i.e., something really important. And that the means —the way the law operated—actually accomplished that end. If the end was not important or the law didn’t accomplish the end, the government’s action was unconstitutional. Pretty simple and logical, right? This whole means-ends test was a cornerstone to doing constitutional law.

In Bruen , writing for an ostensible six-justice majority, Justice Clarence Thomas claimed to change all that. There would be no more of this messy means-ends analysis, which, as he understands it, ultimately encourages them to read the Constitution however they want or just bow down to legislatures. Hereinafter, we are going to do pure history —aka originalism. First, we must decide if something the government did affects a core constitutional right enshrined in the Constitution’s sparse and 230-year-old text. If so, we ask: Is this consistent with the sort of regulation that was contemplated when the Constitution was written? In other words, is the government just doing what we did back in the late 1700s, or is it doing some newfangled thing that burdens the people’s rights in new ways? If so, fuhgeddaboutit.

To do the Bruen test, judges were thus told to take the modern law and go searching for an “analogous” example from the founding era. Kind of like going to the paint store with a color swatch and looking around for something pretty similar. If the new regulation was cobalt blue and the regulation back then was sky blue, that would not cut it—the government was out of luck.

To do this historical paint-chart comparison, as Thomas painstakingly explained in Bruen , you must ask two different questions from “ends” and “means.” Instead, we must ask why did they pass the similar gun regulations in the 1700s? And how did those historical regulations operate back then? Only if the answers to these two questions matched up with historical practices was the modern action by the government constitutional.

It does not take a genius to recognize, of course, that the new “why-how” test is in fact just … a means-ends test with a historical color swatch. Why a law was passed is its end , and how it operates is the same as means . But in Rahimi , five conservative justices realized they actually hated that a strict application of this test would have let Zackey Rahimi keep his guns, and so their supposed new approach fell apart. What we learned in Rahimi is that the conservative justices don’t agree with one another on how to implement the new test, and that they definitely didn’t agree with what Thomas said about it for the seeming majority in Bruen . Which is why, by an 8–1 vote in Rahimi , the Supreme Court upheld taking a domestic abuser’s guns away, regardless of Bruen , leaving Thomas howling in dissent that this was all unfaithful to the one true historical tradition they supposedly had agreed on just three years earlier.

In Rahimi , Chief Justice John Roberts rushed to reassure the rest of us that despite what it seemed to say, Bruen was not meant to suggest that our law was “trapped in amber” as of the founding. “The Second Amendment permits more than just those regulations identical to ones that could be found in 1791,” he wrote for the majority. Instead of looking for a perfect match from the past, or even at least a pretty close one, as Bruen had suggested, we need only ask “whether the challenged regulation is consistent with the principles that underpin our regulatory tradition.” But principles, as we all know, are pretty broad and flexible things, and that is what they proved to be in Rahimi . And so Roberts’ opinion in Rahimi basically neutered the strict Bruen originalist test.

Let’s start with the “why” part of the Bruen test. What the chief justice said in Rahimi was that historically legislative bodies had restricted “gun use to mitigate demonstrated threats of physical violence.” That “from the earliest days of the common law, firearm regulations have included provisions barring people from misusing weapons to harm or menace others.” And, for that reason, “when an individual poses a clear threat of physical violence to another, the threatening individual may be disarmed.”

In other words, back then they regulated guns to keep guns out of the hands of dangerous people and to make sure weapons were not used to menace people or threaten physical violence, which makes regulations done for the same reason kosher in modern times. But isn’t that the reason for many firearm regulations today? In justifying most of today’s gun laws, that understanding of the why is not going to change much.

The “how” part of the Bruen test required that the way a person is disarmed line up with similar methods from the founding era. In Rahimi , the majority relied on ancient “surety” laws for which, if you thought I was a threat to you, you could go to court and the court would make me put up a cash bond to guarantee I behaved. And it also relied on affray laws, which prohibited “riding or going armed, with dangerous or unusual weapons, [to] terrify [] the good people of the land.” The problem with this reasoning, of course, is that there was nothing remotely “unusual” about the weapons Rahimi was shooting irresponsibly all over the place. And he couldn’t just post bond to get his guns back—he went to jail for having them at all. But the chief justice’s opinion in Rahimi said that that was close enough for government work.

It turns out that sky blue is close enough to cobalt blue for these justices.

Don’t take our word for it that the chief justice took the sting out of Bruen ’s originalism in Rahimi : Thomas was absolutely scathing in his extremely lengthy solo dissent, stating, “Not a single historical regulation justifies the statute at issue.” He, at least, could clearly see that any blue is not every blue. He understood that the majority had changed his Bruen originalism test instead of applying it.

So, in the end, Roberts’ majority Rahimi opinion mutated Bruen into a pragmatic means-ends analysis. You may recall that analysis from the time before Bruen . But this is where the agreement about how to apply originalism to gun laws among the five non-Thomas conservatives ended. Justice Brett Kavanaugh wrote a long exegesis to explain the right way to use founding-era history and “tradition,” which apparently means looking at history long past the founding. Justice Amy Coney Barrett wrote to disagree vehemently with Kavanaugh that we can look past founding-era history but also adopted her own pragmatic view of how to read that history. And frankly, it’s not clear at all what Justice Neil Gorsuch was saying in his opinion, except to try to tell listeners that there was no real disagreement among them at all, even though the opposite was obviously true.

Now, to be clear, what the five conservative justices in the majority in Rahimi did was not crazy. Quite the contrary. Why should we, having had more than 200 years to learn how to do things better, be stuck doing them exactly as they were done in the late 18 th century? The Rahimi court’s reasoning made sense, even if its treatment of originalism was a muddle.

Just don’t go telling us anymore that there is some newfangled “old” way of interpreting the Constitution that will keep judges in their proper place. As with much of what the conservative justices did this term, they are making it up as they go along, in just the ways they want. And sure, they are calling it originalism, but even Clarence Thomas knows that’s a lie.

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More Reasons States Should Not Legalize Marijuana: Medical and Recreational Marijuana: Commentary and Review of the Literature

Recent years have seen substantial shifts in cultural attitudes towards marijuana for medical and recreational use. Potential problems with the approval, production, dispensation, route of administration, and negative health effects of medical and recreational marijuana are reviewed. Medical marijuana should be subject to the same rigorous approval process as other medications prescribed by physicians. Legalizing recreational marijuana may have negative public health effects.

Recent years have seen a cultural shift in attitudes towards marijuana. At the time of this writing, medical marijuana is legal in 20 states and the District of Columbia; recreational marijuana is now legal in Washington and Colorado. A substantial and growing literature documents legalized marijuana may have adverse effects on individual and public health.

Medical Use of Marijuana

The term ‘medical marijuana’ implies that marijuana is like any other medication prescribed by a physician. Yet the ways in which medical marijuana has been approved, prescribed, and made available to the public are very different from other commercially available prescription drugs. These differences pose problems unrecognized by the public and by many physicians.

Lack of Evidence for Therapeutic Benefit

In the United States, commercially available drugs are subject to rigorous clinical trials to evaluate safety and efficacy. Data appraising the effectiveness of marijuana in conditions such as HIV/AIDS, epilepsy, and chemotherapy-associated vomiting is limited and often only anecdotal. 1 , 2 To date, there has been only one randomized, double-blind, placebo- and active-controlled trial evaluating the efficacy of smoked marijuana for any of its potential indications, which showed that marijuana was superior to placebo but inferior to Ondansetron in treating nausea. 3 Recent reviews by the Cochrane Collaboration find insufficient evidence to support the use of smoked marijuana for a number of potential indications, including pain related to rheumatoid arthritis, 4 dementia, 5 ataxia or tremor in multiple sclerosis, 6 and cachexia and other symptoms in HIV/AIDS. 2 This does not mean, of course, that components of marijuana do not have potential therapeutic effects to alleviate onerous symptoms of these diseases; but, given the unfavorable side effect profile of marijuana, the evidence to justify use in these conditions is still lacking.

Contamination, Concentration & Route of Administration

Unlike any other prescription drug used for medical purposes, marijuana is not subject to central regulatory oversight. It is grown in dispensaries, which, depending on the state, have regulatory standards ranging from strict to almost non-existent. The crude marijuana plant and its products may be contaminated with fungus or mold. 7 This is especially problematic for immunocompromised patients, 8 including those with HIV/AIDS or cancer. 9 Furthermore, crude marijuana contains over 60 active cannabinoids, 10 few of which are well studied. Marijuana growers often breed their plants to alter the concentrations of different chemicals compounds. For instance, the concentration of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the principal psychoactive ingredient, is more than 20-fold more than in marijuana products used several decades ago. Without rigorous clinical trials, we have no way of knowing which combinations of cannabinoids may be therapeutic and which may be deleterious. As marijuana dispensaries experiment by breeding out different cannabinoids in order to increase the potency of THC, there may be unanticipated negative and lasting effects for individuals who smoke these strains.

Marijuana is the only ‘medication’ that is smoked, and, while still incompletely understood, there are legitimate concerns about long-term effects of marijuana smoke on the lungs. 11 , 12 Compared with cigarette smoke, marijuana smoke can result in three times the amount of inhaled tar and four times the amount of inhaled carbon-monoxide. 13 Further, smoking marijuana has been shown to be a risk factor for lung cancer in many 14 , 15 but not all 16 studies.

High Potential for Diversion

In some states, patients are permitted to grow their own marijuana. In addition to contributing to problems such as contamination and concentration as discussed above, this practice also invites drug diversion. Patients seeking to benefit financially may bypass local regulations of production and sell home-grown marijuana at prices lower than dispensaries. We do not allow patient to grow their own opium for treatment of chronic pain; the derivatives of opium, like marijuana, are highly addictive and thus stringently regulated.

Widespread “Off-label” Use

FDA-approved forms of THC (Dronabinol) and a THC-analog (Nabilone), both available orally, already exist. Indications for these drugs are HIV/AIDS cachexia and chemotherapy-associated nausea and vomiting. Unlike smoked, crude marijuana, these medications have been subject to randomized, placebo-controlled, clinical trials. Yet despite these limited indications where marijuana compounds have a proven but modest effect in high-quality clinical trials, medical marijuana is used overwhelmingly for non-specific pain or muscle spasms. Recent data from Colorado show that 94% of patients with medical marijuana cards received them for treatment of “severe pain.” 17 Similar trends are evident in California. 18 Evidence for the benefit of marijuana in neuropathic pain is seen in many 19 - 21 but not all 22 clinical trials. There is no high-quality evidence, however, that the drug reduces non-neuropathic pain; this remains an indication for which data sufficient to justify the risks of medical marijuana is lacking. 4 , 23 – 25

If marijuana is to be ‘prescribed’ by physicians and used as a medication, it should be subject to the same rigorous approval process that other commercially available drugs undergo. Potentially therapeutic components of marijuana should be investigated, but they should only be made available to the public after adequately powered, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials have demonstrated efficacy and acceptable safety profiles. Furthermore, these compounds should be administered in a way that poses less risk than smoking and dispensed via standardized and FDA-regulated pharmacies to ensure purity and concentration. Bypassing the FDA and approving ‘medicine’ at the ballot box sets a dangerous precedent. Physicians should be discouraged from recommending medical marijuana. Alternatively, consideration can be given to prescribing FDA-approved medicines (Dronabinol or Cesamet) as the purity and concentration of these drugs are assured and their efficacy and side effect profiles have been well documented in rigorous clinical trials.

Recreational Marijuana

The question of recreational marijuana is a broader social policy consideration involving implications of the effects of legalization on international drug cartels, domestic criminal justice policy, and federal and state tax revenue in addition to public health. Yet physicians, with a responsibility for public health, are experts with a vested interest in this issue. Recent legislation, reflecting changes in the public’s attitudes towards marijuana, has permitted the recreational use of marijuana in Colorado and Washington. Unfortunately, the negative health consequences of the drug are not prominent in the debate over legalizing marijuana for recreational use. In many cases, these negative effects are more pronounced in adolescents. A compelling argument, based on these negative health effects in both adolescents and adults, can be made to abort the direction society is moving with regards to the legalization of recreational marijuana.

Myth: Marijuana is Not Addictive

A growing myth among the public is that marijuana is not an addictive substance. Data clearly show that about 10% of those who use cannabis become addicted; this number is higher among adolescents. 26 Users who seek treatment for marijuana addiction average 10 years of daily use. 27 A withdrawal syndrome has been described, consisting of anxiety, restlessness, insomnia, depression, and changes in appetite 28 and affects as many as 44% of frequent users, 29 contributing to the addictive potential of the drug. This addictive potential may be less than that of opiates; but the belief, especially among adolescents, that the drug is not addictive is misguided.

Schizophrenia and Other Psychotic Disorders

Marijuana has been consistently shown to be a risk factor for schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. 30 – 32 The association between marijuana and schizophrenia fulfills many, but not all, of the standard criteria for the epidemiological establishment of causation, including experimental evidence, 33 , 34 temporal relationship, 35 – 38 biological gradient, 30 , 31 , 39 and biological plausibility. 40 Genetic variation may explain why marijuana use does not strongly fulfill remaining criteria, such as strength of association and specificity. 41 , 42 As these genetic variants are explored and further characterized, marijuana use may be shown to cause or precipitate schizophrenia in a genetically vulnerable population. The risk of psychotic disorder is more pronounced when marijuana is used at an earlier age. 32 , 43

There is some evidence that compounds naturally found in marijuana have therapeutic benefit for symptoms of diseases such as HIV/AIDS, multiple sclerosis, and cancer. If these compounds are to be used under the auspices of ‘medical marijuana,’ they should undergo the same rigorous approval process that other medications prescribed by physicians, including randomized, placebo- and active-controlled trials to evaluate safety and efficacy, not by popular vote or state legislature.

Effects on Cognition

Early studies suggested cognitive declines associated with marijuana (especially early and heavy use); these declines persisted long after the period of acute cannabis intoxication. 44 – 46 Recently, Meier and colleagues analyzed data from a prospective study which followed subjects from birth to age 38; their findings yielded supportive evidence that cannabis use, when begun during adolescence, was associated with cognitive impairment in multiple areas, including executive functioning, processing speed, memory, perceptual reasoning, and verbal comprehension. 47 Rogeberg 48 criticized the study’s methodology, claiming that the results were confounded by differences in socioeconomic status; this claim, however, was based on sub-analyses that used very small numbers. Additional sub-analyses 49 of the original study cohort showed that marijuana was just as prevalent in populations of higher socioeconomic status, suggesting that socioeconomic status was not a confounding variable. Any epidemiological study is subject to confounding biases and future research will be needed to clarify and quantify the relationship between cognitive decline and adolescent marijuana use. However, the findings of the original study by Meier et al show there is indeed an independent relationship between loss of intelligence and adolescent marijuana use. This finding, moreover, is consistent with prior studies. 44

Other Negative Health Effects

Substantial evidence exists suggesting that marijuana is harmful to the respiratory system. It is associated with symptoms of obstructive and inflammatory lung disease, 11 , 50 an increased risk of lung cancer, 14 , 15 and it is suspected to be associated with reduced pulmonary function in heavy users. 51 Further, its use has been associated with harmful effects to other organ systems, including the reproductive, 52 gastrointestinal, 53 and immunologic 10 , 54 systems.

Social Safety Implications: Effects on Driving

Marijuana impairs the ability to judge time, distance, and speed; it slows reaction time and reduces ability to track moving objects. 55 , 56 In many studies of drug-related motor vehicle fatalities, marijuana is the most common drug detected except for alcohol. 57 , 58 Based on post-mortem studies, Couch et al determined that marijuana was likely an impairing factor in as many fatal accidents as alcohol. 59 One study showed that in motor vehicle accidents where the driver was killed, recent marijuana use was detected in 12% of cases. 57 Other research confirms a significantly increased risk of motor vehicle fatalities in association with acute cannabis intoxication. 60

Risk Perception and Use in Adolescents

Marijuana use among adolescents has been increasing. Data that has tracked risk perception and use of marijuana among adolescents over decades clearly shows an inverse relationship; as adolescent risk perception wanes, marijuana use increases. 61 As more states legalize medical and recreational marijuana, risk perception is expected to decrease, causing the prevalence of use among adolescent to continue to rise. This is among the most concerning of issues about the drug’s legalization because so many of the negative effects of marijuana—including cognitive impairment and risk for short- and long-term psychosis— are heightened when used during adolescence.

There is some evidence that compounds naturally found in marijuana have therapeutic benefit for symptoms of diseases such as HIV/AIDS, multiple sclerosis, and cancer. If these compounds are to be used under the auspices of ‘medical marijuana,’ they should undergo the same rigorous approval process that other medications prescribed by physicians, including randomized, placebo- and active-controlled trials to evaluate safety and efficacy, not by popular vote or state legislature. Furthermore, these therapeutic compounds should be administered via a route that minimizes long-term health risk (i.e., via oral pill) and should be dispensed by centrally regulated pharmacies to ensure the purity and concentration of the drug and allow for the recall of contaminated batches.

Marijuana for recreational use will have many adverse health effects. The drug is addictive, with mounting evidence for the existence of a withdrawal syndrome. Furthermore, it has been shown to have adverse effects on mental health, intelligence (including irreversible declines in cognition), and the respiratory system. Driving while acutely intoxicated with marijuana greatly increases the risk of fatal motor vehicle collision. Legalization for recreational use may have theoretical (but still unproven) beneficial social effects regarding issues such as domestic criminal justice policy, but these effects will not come without substantial public health and social costs. Currently there is a lack of resources devoted to educating physicians about this most commonly used illicit substance. The potential benefits and significant risks associated with marijuana use should be taught in medical schools and residency programs throughout the country.

Samuel T. Wilkinson, MD, is in the Department of Psychiatry at the Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Ct.

Contact: [email protected]

None reported.

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The arguments for and against marijuana legalization in the u.s. [infographic].

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Towards the end of last year, a Gallup poll found that U.S. public support for marijuana legalization surged to 66%. Especially noteworthy was a newfound majority support for legalization among Republicans and Americans aged 55 and older. The increasing popularity behind the notion of giving pot the green light raises an obvious yet seldom asked question: why do people want to legalize it? Gallup recently released more polling about marijuana , this time focusing on the arguments for and against legalization.

86% of supporters say that the medicinal benefits of marijuana are a very important reason for legalization. Freeing up law enforcement to focus on other types of crime is cited as a very important reason by 70% of respondents while 60% say it's a matter of freedom and personal choice. Given that Colorado passed $1 billion in marijuana state revenue this week, how did the survey's respondents feel about the economic benefits of the drug? Gallup found that just over half of supporters, 56%, say that tax revenue for state and local governments is a very important reason for legalization.

When the roughly one-third of Americans opposing legalization were asked about the most important reasons for keeping legal marijuana out of circulation, driver safety was the chief reason. 79% said that an increase in the number of accidents involving drivers using marijuana is a major reason for their opposition. Those opposed also fear a general increase in drug usage with "leading people to use stronger and more addictive drugs" and legal marijuana "encouraging more people to use it" cited as very important reasons for opposition by 69% and 62% of opponents respectively.

* Click below to enlarge (charted by  Statista )

U.S. marijuana supporters/opponents views on marijuana legalization

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9 facts about Americans and marijuana

The use and possession of marijuana is illegal under U.S. federal law, but about three-quarters of states have legalized the drug for medical or recreational purposes. The changing legal landscape has coincided with a decades-long rise in public support for legalization, which a majority of Americans now favor.

Here are nine facts about Americans’ views of and experiences with marijuana, based on Pew Research Center surveys and other sources.

As more states legalize marijuana, Pew Research Center looked at Americans’ opinions on legalization and how these views have changed over time.

Data comes from surveys by the Center,  Gallup , and the  2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health  from the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Information about the jurisdictions where marijuana is legal at the state level comes from the  National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws .

More information about the Center surveys cited in the analysis, including the questions asked and their methodologies, can be found at the links in the text.

Around nine-in-ten Americans say marijuana should be legal for medical or recreational use,  according to a January 2024 Pew Research Center survey . An overwhelming majority of U.S. adults (88%) say either that marijuana should be legal for medical use only (32%) or that it should be legal for medical  and  recreational use (57%). Just 11% say the drug should not be legal in any form. These views have held relatively steady over the past five years.

Views on marijuana legalization differ widely by age, political party, and race and ethnicity, the January survey shows.

While small shares across demographic groups say marijuana should not be legal at all, those least likely to favor it for both medical and recreational use include:

• Older adults: 31% of adults ages 75 and older support marijuana legalization for medical and recreational purposes, compared with half of those ages 65 to 74, the next youngest age category. By contrast, 71% of adults under 30 support legalization for both uses.
• Republicans and GOP-leaning independents: 42% of Republicans favor legalizing marijuana for both uses, compared with 72% of Democrats and Democratic leaners. Ideological differences exist as well: Within both parties, those who are more conservative are less likely to support legalization.
• Hispanic and Asian Americans: 45% in each group support legalizing the drug for medical and recreational use. Larger shares of Black (65%) and White (59%) adults hold this view.

Support for marijuana legalization has increased dramatically over the last two decades. In addition to asking specifically about medical and recreational use of the drug, both the Center and Gallup have asked Americans about legalizing marijuana use in a general way. Gallup asked this question most recently, in 2023. That year, 70% of adults expressed support for legalization, more than double the share who said they favored it in 2000.

Half of U.S. adults (50.3%) say they have ever used marijuana, according to the 2022 National Survey on Drug Use and Health . That is a smaller share than the 84.1% who say they have ever consumed alcohol and the 64.8% who have ever used tobacco products or vaped nicotine.

While many Americans say they have used marijuana in their lifetime, far fewer are current users, according to the same survey. In 2022, 23.0% of adults said they had used the drug in the past year, while 15.9% said they had used it in the past month.

While many Americans say legalizing recreational marijuana has economic and criminal justice benefits, views on these and other impacts vary, the Center’s January survey shows.

• Economic benefits: About half of adults (52%) say that legalizing recreational marijuana is good for local economies, while 17% say it is bad. Another 29% say it has no impact.

• Criminal justice system fairness: 42% of Americans say legalizing marijuana for recreational use makes the criminal justice system fairer, compared with 18% who say it makes the system less fair. About four-in-ten (38%) say it has no impact.
• Use of other drugs: 27% say this policy decreases the use of other drugs like heroin, fentanyl and cocaine, and 29% say it increases it. But the largest share (42%) say it has no effect on other drug use.
• Community safety: 21% say recreational legalization makes communities safer and 34% say it makes them less safe. Another 44% say it doesn’t impact safety.

Democrats and adults under 50 are more likely than Republicans and those in older age groups to say legalizing marijuana has positive impacts in each of these areas.

Most Americans support easing penalties for people with marijuana convictions, an October 2021 Center survey found . Two-thirds of adults say they favor releasing people from prison who are being held for marijuana-related offenses only, including 41% who strongly favor this. And 61% support removing or expunging marijuana-related offenses from people’s criminal records.

Younger adults, Democrats and Black Americans are especially likely to support these changes. For instance, 74% of Black adults  favor releasing people from prison  who are being held only for marijuana-related offenses, and just as many favor removing or expunging marijuana-related offenses from criminal records.

Twenty-four states and the District of Columbia have legalized small amounts of marijuana for both medical and recreational use as of March 2024,  according to the  National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws  (NORML), an advocacy group that tracks state-level legislation on the issue. Another 14 states have legalized the drug for medical use only.

Of the remaining 12 states, all allow limited access to products such as CBD oil that contain little to no THC – the main psychoactive substance in cannabis. And 26 states overall have at least partially  decriminalized recreational marijuana use , as has the District of Columbia.

In addition to 24 states and D.C.,  the U.S. Virgin Islands ,  Guam  and  the Northern Mariana Islands  have legalized marijuana for medical and recreational use.

More than half of Americans (54%) live in a state where both recreational and medical marijuana are legal, and 74% live in a state where it’s legal either for both purposes or medical use only, according to a February Center analysis of data from the Census Bureau and other outside sources. This analysis looked at state-level legislation in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

In 2012, Colorado and Washington became the first states to pass legislation legalizing recreational marijuana.

About eight-in-ten Americans (79%) live in a county with at least one cannabis dispensary, according to the February analysis. There are nearly 15,000 marijuana dispensaries nationwide, and 76% are in states (including D.C.) where recreational use is legal. Another 23% are in medical marijuana-only states, and 1% are in states that have made legal allowances for low-percentage THC or CBD-only products.

The states with the largest number of dispensaries include California, Oklahoma, Florida, Colorado and Michigan.

Note: This is an update of a post originally published April 26, 2021, and updated April 13, 2023.  

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Argumentative Essay On Marijuana Legalization

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Why Marijuana Should be Legalized Argumentative Essay Outline

Introduction.

Thesis: Marijuana should be legalized as it is more beneficial that it may be detrimental to society.

Paragraph 1:

Marijuana has not caused turmoil in some of the countries where it has been legalized.

• Marijuana does not increase violent, and property crimes as many suggest.
• Studies reveal that in Colorado, violent crimes have declined following the legalization of marijuana.

Paragraph 2:

Prohibiting use of marijuana does not limit its consumption.

• In spite of the many laws prohibiting the use of marijuana, it is one of the most highly abused drugs.
• 58% of young people from all over the world use marijuana.
• It has not been attributed to any health complications.

Paragraph 3:

Legalization of marijuana would help state governments save taxpayers money.

• Governments spend lots of funds on law enforcement agencies that uphold laws restricting the use of marijuana.
• They also spend vast sums of money on sustaining arrested dealers and consumers in prison.
• Legalizing marijuana would result in saving vast sums of money.

Paragraph 4:

Marijuana is less noxious than other legal substances.

• Marijuana has less health side effects than other legal substances such as alcohol and tobacco.
• Alcohol is 114 times more destructive than marijuana.

Paragraph 5:

Marijuana has been proven to have medical benefits.

• Marijuana helps stop seizures in epileptic patients.
• It helps stop nausea in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy .

Paragraph 6:

Marijuana has been proven to be a stress reliever.

• Marijuana relieves stress and depression in their users by causing excitement.
• Its use reduces violence and deaths related to stress and depression.

Conclusion.

There are many misconceptions about marijuana existent in the modern world. People have continued to ignore health benefits linked to this substance citing their unproven beliefs. Owing to its ability to stop seizures, nausea, and stress in individuals governments should highly consider marijuana legalization. Its legalization will also help state governments reduce expenses that result from maintaining suspects convicted of marijuana possession and consumption.

Why Marijuana Should be Legalized Argumentative Essay

The argument that marijuana use should be made legal has gained momentum both in the U.S. and elsewhere in the world in recent years. This has seen the drug being legalized in some states in the U.S. such that by 2013, twenty states had legalized medical marijuana. As of the same year, Colorado and Washington had legalized recreational marijuana. The arguments behind the push for legalization majorly revolve around the idea that the drug has medicinal effects. However, there are also arguments that there are serious health effects associated with the drug and this has only further fueled the already raging debate. This paper argues that marijuana should be legalized as it is more beneficial that it may be detrimental to society.

Marijuana has not caused any notable negative effects in countries where it has been legalized. There is a general belief that marijuana consumers are violent. However, no authentic research can prove these assertions. As already seen, some states in the United States have legalized both medicinal and recreational marijuana. In spite of this, no cases of marijuana-related violence have been recorded so far in such states (Markol, 2018). Reports reveal that the rate of violence and property crimes have decreased in Colorado following the legalization of the drug. If marijuana does not increase violent crimes, there is no reason as to why it should not be legalized.

It is also noteworthy that prohibiting marijuana use does not limit its consumption. Less than 10% of countries in the world prevent the use of marijuana, but according to research, 58% of young people in most of these countries are marijuana users (Head, 2016). General reports reveal that marijuana is one of most commonly abused drug in the world. It is also readily available in most states as it is a naturally growing plant (Head, 2016). In spite of its continued use, there are few cases, if any, of marijuana-related health complications that have been reported in any of these countries (Head, 2016). Therefore, if the illegality of marijuana does not limit its consumption, then state governments should consider its legalization.

Legalization of marijuana would further help state governments save taxpayers’ money. It is widely known that in countries where marijuana is illegal, authorities are stringent and will arrest any individual found in possession of the drug (Sanger, 2017). However, as earlier mentioned, laws prohibiting the use of the drug do not prevent its consumption, and this means that many people are arrested and prosecuted for possessing it (Sanger, 2017). State governments therefore use a lot of funds to support law enforcement agencies that seek to uphold laws prohibiting the use of marijuana (Sanger, 2017). Many people have been arrested and incarcerated for either possessing or consuming the drug, and the government has to use taxpayers’ money to sustain such people in prison. Since these actions do not limit consumption of marijuana, state governments should legalize the drug so as to save taxpayers money.

Another advantage of marijuana is that it is less noxious than other legal substances. According to research, marijuana is the least harmful drug among the many legal drugs existent in the world today (Owen, 2014). There are millions of campaigns every year cautioning people against smoking cigarettes, but there has been none seeking to warn people about marijuana consumption (Owen, 2014). Lobby groups have even been making efforts to push for legalization of marijuana. If marijuana had severe health effects as many purport, state governments would be investing heavily in campaigns aimed at discouraging its consumption (Owen, 2014). According to studies, alcohol, which is legal in many countries, is 114 times more harmful than marijuana (Owen, 2014). Therefore, if such harmful substances can be legalized, then there are no justifications as to why marijuana should not be legalized.

Further, marijuana has been proven to have medicinal benefits. Several countries, particularly in Europe, and the United States have legalized both medicinal and recreational marijuana. Their move to legalize marijuana was based on medical reports that showed a variety of health benefits linked to the drug (Noonan, 2017). Research shows that marijuana can reduce seizures in epileptic persons. Several studies have also proven that the drug indeed has a variety of health benefits. For instance, Charlotte Figi, who is now aged 10, used to have more than 100 seizures every month at age three, but since Colorado legalized medicinal and recreational marijuana, her parents started treating her with the substance, and today her seizures have significantly reduced (Noonan, 2017). Marijuana has as well been proven to reduce nausea in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Owing to this medicinal value, state governments should consider legalizing the drug.

Additionally, marijuana has been proven to be a stress reliever. Consumption of the drug causes excitement among its users enabling them to forget about troubling situations. Unlike alcohol which is likely to aggravate stress and depression, marijuana works wonders in alleviating anxiety and depression (Sanger, 2017). There are many health and social effects associated with stress, including mental disorders and violence against others (Sanger, 2017). To avoid cases of stress-related violence and mental disorders, state governments should make marijuana consumption legal.

There are many misconceptions about marijuana in the world today. People have continued to ignore the health benefits linked with this substance and have instead focused on citing yet-to-be proven misconceptions. Owing to the ability of the drug to stop seizures, nausea, and stress in individuals, governments should seriously consider its legalization. The legalization will also help state governments reduce expenses that result from sustaining suspects convicted of marijuana possession and consumption. So far, there is more than enough evidence proving that marijuana has lots of benefits to individuals, the society, and the government, and therefore should be legalized.

Head, T. (2016). “8 reasons why marijuana should be legalized”. ThoughtCo . Retrieved June 27, 2020 from https://www.thoughtco.com/reasons-why-marijuana-should-be-legalized-721154

Markol, T. (2018). “5 reasons why marijuana should be legalized”. Marijuana Reform . Retrieved June 27, 2020 from http://marijuanareform.org/5-reasons-marijuana-legalized/

Noonan, D. (2017). “Marijuana treatment reduces severe epileptic seizures”. Scientific American . Retrieved June 27, 2020 from https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/marijuana-treatment-reduces-severe-epileptic-seizures/

Owen, P. (2014). “6 powerful reasons to legalize marijuana”. New York Times . Retrieved June 27, 2020 from https://www.alternet.org/drugs/6-powerful-reasons-new-york-times-says-end-marijuana-prohibition

Sanger, B. (2017). “10 legit reasons why weed should be legalized right now”. Herb . Retrieved June 27, 2020 from https://herb.co/marijuana/news/reasons-weed-legalized

Why Marijuana Should be Legal Essay Outline

Thesis:  Marijuana has health benefits and should thus be legal.

Benefits of Marijuana

Marijuana slows and stops the spread of cancer cells.

• Cannabidiol can turn off a gene called Id-1 and can therefore stop cancer.
• In an experiment, researchers were able to treat breast cancer cells with Cannabidiol.

Marijuana helps with pain and nausea reduction for people going through chemotherapy.

• Cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy suffer from severe pains and nausea.
• This can further complicate their health.
• Marijuana can stir up their appetite, decrease nausea, and reduce pain.

Paragraph  3:

Marijuana can control epileptic seizure.

• Marijuana extract stopped seizures in epileptic rats in ten hours.
• The seizures were controlled by the THC.

Disadvantages of Marijuana

Marijuana is addictive.

• One in ten marijuana users become addicted over time.
• If one stops using the drug abruptly, they may suffer from such withdrawal symptoms.

Marijuana use decreases mental health.

• Users suffer from memory loss and restricted blood flow to the brain.
• Users have higher chances of developing depression and schizophrenia.

Marijuana use damages the lungs more than cigarette smoking .

• Marijuana smokers inhale the smoke more deeply into their lungs and let it stay there for longer.
• The likelihood of lung cancer can be increased by this deeper, longer exposure to carcinogens.

Why Marijuana Should Be Legal

Paragraph 7:

Improved quality and safety control.

• Legalization would lead to the creation of a set of standards for safety and quality control.
• Users would know what they exactly get in exchange for the money they offer.
• There would be no risks of users taking in unknown substances mixed in marijuana.

Paragraph 8:

Marijuana has a medicinal value.

• Medical marijuana treats a wide assortment of “untreatable” diseases and conditions.
• Public health would be improved and the healthcare system would experience less of a drain.  

Paragraph 9: 

Among the major arguments against marijuana legalization is often that legalization would yield an increase in drug-impaired driving.

• This argument holds that even now when the drug is yet to be fully legalized in the country, it is a major causal factor in highway deaths, injuries, and crushes.
• It however beats logic why marijuana is illegalized on the ground that it would increase drug-impaired driving while alcohol is legal but also significantly contributes to the same problem.

Legalization of marijuana would have many benefits. The drug is associated with the treatment of many serious illnesses including the dreaded cancer. Legalization would also save users from consuming unsafe marijuana sold by unscrupulous people.

Why Marijuana Should Be Legal Essay

There is an ongoing tension between the belief that marijuana effectively treats a wide range of ailments and the argument that it has far-reaching negative health effects. There has nevertheless been a drive towards legalization of the drug in the United States with twenty nine states and the District of Columbia having legalized it for medical and recreational purposes. It was also found by a study that there is a sharp increase in the use of marijuana across the country (Kerr, Lui & Ye, 2017). Major public health concerns are being prompted by this rise. This should however not be the case because marijuana has health benefits and should thus be legal.

Marijuana slows and stops the spread of cancer cells. A study found that Cannabidiol can turn off a gene called Id-1 and can therefore stop cancer. A 2007 report by researchers at California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco also indicated that the spread of cancer may be prevented by Cannabidiol. In their lab experiment, the researchers were able to treat breast cancer cells with this component (Nawaz, 2017). The positive outcome of the experiment showed that Id-1 expression had been significantly decreased.

Marijuana also helps with pain and nausea reduction for people going through chemotherapy. Cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy suffer from severe pains, appetite loss, vomiting, and painful nausea. This can further complicate their already deteriorating health. Marijuana can be of help here by stirring up the appetite, decreasing nausea, and reducing pain (Nawaz, 2017). There are also other cannabinoid drugs used for the same purposes as approved by the FDA.

It was additionally shown by a 2003 study that the use of marijuana can control epileptic seizure. Synthetic marijuana and marijuana extracts were given to epileptic rats by Virginia Commonwealth University’s Robert J. DeLorenzo. In about ten hours, the seizures had been stopped by the drugs (Nawaz, 2017). It was found that the seizures were controlled by the THC which bound the brain cells responsible for regulating relaxation and controlling excitability.

Some scientists claim that marijuana is addictive. According to them, one in ten marijuana users become addicted over time. They argue that if one stops using the drug abruptly, they may suffer from such withdrawal symptoms as anxiety and irritability (Barcott, 2015). However, the same argument could be applied to cigarette smoking, which is notably legal. There is need for more studies to be conducted into this claim being spread by opponents of marijuana legalization.

It is also argued that marijuana use decreases mental health. Those opposed to the legalization of recreational marijuana like to cite studies that show that users of the drug suffer from memory loss and restricted blood flow to the brain. They also argue that users have higher chances of developing depression and schizophrenia. However, these assertions have not yet been completely ascertained by science (Barcott, 2015). The claim about depression and schizophrenia is particularly not clear because researchers are not sure whether the drug triggers the conditions or it is used by smokers to alleviate the symptoms.

It is further claimed that marijuana use damages the lungs more than cigarette smoking. It is presumed that marijuana smokers inhale the smoke more deeply into their lungs and let it stay there for longer. The likelihood of lung cancer, according to this argument, can be increased by this deeper, longer exposure to carcinogens. However, the argument touches not on the frequency of use between marijuana and cigarette smokers (Barcott, 2015). It neither takes into account such alternative administration methods as edibles, tinctures, and vaporizing.

Legalization of marijuana would lead to improved quality and safety control. Purchasing the drug off the street provides end users with no means of knowing what they are exactly getting. On the other hand, legalizing it would immediately lead to the creation of a set of standards for safety and quality control (Caulkins, Kilmer & Kleiman, 2016). This would certainly work in the marijuana industry just as it is working in the tobacco and alcohol industries. Users would be able to know what they exactly get in exchange for the money they offer. Additionally, there would be no risks of users taking in unknown substances mixed in marijuana sold on the streets.

Marijuana should also be legal because it has a medicinal value. It has been proven that medical marijuana treats a wide assortment of “untreatable” diseases and conditions. These include problems due to chemotherapy, cancer, post-traumatic stress disorder, migraines, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, and Crohn’s disease (Caulkins, Kilmer & Kleiman, 2016). Public health would be improved and the healthcare system would experience less of a drain if medical cannabis products were made available to those suffering from the mentioned conditions. Consequently, more public funds would be available for such other public service initiatives as schools and roads.

Among the major arguments against marijuana legalization is often that legalization would yield an increase in drug-impaired driving. This argument holds that even now when the drug is yet to be fully legalized in the country, it has already been cited to be a major causal factor in highway deaths, injuries, and crushes. Among the surveys those arguing along this line might cite is one that was conducted back in 2010, revealing that of the participating weekend night-time drivers, “8.6 percent tested positive for marijuana or its metabolites” (“Why We Should Not Legalize Marijuana,” 2010). It was found in yet another study that 26.9% of drivers who were being attended to at a trauma center after sustaining serious injuries tested positive for the drug (“Why We Should Not Legalize Marijuana,” 2010). It however beats logic why marijuana is illegalized on the ground that it would increase drug-impaired driving while alcohol is legal but also significantly contributes to the same problem.

As the discussion reveals, legalization of marijuana would have many benefits. The drug is associated with the treatment of many serious illnesses including the dreaded cancer. Legalization would also save users from consuming unsafe marijuana sold by unscrupulous people. There are also other health conditions that can be controlled through the drug. Arguments against its legalization based on its effects on human health also lack sufficient scientific support. It is thus only safe that the drug is legalized in all states.

Barcott, B. (2015).  Weed the people: the future of legal marijuana in America . New York, NY: Time Home Entertainment.

Caulkins, J. P., Kilmer, B., & Kleiman, M. (2016).  Marijuana legalization: what everyone needs to know . New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

Kerr, W., Lui, C., & Ye, Y. (2017). Trends and age, period and cohort effects for marijuana use prevalence in the 1984-2015 US National Alcohol Surveys.  Addiction ,  113 (3), 473-481.

Nawaz, H. (2017).  The debate between legalizing marijuana and its benefits for medical purposes: a pros and cons analysis . Munich, Germany: GRIN Verlag.

Why We Should Not Legalize Marijuana. (2010). In  CNBC . Retrieved June 25, 2020 from  https://www.cnbc.com/id/36267223 .

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Pros and Cons of Medical Marijuana, Essay Example

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Few issues remain as controversial as that of legalizing marijuana for medical purposes.  Certain states have enacted statutes which decriminalize marijuana as a medical aid prescribed by physicians, and others are under strong pressure to do so.   The therapeutic benefits of marijuana, proponents insist, far outweigh any negative consequences.   These same arguments typically include comparison with control substances which are legal, such as alcohol and tobacco, and yet which are known to create dangerous health conditions.   Meanwhile, opponents tend to refer to the psychoactive elements of marijuana as pernicious and dangerous, no matter the established benefits. This faction commonly argues that, if alcohol is legal and dangerous, there is no need to make another threatening agent so accessible.

When the pros and cons of medicinal marijuana are examined, it seems evident that a pervasive bias still is responsible for the controversy, as well as the illegality of it in many states. There are, to be sure, certain issues of questionable consequences from marijuana use, but this is true of virtually every medicinal substance already legalized and used. That marijuana continues to be identified with an undesirable subculture, an association dating back to the tumultuous period of the 1960s, may be a strong factor in blocking its acceptance. What is most important, however, is recognizing that the legal, medicinal use of marijuana does not encourage its use as a recreational substance. Legalization of medicinal marijuana, simply,  would provide for relieving a great deal of discomfort and pain in those suffering from a variety of illnesses.

As will be shortly demonstrated, marijuana offers an enormous benefit to those in physical and/or emotional distress. It is, however, as naïve to assert that marijuana is wholly free of potential dangers to health as it is to unquestioningly refute its therapeutic properties. The reality is that cannabinoids are psychoactive compounds, and cannabis, or marijuana, contains over fifty of these. One study of people under the age of twenty-five who used marijuana on a daily basis concluded that their risk of exhibiting psychotic symptoms was double that of non-users (Freberg  119). This is clearly a potentially dangerous effect, even as it must be as well acknowledged that daily use of even the most mild psychoactive compounds may generate similar results.

This relates, in fact, to the most prominent objection raised against marijuana as a medicinal treatment: the psychoactive properties. While there are no documented cases of fatalities as occurring from either the smoking or eating of cannabis, the reality is that the psychoactive properties of marijuana vary greatly, depending upon where and how the plant is cultivated. What this translates to is, ultimately, an unknown factor; that is to say, while most users never experience anything like an extreme, hallucinatory reaction to marijuana, some are reported to have undergone disturbingly “psychedelic” experiences (Mehling, Triggle  18).  The basic nature of psychoactive compounds inevitably translates to their effects as being completely dependent on the mind and physical being of the person ingesting them, and the marijuana merely soothing one individual may create mental distress in another. It is ironic,  that the same, soothing effect proponents of marijuana point to as validating its use as a medicine are those turned to by opponents to legalizing it. Simply, it affects the brain as a drug, and this is intrinsically a possible health threat. It may not be a substantial one, but it exists.

Then, one measure of a substance’s adverse effects is what occurs when using it ceases, which goes to the notorious “withdrawal” issues. In this arena, as in most others, evidence regarding marijuana is hopelessly conflicted, and also marked by decided agendas. For example, it is established that great numbers of users report absolutely no negative effects upon ending marijuana use, while other studies have documented that people who smoke it for brief spans of time suffer anxiety upon ending the usage (Earleywine  38). Data is widespread but, in this perpetually controversial subject, never actually conclusive.  It appears very much to be a case of information that may be applied to support any stance at all.

That said, the inescapable fact remains that marijuana is used for its psychoactive components, and any such agents are inherently unpredictable.   As they are attractive to many, so too may they easily become, or be used in a way as, addictive.  Then, this question of addiction arises simply because psychological addiction is as potent as the physical variety.  There is no evidence at all pointing to marijuana as physically addictive, and it is in fact lacking in the nicotine that makes tobacco addictive. Nonetheless, it must be acknowledged that the pleasant effects marijuana creates may easily lead to dependence. In this respect, it is remarkably similar to alcohol, in that dependence may be a consequence of any degree of usage, varying with the constitution of the user.  Marijuana is, therefore, potentially addictive.  Even as prescribed by a physician, this may be a result of its usage.

Interestingly, marijuana as a medicine is by no means new in the U.S. Before it was designated an illegal substance in 1937, it was both widely enjoyed in a  recreational way, and prescribed by physicians to alleviate a wide variety of conditions (Gieringer, Rosenthal, Carter  3). Until popular feeling identified marijuana as a symbol of counterculture, revolt, and social unrest, it was a commonly accessed source of relief from pain and disease.

The reasons are well known.  Virtually every independent study on the subject has determined that cannabinoid agents, such as are present in marijuana, are typically helpful in therapeutically treating nausea and pain relief, and in stimulating appetite control. This makes them particularly valuable as aids when other treatments for disease, such as chemotherapy, disrupt digestive functions in these manners.  Patients undergoing severe discomfort, or even unable to maintain a degree of diet and health essential in combating a serious illness, are able to take in and retain nutrition because of marijuana’s soothing effects on the digestive system. Similarly, the same data supports that marijuana is greatly effective in reducing stress and anxiety,  also common effects of serious and/or terminal illnesses (Burns 127).   The individual experiencing physical pain or discomfort through illness, or as a side effect of illness, is better enabled to live normally.

Then, not all cases of extreme stress or psychological distress are results of other ailments.  A wide variety of emotional and neurological conditions are relieved by marijuana; simply, it relaxes the mind and induces tranquility.   Furthermore, those states which have legalized medical marijuana enumerate the many diseases alleviated by its use.   Colorado lists some of the qualifying conditions for which marijuana is prescribed, and the roster includes some of the most severe illnesses patients endure.  The appetite stimulation aspect of marijuana, for example, makes it a distinctly effective weapon against Cachexia, which occurs when other factors bring about a weight loss dangerous to the patient.  Cachexia is, in fact, the condition referred to earlier as possibly a result of chemotherapy; it exists when illness is so debilitating, the patient is no longer able to take in sufficient nutrition independent of intravenous feeding.  Marijuana often renders that emergency resource unnecessary.

Cancer, not unexpectedly, is also eased by marijuana use, as patients of it are in urgent need of a calming agent.  This calming effect of marijuana on the body and the nervous system has also been documented as a significant aid in diminishing both the frequency and severity of epileptic attacks.   Similarly, marijuana acts to ease many of the palsy symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis, or MS, as the drug has been shown to improve balance, eyesight, and speech in MS patients. These diseases, along with HIV and others, are consistently eased by the use of marijuana (CMM), and increasing numbers of physicians are joining with citizens to demand that medicinal usage of it be legalized nationally.

Conclusion and Personal Reflection

It is tempting, in asserting the opinion that medicinal marijuana be legally allowed, to point to the various other control substances that offer little to no medical benefits and which are completely legal.   Alcohol, as is well known, is responsible for many thousands of fatalities on highways, as well as addictions that destroy lives, yet it may be purchased by any adult in any state.  Tobacco is established as being instrumental in generating cancers, yet only discreet warnings accompany its completely legal sale to adults.  Moreover, neither substance is viewed as a valid agent in treating illness, as marijuana is.

Turning to such arguments, however, is unnecessary, because the facts speak for themselves.  Whether or not marijuana should be a legal, recreational substance is not the issue; what is being debated is its value as prescribed by licensed physicians, and that so many are in favor of its legalization is no insignificant fact in itself. Then, substantial research irrefutably supports that marijuana’s effects are typically beneficial to those suffering from a wide variety of diseases, as well as for those undergoing distress due to other treatments. That marijuana may be addictive is also a largely irrelevant consideration, as many medicines, such as morphine, are addictive.  It is the discretion of the prescribing physician that safeguards them, as is the case with marijuana.   Given the vast amounts of information known about marijuana, and the equally striking absence of documentation of its having dangerous effects, it is unconscionable that, in today’s world, desperately ill people are being denied this readily available form of aid.

Works Cited

Burns, M.  Medical-Legal Aspects of Drugs.  Tucson, AZ: Lawyers & Judges Publishing Company, Inc., 2007.  Print.

Colorado Medicinal Marijuana. “Colorado Medical Marijuana Qualifying Conditions.” Retrieved from http://coloradomedicalmarijuana.com/qualifying-conditions.htm

Earleywine, M.   Understanding Marijuana: A New Look at the Scientific Evidence.  New York, NY: Oxford University Press, 2002.  Print.

Freberg, L.  Discovering Biological Psychology.  Belmont, CA: Cengage learning, 2009.  Print.

Gieringer, D.,  Ph.D,  Rosenthal, E., & Carter, G. T. Marijuana Medical Handbook: Practical Guide to the Therapeutic Uses of Marijuana.  Oakland, CA: Quick American, 2008.  Print.

Mehling, R., & Triggle, D. J.  Marijuana.  New York, NY: Chelsea House Publishers, 2007. Print.

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Home — Essay Samples — Law, Crime & Punishment — Marijuana Legalization — Marijuana Legalisation: Positive and Negative Effects of Marijuana

Marijuana Legalisation: Positive and Negative Effects of Marijuana

• Categories: Marijuana Marijuana Legalization

About this sample

Words: 1241 |

Published: Apr 8, 2022

Words: 1241 | Pages: 3 | 7 min read

Table of contents

Introduction, the legal status and history of marijuana in new zealand, negative effects of marijuana, the benefits of marijuana.

• Abel, S., & Casswell, S. (1998). Cannabis Police: issues and options. Wellington, New Zealand: New Zealand Medical Journal.
• Andrea, S. R. (2011). Marijuana uses, Effects and the Law. New York, NY: Nova Science Publishers.
• Caulkins, J. P., Hawken, A., Kilmer, B., & Kleiman, M.A.R. (2012). Marijuana legalization what everyone needs to know. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
• Dangerous Drugs Act, No.18. (1927). Retrieved from http://www.nzlii.org/nz/legis/hist_act/dda192718gv1927n18252/
• Hill, K. P. (2015, June 23-30). Medical Marijuana for Treatment of Chronic Pain and Other Medical and Psychiatric Problems. Clinical Crossroads, 313(24), 2474-2483.
• Iversen, L. L., (2018). The science of marijuana. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
• Miron, J,A., & Zwiebel, J. (1995). The Economic Case Against Drug Prohibition. Journal of Economic Perspectives, 9(4), 175-192.
• Misuse of Drugs Act, No.116. (1975). Retrieved from http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1975/0116/latest/DLM436190.html
• Misuse of Drugs Amendment Act, No.42. (2019). Retrieved from http://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/2019/0042/latest/LMS167550.html
• Narcotics Act, No.45. (1965). Retrieved from http://www.nzlii.org/nz/legis/hist_act/na19651965n45141.pdf

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Why you shouldn’t dismiss the risk of marijuana addiction

There are real concerns with marijuana addiction. That doesn’t mean legalization is a bad idea.

by German Lopez

It is now widely accepted that marijuana is, at the very least, less dangerous than other recreational drugs. The typical line you’ll hear — I certainly do in my email inbox — is that “marijuana is harmless,” often meant as a justification for legalizing cannabis .

But at the Atlantic, Annie Lowrey provides a corrective to this narrative , diving into the real risks of marijuana addiction. The whole thing is worth reading , but here’s the key paragraph:

For Keith Humphreys, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford University, the most compelling evidence of the deleterious effects comes from users themselves. “In large national surveys, about one in 10 people who smoke it say they have a lot of problems. They say things like, ‘I have trouble quitting. I think a lot about quitting and I can’t do it. I smoked more than I intended to. I neglect responsibilities.’ There are plenty of people who have problems with it, in terms of things like concentration, short-term memory, and motivation,” he said. “People will say, ‘Oh, that’s just you fuddy-duddy doctors.’ Actually, no. It’s millions of people who use the drug who say that it causes problems.”

People say marijuana is harmless, largely based on their own experiences with the drug. When it comes to countering that narrative, it’s one thing for doctors or Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents to claim that pot really is harmful — that can be easy to ignore. But when marijuana users themselves claim to have problems, maybe that’s worth listening to and taking seriously.

The evidence is the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). The most recent version , from 2016, found that about 4 million people 12 and older meet the classification for a marijuana use disorder — due to the kinds of problems that Humphreys noted. That’s nearly 11 percent of the 37.6 million people 12 and older who reportedly used marijuana in 2016.

These are real people with real problems. Lowrey follows the story of Evan, whose personal life and law career slipped as he found himself compulsively using marijuana, letting it take over his life.

As Jon Caulkins, a drug policy expert at Carnegie Mellon University, has told me , “At some level, we know that spending more than half of your waking hours intoxicated for years and years on end is not increasing the likelihood that you’ll win a Pulitzer Prize or discover the cure for cancer.”

That doesn’t mean marijuana is anywhere as dangerous as cocaine, heroin, alcohol, or smoked tobacco, all of which carry a real risk of death that pot doesn’t. But weed isn’t harmless.

It’s not clear if marijuana addiction is becoming more widespread as more states legalize pot, but the problem is certainly not getting better. Lowery, citing data from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC), reported that the “share of adults with [a cannabis use disorder] has doubled since the early aughts.”

But some researchers argue that NSDUH is more reliable for tracking trends and changes in drug use — since, unlike NESARC, it doesn’t go through major methodological changes between waves. And while NSDUH has found that use in general and daily or near-daily use are up , the prevalence of cannabis use disorder has remained roughly flat.

The existence and risks of marijuana addiction aren’t necessarily a knock on legalization. Other addictive and much more dangerous substances, like alcohol and smoked tobacco, are legal, after all. But as the country and world move forward with legalization, addiction is a risk that’s worth keeping in mind.

The risk of addiction doesn’t necessarily mean marijuana legalization is a bad idea

When evaluating whether to legalize, the question should not be whether marijuana is harmless, but whether pot’s harms and the harms of legalizing it outweigh the harms of prohibition. It’s a cost-benefit analysis.

On the cost side, will legalization, by increasing access and potentially use, lead to more overuse and addiction to marijuana? Will it lead to more car crashes, mental health issues, and respiratory problems (all of which are problems linked to pot in the scientific research )?

On the benefit side, will legalization lead to fewer arrests over a drug that is, after all, still not that bad compared to other drugs (given that it can’t cause overdose deaths)? Will the revenue drug cartels lose from illicit marijuana make them less powerful and less able to carry out violent acts around the world? Will legalization be a boon for people who could benefit from pot medically, given its potential use as a treatment for pain, muscle stiffness, and other issues? Will a regulated market be able to tame the risks of the drug better than prohibition has, particularly by keeping it away from children?

And how will all of these potential costs and benefits balance out — a net gain or net loss?

The jury is still out on a lot of these questions. Drug policy experts caution that more years of legalization and more research into the policy’s implementation are needed before a hard conclusion can be reached.

One early concern, though, is that the most common form of legalization that states are pursuing does not adequately minimize the risks of addiction.

Currently, most of the states that have legalized have adopted a model that lets for-profit companies produce, sell, and market the drug, similar to alcohol. But these companies have a perverse incentive — because the most lucrative customers, for them, are those who use (and buy) a lot of pot, even if it’s to feed an addiction.

Some early data from Colorado, one of the first two states to legalize, speaks to this point. A 2014 study of the state’s legal pot market, conducted by the Marijuana Policy Group for the state’s Department of Revenue, found the top 29.9 percent heaviest pot users in Colorado made up 87.1 percent of the demand for the drug.

Given these statistics, to whom is the marijuana industry likely to market its product? Will the industry care much about the risk of addiction if companies profit from it?

That’s why experts caution that tougher regulations are necessary. But as Humphreys told Lowrey, that’s not really happening with marijuana: “Here, what we’ve done is we’ve copied the alcohol industry fully formed, and then on steroids with very minimal regulation. The oversight boards of some states are the industry themselves. We’ve learned enough about capitalism to know that’s very dangerous.” (Excessive drinking is linked to 88,000 deaths a year , and tobacco smoking to 480,000 to 540,000 deaths a year.)

There are also other models, besides the commercialized approach, for legalization. The government could legalize possession and gifting but not sales, as Washington, DC, has done. It could put state agencies in charge of selling pot, as some provinces in Canada are doing — which research has linked to better public health outcomes for alcohol. A RAND report , in fact, noted that there are at least a dozen alternatives to standard prohibition.

So far, though, only prohibition and the standard commercial model have gotten a lot of discussion. But if you take the risks of addiction seriously, the commercial model may not be the best idea even if you support legalization.

For more on marijuana legalization, read Vox’s explainer .

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This week on “The Argument” podcast, the columnists talk pot. First, Michelle Goldberg presses former New York Times reporter Alex Berenson on his forthcoming book about the dangers of marijuana, “ Tell Your Children: The Truth About Marijuana, Mental Illness, and Violence .”

Then, the columnists debate which marijuana policy the country should pursue. Michelle argues the harms of criminalizing weed outweigh the harms of legalizing it. Ross Douthat worries about the broader social impacts of legalization and the growth of the cannabis industry. And David Leonhardt favors a middle path, one that forgoes harsh penalties for marijuana use without incentivizing more Americans to try it.

And finally, merry … Advent? Ross taps into his liturgical side to recommend a solution to the seasonal “Merry Christmas” versus “Happy Holidays” dilemma.

Background Reading:

Ross on marijuana and social libertarianism

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Pros and Cons of Legalizing Marijuana

• Legalization Pros
• Scientific Evidence

The pros and cons of legalizing marijuana are still being debated. Today, 38 U.S. states and the District of Columbia allow for the medical use of marijuana. A growing number allow recreational use.

However, as a Schedule I controlled substance, marijuana is illegal under federal law. This Drug Enforcement Administration designation means that marijuana is considered to have "no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse." It also limits medical studies into the potential benefits of cannabis .

This article explains the positions of those who want to legalize marijuana as well as the arguments of those who do not want to see marijuana legalized.

The Pros of Legalizing Marijuana

Americans overwhelmingly support the legalization of marijuana. In fact, according to the Pew Research Center, 88% of Americans support legalizing marijuana. Of those, 59% say it should be legal for medical and recreational use, and 30% say it should be legal for medical reasons only.

Several possible health benefits of medical marijuana have been proposed:

• Nausea : Marijuana is effective in relieving nausea and vomiting. Studies have shown that cannabis can decrease nausea caused by chemotherapy and almost eliminate vomiting.
• Spasticity : Marijuana can relieve pain and spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis.
• Appetite : Marijuana can help treat appetite loss associated with conditions like  HIV/AIDS and certain types of cancers.
• Chronic pain : Marijuana can relieve certain types of chronic pain, including neuropathic pain, which is caused by nerve damage.

Arguments in favor of using medical marijuana include:

• It's safer : Marijuana is safer than some other medications prescribed to treat pain. For example, some people may use it instead of opioids for pain management. Opioids are highly addictive and are typically not recommended for long-term use in treating chronic pain.
• You can use it in many ways : You do not need to smoke cannabis for its benefits. Products such as topical pain relief treatments, edibles, and other non-smoking applications are now available.
• It's natural : People have used marijuana for centuries as a natural medicinal agent with good results.

Marijuana is legal for recreational use in 20 states and the District of Columbia. In 20 other states, marijuana has been decriminalized. This means there are no criminal penalties in these states for minor marijuana-related offenses like possession of small amounts or cultivation for personal use.

The Cons of Legalizing Marijuana

Those who oppose the legalization of marijuana point to the health risks of the drug, including:

• Memory issues : Frequent marijuana use may seriously affect your short-term memory.
• Cognition problems : Frequent use can impair your cognitive (thinking) abilities.
• Lung damage : Smoking anything, whether it's tobacco or marijuana, can damage your lung tissue. In addition, smoking marijuana could increase the risk of lung cancer .
• Abuse : Marijuana carries a risk of abuse and addiction.
• Accidents : Marijuana use impairs driving skills and increases the risk for car collisions.

The fact that the federal government groups it in the same category as drugs like heroin, LSD, and ecstasy is reason enough to keep it illegal, some say. As Schedule I drugs are defined by having no accepted value, legalization could give users the wrong impression about where research on the drug stands.

Scientific Evidence Remains Limited

In the past, clinical trials to determine if marijuana is effective in treating certain conditions have been restrictive and limited. However, as medical marijuana becomes more common throughout the world, researchers are doing more studies.

Expert reviews of current research continue to say more studies are needed. In addition, many hurdles involve controlling the quality and dosing of cannabis with what is legally available to researchers.

One review of research noted that the long-term effects of cannabis are still unknown. Without more research into dosage and adverse effects, scientific evidence of risks and therapeutic effects remains soft.

Researchers need to evaluate marijuana using the same standards as other medications to understand whether it is valuable for managing any conditions.

Until the federal government downgrades marijuana from a Schedule I drug, widespread clinical trials are unlikely to happen in the United States.

Medical marijuana is increasingly available in the U.S. It is often used to treat chronic pain, muscle spasms, nausea, and vomiting, and to increase appetite. However, it can affect thinking and memory, and increase the risk of accidents, plus smoking it may harm the lungs and lead to cancer.

More studies are needed to understand the benefits of medical marijuana. However, unless the federal government removes it as a Schedule I controlled substance, research, access, and legality will remain complicated.

National Conference of State Legislatures. State medical cannabis laws .

United States Drug Enforcement Administration. Drug scheduling .

Pew Research Center. Americans overwhelmingly say marijuana should be legal for recreational or medical use .

Badowski ME. A review of oral cannabinoids and medical marijuana for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting: a focus on pharmacokinetic variability and pharmacodynamics . Cancer Chemother Pharmacol. 2017;80(3):441-449. doi:10.1007/s00280-017-3387-5

Filippini G, Lasserson TJ, Dwan K, et al. Cannabis and cannabinoids for people with multiple sclerosis . Cochrane Database Syst Rev . 2019;2019(10):CD013444. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD013444

American Cancer Society. Marijuana and Cancer .

Hill KP. Medical marijuana for treatment of chronic pain and other medical and psychiatric problems: A clinical review . JAMA. 2015;313(24):2474-83. doi:10.1001/jama.2015.6199

Choo EK, Feldstein Ewing SW, Lovejoy TI. Opioids out, cannabis in: Negotiating the unknowns in patient care for chronic pain . JAMA . 2016;316(17):1763-1764. doi:10.1001/jama.2016.13677

Corroon J, Sexton M, Bradley R. Indications and administration practices amongst medical cannabis healthcare providers: a cross-sectional survey . BMC Fam Pract. 2019;20(1):174. doi:10.1186/s12875-019-1059-8

The Council of State Governments. State approaches to marijuana policy .

Harvard Health Publishing, Harvard Medical School. The Effects of Marijuana on your Memory .

Ghasemiesfe M, Barrow B, Leonard S, Keyhani S, Korenstein D. Association between marijuana use and risk of cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis . JAMA Netw Open. 2019;2(11):e1916318. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.16318

Preuss U, Huestis M, Schneider M et al. Cannabis use and car crashes: A review . Front Psychiatry . 2021;12. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2021.643315

Deshpande A, Mailis-Gagnon A, Zoheiry N, Lakha SF. Efficacy and adverse effects of medical marijuana for chronic noncancer pain: Systematic review of randomized controlled trials . Can Fam Physician. 2015;61(8):e372-81.

Hill KP, Palastro MD, Johnson B, Ditre JW. Cannabis and pain: a clinical review .  Cannabis Cannabinoid Res . 2017;2(1):96-104. doi:10.1089/can.2017.0017

Maida V, Daeninck PJ. A user's guide to cannabinoid therapies in oncology . Curr Oncol. 2016;23(6):398-406. doi:10.3747/co.23.3487

Meier MH, Caspi A, Cerdá M, et al. Associations between cannabis use and physical health problems in early midlife: A longitudinal comparison of persistent cannabis vs tobacco users. JAMA Psychiatry. 2016;73(7):731-40. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2016.0637

By Angela Morrow, RN Angela Morrow, RN, BSN, CHPN, is a certified hospice and palliative care nurse.

• Signs of Addiction

Marijuana Legalization: Educating Risks and Costs

Position Statement

The Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation has an important responsibility and is uniquely qualified to comment on the risks and effects of marijuana use, the consequences of which we see every day among the people we serve at our addiction treatment centers around the country.

While the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation opposes the expansion of marijuana legalization, we support federal action to drive more research and regulation to protect against the public health consequences of current and future legalization efforts.

We know marijuana is dangerous to many users and addictive to some, and that young people are particularly vulnerable. As debates about legalizing recreational marijuana and medicinal marijuana have intensified during the past decade, many young people have come to view the drug as less risky. Not surprisingly, more of them are using marijuana (also known as cannabis). According to a study from researchers at Columbia University, the entry point for teen substance use has shifted away from cigarettes and alcohol and toward marijuana.

Early use of cannabis is especially troubling. The human brain develops throughout adolescence and well beyond. Marijuana use can harm learning, thinking and memory development, and use of the drug has been linked to mental health issues, including psychosis, as well as other physical health problems. According to one recent study, even a little cannabis consumed by a teenager can cause changes in the part of the brain involved in emotion-related processing, learning and memory formation. We also know the earlier a young person starts to use any mood- or mind-altering substance, the greater the possibility of developing a substance use disorder. Indeed, at our  behavioral health center for adolescents and young adults in Minnesota, 89 percent of our 734 residential patients in 2017 had cannabis in their substance use history, and 84 percent were diagnosed with cannabis use disorder. Each year, we treat approximately two dozen young people who have cannabis-involved psychosis.

One of the recurring themes we hear from the youth we treat is regret—of wasted time, lost opportunities, squandered talent, impaired memory, reduced performance and disinterest in healthy activities. Since 2009, our prevention division, FCD Prevention Works, has surveyed more than 100,000 students in grades 6-12 about substance use beliefs and norms. According to our FCD Student Attitudes and Behavior Survey database, students who used cannabis in the past year, when compared with those who did not, were:

• Thirty-one percent less likely to get 'A's;
• Five times more likely to report feeling the need to also use alcohol or other drugs;
• Twice as likely to have trouble concentrating on important tasks;
• More likely to ride with an impaired driver (30 percent) than students who reported using alcohol (21 percent); and
• Two to three times more likely to engage in physically, emotionally and academically risky behaviors.

According to patients from around the country who come to our treatment centers , prices for marijuana continue to drop in the current environment, making the drug more affordable, especially for young people. We also hear that young marijuana users are shifting more rapidly than ever into using dangerous concentrates of the drug due to new vaping technology and the explosion of high-concentrate cannabis products, including edibles, brought about by commercialization.

The recognition of these risks to the health and trajectory of our young people has been lost in the fervor to legalize marijuana. Too many people—including teenagers—think, incorrectly, that cannabis is a benign or harmless substance. Many parents have told us that it has become increasingly difficult to overcome such misperceptions when talking with their children about marijuana. Public dialogue has become so distorted that some young people who develop addiction to cannabis report that their condition isn't taken seriously, even when their lives are unraveling as a result.

Minimization of the risks—through expanded legalization and misinformation, propagated by profit-minded commercial interests that began their legalization campaigns many years ago—will have long-term public health consequences that will hurt our most vulnerable, high-risk people the most.

According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, the number of daily cannabis users has increased from approximately three million Americans in 2005 to eight million (about one in five cannabis users) in 2017. By contrast, only one in 15 drinkers consumes alcohol daily. While ten percent of the population is most vulnerable to any substance use disorder, it is reasonable to expect that the higher rates of daily marijuana use, as a norm, will only heighten the vulnerability to addiction faced by cannabis users. Among young people, daily cannabis use is at its highest rate in 30 years. More older Americans are using cannabis, too, and it's much more potent than the cannabis of their youth. Among all ages, cannabis use in the United States doubled from 2005 to 2015.

More than ever, we believe it is paramount to educate the public, especially young people and their parents, with objective information about the risks and potentially addictive dynamics of all drugs, including cannabis, and the availability of help. Many Americans are suffering because of cannabis use disorder, and it is important they know that recovery is possible.

While we oppose the use of the word "medicine" to describe cannabis because it has not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), we understand that some non-psychoactive constituents of the cannabis plant might have medicinal efficacy; therefore we support further research to investigate whether or not medicines can be developed and evaluated through the FDA process. The FDA's approval in 2018 of a cannabidiol-derived oral solution to treat rare, severe forms of epilepsy is a good example of how the process ought to work. The eagerness in some states to approve medical cannabis based on hopeful signs rather than rigorous scientific scrutiny and FDA approval reflects a disregard for the importance of adequate research and the known risks associated with cannabis use. For example, some states have approved cannabis as a treatment for opioid addiction. The existing scientific evidence does not support such use and, instead, points to significant risks for some patients.

With regard to decriminalization, we support sensible criminal justice reforms that reduce the penalties for marijuana possession/use and that promote recovery and redemption. We are sympathetic to social justice issues—addiction itself is one—and do not believe harsh criminal penalties for possession and use are warranted, especially given the racial disparities in our criminal justice system. Such reforms, however, do not require legalization and commercialization of marijuana. In fact, promises of social justice gains appear to be falling short in states where legal cannabis is already a big business.

Other promises have fallen short too. In California, for example, cannabis sales were down a year after legalization, tax revenues were well below forecasts and the black market was thriving. In Colorado, we have seen a concerning rise in cannabis-involved traffic fatalities and hospitalizations.

Nevertheless, popular support for cannabis legalization has surged. Heading into 2019, 10 states and the District of Columbia had legalized recreational marijuana and 23 other states had implemented medical marijuana programs. Several more states—including New York, New Jersey and Illinois—also appeared poised to consider measures to legalize recreational marijuana soon.

Unfortunately, the federal government has ceded its authority to enforce the current federal law against cannabis. Two successive Administrations—representing each of our major political parties—have chosen not to enforce it. As a result, the status of cannabis as an illegal Schedule 1 drug under the federal Controlled Substances Act means very little, and federal inaction is sending mixed messages to the public and to our youth about the known and scientifically-validated and public health impact of marijuana.

Given the confused and complex state of the nation's cannabis policy, the federal government's most pressing responsibility is to drive more research and robust regulation to protect against the public health consequences of current and future legalization efforts. It is unclear whether "rescheduling" under the Controlled Substances Act is necessary or whether other Congressional and Administration actions can accomplish the same. In either case, it is especially critical to redouble federally funded research efforts to rigorously analyze the impact of existing community-and state-level policies on a wide range of outcomes, including school attendance, employment and health impacts, among others. Doing so, and establishing timelines for the dissemination of such research, would provide a more compelling rationale for other states to delay further legalization efforts. The findings of such research should be included in a robust review of all known evidence and published in a federal public health report identifying both the risks of marijuana use and the impact of expanded availability.

In the current legal environment, private companies have generally been unwilling to subject their medicinal products to FDA scrutiny or to incur the costs of such a process, and scientifically unsubstantiated claims have gained popular acceptance. At the same time, the debates about medical marijuana and recreational marijuana have become blurred, which has worked in the favor of legalization supporters. The federal government, in the absence of enforcing its own laws against cannabis, should now assume the responsibility of funding and potentially conducting the robust research needed to determine if any of the non-psychoactive constituents in cannabis have medical value and to provide guidance into the development of pharmacy-obtainable medications that are safe and effective, with reliable dosage and known composition. Such research should also clarify the constituents of cannabis that do not have any efficacy in treating various ailments.

To protect public health and safety, the country's current patchwork of state policies also needs regulatory guardrails at the federal level. We encourage the federal government to explore creative ways to ensure more effective, consistent regulations in those states where cannabis is legal. Such regulations should include, at a minimum:

• Sufficient funding for robust, evidence-based research on the public health effects of community- and state-level policy changes;
• Educational campaigns to publicize the recent scientific findings of rigorous research studies that point to cannabis-related harms;
• Compliance checks at points of sale to prevent illegal sales to young people;
• A ban on cannabis advertising;
• Restrictions on where cannabis can be sold and used;
• Restrictions on the development of new products, especially those that target children and adolescents;
• Restrictions on cannabis outlet density to prevent concentration in some areas;
• Drugged-driving statutes and tools to implement enforcement, as difficult as this may be given limitations in the available methods for measuring THC concentration in drivers;
• More routine cannabis misuse screening and counseling interventions in primary care settings;
• Implementation of specific evaluations and treatment for youth who misuse cannabis and those who become addicted to it;
• Clear requirements and guidelines regarding potency, dosage information and labels; and
• Dedicated revenue to support the above strategies.

In today's patchwork policy landscape, taxes on legal cannabis have actually driven demand for cheaper, untaxed black-market cannabis. Therefore, while higher alcohol taxes have been shown to reduce alcohol use and related public health consequences, relying too much on cannabis taxes may be counterproductive in the current landscape. For now, it is best to fund public health strategies from multiple revenue sources.

The dialogue around cannabis legalization has been muddied by the federal government's neglect of this issue. It is time for Congress and the Administration to course-correct in a responsible, necessary and politically viable way—by driving more regulation and research. Such actions would help protect against the public health consequences of current legalization efforts, better inform the dialogue moving forward, and, ideally, slow down legalization efforts nationally—aligning with the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation's clear and singular aim of reducing the harmful impact of addiction.

• Historical trends in the grade of onset and sequence of cigarette, alcohol, and marijuana use among adolescents from 1976–2016: Implications for "Gateway" patterns in adolescence
• Grey Matter Volume Differences Associated with Extremely Low Levels of Cannabis Use in Adolescence
• Concerns Rising Over High-Potency Marijuana Use
• More Older Americans Are Turning To Marijuana
• Marijuana Use in America Has Doubled in the Past Decade, Study Says
• Legal marijuana made big promises on racial equity—and fell short
• Promises and Pitfalls of Cannabis Taxes

What Can You Do to Build Marijuana Awareness in Your Community

The Pew Research Center reports that a slim majority of Americans now support legalization. At the same time, opponents are beginning to step up community-based efforts. Regardless of which side you’re on, the reality is that your voice is needed in this debate.

Consider what you have learned about the topic. Assess your own thoughts. What are your values? What are your positions? What are your priorities? How would you like to weigh in?

The following represent just a few of the possible priorities you might identify for yourself and your community.

• Prevent or promote marijuana legalization
• Repeal legalized marijuana
• Provide more public education on marijuana
• Include more education with marijuana prescriptions
• Intervene and treat more of the people who develop cannabis use disorder
• Prepare schools to provide more prevention education and counseling related to marijuana
• Promote more marijuana research
• Regulate marijuana more effectively

Once you’ve identified your own priorities, you may want to engage others in your community. Here is a general game plan for doing so.

Create a Community Coalition for Marijuana Awareness

Community coalition building is a key strategy for increasing awareness of marijuana-related issues. In addition to increasing public awareness, the process of forming a coalition creates new relationships in communities and can strengthen ties between local governments and community members. The basic steps are:

• Identify coalition members
• Hire or assign a local coordinator
• Conduct a local visioning session
• Gather relevant information and data
• Develop an action plan for increasing awareness of marijuana issues and battling addiction
• Implement the action plan

Consider involving schools, treatment providers and others in the health care field, recovery support resources and local law enforcement, among others.

Create a Media Campaign for Marijuana Awareness

Effective publicity is important to any marijuana awareness campaign. You might want to provide marijuana statistics and information about your coalition’s efforts to daily newspapers, television and radio stations, and other local media, such as weekly community newspapers, school and faith-based newspapers, and organization newsletters. You could do so by writing press releases, submitting letters to the editor and opinion columns, and creating public service announcements, for example. Social media should be part of your coalition’s strategy as well, and a community marijuana awareness website might also be helpful.

Host Community Events for Marijuana Awareness

Community events, no matter how large or small, can go a long way toward building awareness and keeping marijuana issues in the forefront of public dialogue. They also help generate media coverage. Best of all, events connect neighbors, empower families and acquaint citizens with valuable resources. Events can help create community solidarity by engaging community members, including young people, in a common purpose. Sometimes they also provide the opportunity to collaborate with neighboring communities. Your coalition might want to host a marijuana education forum, for example, or mock drug courts, regular evening discussions, online chats or even community webinars and video meetings. You could invite people in recovery to speak, ask local artists to create relevant pieces, involve a youth improv troupe, convene a panel of experts and so on. The possibilities are limited only by your coalition’s imagination.

The nation is divided on marijuana policy, and researching policies in other areas of the country can help you develop an approach for your own community. Look for policies that align with your community’s priorities and have proven successful elsewhere.

Be a Lobbyist

Acting as a lobbyist is one way that you can effect policy change. You and others from your community may want to schedule visits with local, state or national lawmakers to voice your views on marijuana legalization and related issues.

It may be easiest to start with local community representatives—your mayor and members of your city council and school board. They may, in turn, be willing to help you set up meetings with state legislators, who in turn could help you set up meetings with members of Congress, if applicable to your objectives.

If you schedule a meeting at a congressional office in Washington, D.C., expect to interact primarily with busy legislative assistants. It’s best to have a brief, well-organized presentation prepared that addresses specific concerns in the senator’s or representative’s district. Members of Congress tend to appreciate personal stories from and about the people they represent.

Whatever level of government you’re trying to affect, it’s helpful to do some background research before approaching public officials. Find out about their interests, the committees on which they serve and their known policy positions. You also may want to check with other local organizations for relevant data, studies and resources that support your objectives. You’ll want to make sure that your request is specific and that you are armed with accurate information as well as local anecdotes and examples.

What Is Happening with Medical Marijuana Policy?

In the United States, marijuana has been a controlled substance for the lifetime of most people living today. But there has been a movement for several decades to bring back medical applications of the drug. Many states have now legalized marijuana for medical purposes, although restrictions regarding its use vary from state to state.

For example, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, a neurosurgeon who has served as a chief medical consultant in broadcast journalism and was vetted for the position of Surgeon General by President Barack Obama, publicly chronicled how his viewpoint changed on medical marijuana through documentary research. “When it comes to marijuana…there are very legitimate medical applications…. I didn’t look far enough. I didn’t review papers from smaller labs in other countries doing some remarkable research.” He further specified, “There is now promising research into the use of marijuana that could impact tens of thousands of children and adults, including treatment for cancer, epilepsy, and Alzheimer’s, to name a few.”

Many medical professionals disagree, however. There is also a strong position that the evidence for medical marijuana is unclear and that alternative treatments exist with fewer risks and unknowns.

Another view is that different people react differently to the same medication, and that different people face different risks when it comes to using a particular drug. Therefore it can be useful to have options. In this view, as a medicine, cannabis may be a good choice for some people and a bad choice for others.

Some medical professionals have prescribed cannabis for cancer, anorexia, AIDS, glaucoma, chronic pain, arthritis, insomnia, migraines, anxiety, depression, headache, nausea, epilepsy, asthma, premenstrual tension, drug withdrawal and other conditions.

When we examine the historical statements about the drug, contemporary medical uses are very similar to ancient ones. However, medical professionals do not universally agree that medical marijuana is beneficial, and those who are willing to prescribe it acknowledge that it is not an FDA-approved medication and that it is still classified as a Schedule I narcotic by the federal government. If a state has approved medical marijuana, it is generally recommended that the state medical association develop standardized physician criteria for writing medical marijuana recommendations and share the criteria with law enforcement and the public.

In the United States, a synthetic cannabinoid, “dronabinol,” was approved for use in 1986. It is marketed as Marinol capsules and is indicated for treatment of anorexia associated with weight loss in patients with AIDS, and for the nausea and vomiting associated with cancer chemotherapy for patients who have failed to respond adequately to conventional drugs aimed at suppressing those symptoms.

Some medical marijuana opponents point to Marinol as an alternative to medical marijuana in its smoked form. On the other hand, proponents of medical marijuana note that Marinol can lead to death, while smoked marijuana has never caused a documented overdose fatality. Medical marijuana supporters also argue that Marinol takes one hour to reach full effect, while smoked cannabis acts within minutes.

In Canada in 2005 and in the United Kingdom in 2010, a prescription medicine called Sativex was released. It is a mouth spray for treating spasticity in patients with multiple sclerosis. It contains a synthetic version of THC. Sativex is currently under review by the FDA for use in the United States.

U.S. research trials for medical marijuana must follow a strict process that has considerably limited the amount of federally approved research activity. A proposal must first gain approval from the FDA. After that, a marijuana permit must be obtained from the Drug Enforcement Administration. Last but not least, a supply of medical marijuana must be obtained from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), which controls all approved medical marijuana grown for research purposes in the United States.

While the Obama administration removed the earlier need for marijuana research proposals to be approved by the Public Health Service, the application process remains difficult and lengthy. That is largely because of marijuana’s federal classification as a Schedule I narcotic.

Despite the hurdles, some research is happening, leading to developments like a new federal patent on cannabinoids for their use as antioxidants and neuroprotectants. A number of bills have also been introduced to reduce the red tape and expand research. And NIDA has vowed to “build farm capacity flexible enough to accommodate various levels of demand for research marijuana and marijuana products over the next five years.” NIDA, in fact, renewed a contract with the University of Mississippi (where the marijuana is grown) for up to $68.7 million through 2020.

Research studies are also taking place elsewhere. At the end of 2014, the Colorado Board of Health announced that it would spend over $8 million to study the efficacy of medical marijuana. Three of the studies need federal approval and therefore require marijuana supplied by NIDA. Five other observational studies involve participants providing their own marijuana.

The incredible variety of cannabis plant strains makes it difficult to have consistency in medical marijuana products. Typically, medical marijuana also requires different doses and types for different ailments. This variability will no doubt be an ongoing complication to medical marijuana research, since the FDA drug review process requires exact quantities and composition of drugs for recipients.

Drug approvals in the United States take an average of 12 years from invention to market, and only one in 5,000 makes the cut. Many are paying close attention to the scientific discussions and the political positioning taking place among physicians, health insurance companies, health care organizations, policymakers, patients, parents, schools and communities. Influential medical institutions such as the Mayo Clinic and UnitedHealth Group recognize these conversations, the need for more research, and the increase in states supporting medical marijuana, but have refrained from taking a stance on the issue, instead publishing educational information and calling for more research.

The debate over the value of marijuana as medicine is an interesting and often heated one, with knowledgeable people weighing in on both sides of the issue. Regardless of one’s personal views, it is important to always keep in mind that marijuana is a potent drug deemed addictive by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and illegal by the federal government. While it is important to stay updated on legal trends and ramifications, it is even more important to concentrate on efforts to prevent marijuana misuse and abuse—especially among youth.

Arguments for Medical Marijuana

• Legalization of medical marijuana offers access to a medication that may effectively treat many health conditions.
• Marijuana provides another alternative for those who have experienced unsuccessful treatment with other medications and modalities.
• The passage of medical marijuana laws sets a precedent for medicinal usage of the plant and validates the need for medical research trials.
• Medical marijuana may reduce powerful opioid prescriptions, if research proves its effectiveness for chronic pain.
• Cannabinoids, chemical compounds in marijuana with apparent medical benefits, can be extracted, replicated and applied in ways that don’t involve smoking, thereby eliminating negative impacts of that methodology.
• Marijuana dispensaries run by state governments, as opposed to illegal markets, should provide safer regulation, safer products and state tax profits.

Arguments Against Medical Marijuana

• Medical marijuana is not approved by the FDA, and research is lacking to support its use for many of the conditions for which it is prescribed.
• Medical marijuana policies make marijuana increasingly accessible and reduce the perception of risk, which is particularly concerning for youth.
• Medical marijuana increases the number of people using marijuana, which in turn increases the number of people at risk for addiction.
• Addiction and other adverse health effects from using marijuana have individual and social costs.
• Smoking marijuana can lead to a host of medical problems, similar to those that present in tobacco smokers and negative effects like lung cancer may outweigh potential benefits.
• Medical marijuana could lead to decreased public perception of harm, and could thereby increase illicit use.
• In some states that allow medical marijuana, medical professionals question the legitimacy of some prescribing physicians and their reasons for recommending medical marijuana.

What Is Happening with Recreational Marijuana Policy?

Many more states have legalized medical marijuana than those that have legalized adult recreational marijuana. In those that have legalized recreational marijuana, you cannot be arrested, ticketed or convicted for using marijuana as long as you follow the laws related to age, place and amount of consumption. However, you can still get arrested for selling or trafficking marijuana if you aren’t following state laws on licensure and taxation.

Recreational marijuana markets introduce more variables and policy considerations. While the Obama administration chose not to interfere with state recreational marijuana laws as long as states were abiding by their respective laws and keeping retail businesses within their own borders, current or future administrations could decide to challenge such laws. Recreational marijuana poses legal risk given that it is still currently against federal law to sell, use or possess marijuana.

The U.S. Controlled Substances Act is the relevant federal law, and it defines a controlled substance as a drug or chemical that is illegal or needs to be very strictly regulated. The law also establishes several categories, or “schedules,” of controlled substances that are used to determine penalties for possessing, using or misusing drugs, or selling individual types of substances. A drug is categorized in a particular schedule based on several factors:

• Scientific knowledge about the drug and its effects
• The likelihood that the drug will be misused or abused
• How the drug is (and has historically been) misused or abused
• How the drug poses a risk to the public
• Whether the drug currently has accepted medical uses
• Whether use of the drug can lead to addiction
• Whether the drug is used or likely to be used in making another controlled substance

Schedule I drugs are considered the most dangerous; Schedule V drugs are considered the least dangerous. According to current federal law, heroin, LSD, ecstasy and marijuana are all classified as Schedule I drugs.

Although the Obama administration did not interfere with states that legalized recreational marijuana, the federal law does limit those states in certain ways. For example, marijuana in those states must be grown, sold, used and taxed within state borders without using federal land, federally-managed resources like water or federally regulated banks. Retail marijuana businesses also cannot deduct business expenses on their federal income taxes. In addition, colleges, universities and employers in states where marijuana is legal can still enforce alcohol and other drug policies that reflect federal rather than state regulations.

States with legalized recreational marijuana have generated handsome tax revenues as a result. Colorado, for example, reported $700 million in marijuana sales and nearly $70 million in tax revenue in 2014. These figures, of course, don’t include the costs that those states will incur from marijuana-related hospitalization, regulation and policing—figures that are still being quantified. Several more states are debating legalization, and could be attracted to the potential tax dollars. It’s worth restating, however, that state budgets with recreational marijuana revenue could be put at risk if stricter federal enforcement ever returns. Colorado and Washington are seen by many as testing grounds for legalization, and it is still too early to draw definitive conclusions about the impact on adult and youth usage patterns, crime rates, substance use disorder rates, vehicular deaths and other relevant financial and social effects.

As such states learn from their experience, they are also attempting to identify best-practice regulatory policies to address state versus municipal conflicts, the tenuous federal versus state conflict, research trials, cultural considerations, federal bank funding issues and more.

Arguments for Legalized Recreational Marijuana

• Marijuana is less physically harmful than the legal drug alcohol.
• Efforts to forcibly control rather than permit the use of marijuana have alienated and incarcerated otherwise law-abiding citizens.
• The U.S. government has failed to control the supply of marijuana despite high rates of incarceration for marijuana possession.
• Universal access to treatment and educational programs can decrease the demand for marijuana (as it has for tobacco use).
• Most people who use marijuana do not go on to use other drugs.
• Legalization would permit tax income, some of which could be used to provide treatment and fund prevention programs.
• Government regulation would permit oversight of the drug’s purity and provide a means for levying sanctions against those who divert marijuana to adolescents.

Arguments Against Legalized Recreational Marijuana

• Marijuana is addictive, alters the natural chemical composition of the brain and affects physiological functions throughout the body.
• Use equals risk—when more people smoke marijuana, more will develop cannabis use disorders.
• While perhaps not as physically dangerous as some other substances, marijuana leads to a decline in cognitive skills and motivation that can affect opportunities, talent, memory, performance and interest in healthy activities.
• Alcohol and tobacco are legal but also produce great societal consequences, and introducing yet another legal substance to mainstream culture could have unpredictable, harmful consequences.
• Legalizing marijuana for adults would communicate acceptance of its use and likely decrease the perception of its harmfulness, including among youth.
• Marijuana use complicates the diagnosis and treatment of a variety of underlying psychiatric conditions.
• Frequent use of marijuana affects adolescent development; in adults, it often impairs maturation psychologically, socially, professionally and spiritually.

What Is Happening with Decriminalization Efforts, and How Are Changes in Marijuana Policy Impacting Law Enforcement?

You have probably heard the term “decriminalization” used in marijuana discussions. It is important to know that  decriminalization is not the same as legalization . Decriminalizing simply means to significantly reduce the consequences for breaking marijuana laws.

For example, states that have decriminalized marijuana typically don’t prosecute people caught with small amounts of the drug intended for personal consumption (usually under an ounce), meaning they don’t go to jail, and the offense typically doesn’t go on their criminal record. They may still get a ticket and fine, however, much like one would for a minor traffic violation or an “open container” violation for alcohol. In some states that have decriminalized marijuana, people who get caught using or possessing small amounts could also be ordered to attend educational classes on substance misuse and addiction.

Decriminalization affects law enforcement efforts by lowering the priority of marijuana-related arrests. Legalization efforts have also affected law enforcement, sometimes in unanticipated ways. For example, Colorado has experienced an increase in homelessness due to people moving to the state hoping to find work in the legal marijuana industry.

While the creation of any new industry does lead to more jobs, there is a limit to the number of opportunities, and many of those seeking employment are not qualified. Another unforeseen challenge for marijuana businesses is that they must comply with federal banking restrictions that require them to deal in cash, creating targets for burglaries and robberies.

One of the biggest issues for law enforcement is the black, or illegal, market, which still exists even in states with legalized recreational and/or medical marijuana. States also describe a “gray” market, one in which legal producers sell inventory under the table to black-market suppliers.

Personal growing laws can present law enforcement problems because they may be unclear and open to interpretation. For example, residents of Colorado might grow their limit of six marijuana plants, but could conceivably grow additional plants for family members, friends or neighbors. Cooperative spaces such as warehouses or homes converted for growing operations cause problems as well. And states also must monitor street prices to ensure the price of the legal supply remains competitive despite the taxes they levy. Otherwise, price-conscious consumers will look to black- and gray-market inventory instead.

Ensuring that each cultivated plant has a license is time consuming and difficult to monitor without a warrant. Search warrants also can be difficult to obtain due to ambiguity around medical marijuana licenses and recreational laws. Seizures of illegal products are complicated as well, due to conflicting state and federal laws, and questions about what to do with the seized inventory. In addition, canines trained for drug detection may need retraining or replacement because often they have not been taught to discern between marijuana and other illegal substances.

Law enforcement must also deal with drugged driving. Obviously, people should not drive while impaired by marijuana and should expect legal ramifications if they are caught doing so. The problem is enforcement. Methods for testing the effects of marijuana produce ambiguous results since THC is fat soluble, which means detectable traces linger in the body even after users are no longer intoxicated. A marijuana “Breathalyzer” test does not yet exist, technology allowing oral fluid testing is still being developed and blood tests are prohibitively expensive.

In addition, current drugged driving laws run into legal obstacles when it comes to medical marijuana patients. In July 2015, Denver resident Melanie Brinegar was pulled over for an expired license plate tag, but the officer smelled marijuana and performed field and blood tests. Brinegar had a medical marijuana license and used cannabis daily for chronic pain, which meant the THC level in her blood was high. She was acquitted of drugged driving even though her blood test came back at nearly four times the legal limit.

Complicating the problem further is the combined use of alcohol and marijuana. The risk from driving under the influence of both alcohol and cannabis is greater than the risk of driving under the influence of either alone, and data from Colorado shows impaired driving related to marijuana is increasing. Authorities need to clearly define the behaviors that constitute impairment and determine consistent ways of identifying and measuring those behaviors.

Law enforcement also must tackle other public safety concerns, such as explosions or fires that result from home growers attempting to make marijuana extracts like hash oil—a dangerous process that requires proper equipment to ensure safety. As one might suspect, this issue also affects medical facilities and first responders. Other safety concerns related to growing operations include toxic mold, THC in the air and on surfaces, and unsafe carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide levels due to fertilizers, pesticides, and disconnected vents— methods used to enhance plant growth.

Edible marijuana products are causing medical issues as well, due to accidental ingestion and potency issues. In Colorado, hospitalizations related to marijuana have increased 218 percent from 2000 to 2013. “Marijuana tourism” also contributes to the problem because most tourists are novice users with, in too many cases, little education to guide their use.

Trafficking of marijuana is another problem, especially in a state such as Colorado, which shares borders with seven other states. In 2014, law enforcement intercepted Colorado marijuana destined for other states 360 times—a 592 percent increase over the yearly average between 2005 and 2008. And driving across the border is not the only way the drug is being trafficked. From 2010 through 2014, the number of known parcels containing Colorado marijuana being mailed to other states increased 2,033 percent. Inventory tracking for marijuana outlets helps, but it has taken time to set up tracking systems. Colorado authorities did not have an established data collection system when marijuana laws changed—important for measuring crime rates, hospitalizations and so on. Suffice it to say, the nation is just beginning to understand the impact of changing marijuana policy on law enforcement.

History of Alcohol and Marijuana Policy

A history of alcohol policy in the united states.

As marijuana policies are re-examined in the United States, it may be useful to look at our history of alcohol policy for guidance.

Alcohol has been a part of American culture for hundreds of years. Some Native American tribes used alcohol for ceremonial purposes during the precolonial era. In the sixteenth century, the pilgrims landed the Mayflower illegally at Cape Cod rather than at their chartered destination in Virginia because they were looking to replenish their supply of beer. By the 1820s, Americans of all ages were drinking more than at any point in our history—consuming on average about three times as much alcohol per day as their counterparts do now in the twenty-first century.

Widespread overconsumption and public drunkenness led to the temperance movement, which gained momentum through the formation of the American Temperance Society in 1826. Temperance groups called for abstinence from alcohol and gained cultural momentum, resulting in increased demands for government prohibition. Maine passed a law in 1851 prohibiting the manufacture and sale of liquor, only to repeal it five years later. The temperance movement eventually lost steam during the Civil War, but it was revived afterward. In 1881, Kansas made history when it amended its constitution to outlaw alcoholic beverages. Other states began to follow suit.

The outbreak of World War I in 1914 spurred calls for nationwide prohibition, due to the need for devoting the nation’s barley crop to bread rations for soldiers, rather than to beer production.

 In 1920, Congress ratified the Eighteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, making the production, import, transport and sale of alcohol illegal nationwide. The separate Volstead Act (designed to enforce Prohibition) went into effect the same year. Estimates indicate alcohol consumption fell sharply during the first few years of Prohibition, and even though it rose a bit during later Prohibition years, overall consumption still remained 30 to 40 percent below pre-Prohibition levels.

At the same time, illegal activities rose during Prohibition. Illegally distilled spirits, such as moonshine and bathtub gin, were produced in mass. Speakeasies that served illegal alcohol gained popularity. Bootlegging, the dangerous illegal transportation of alcohol, became incredibly profitable. Organized crime groups grew in size, were well-funded and became increasingly violent. Law enforcement, overstretched by insufficient resources, struggled to carry out the laws associated with Prohibition. Lack of coordination between federal, state, and local authorities complicated enforcement efforts. In addition, methanol poisonings increased due to the poor quality of amateur homemade alcoholic beverages. And lawmakers who drank alcohol themselves were exposed as hypocrites.

Cries for repeal of the Eighteenth Amendment increased, particularly in urban areas. Prohibition laws were intended to curb violence and crime, but the opposite happened. And the black market for alcohol disrupted the legitimate economy, which also suffered from the rising costs of Prohibition enforcement and the collapse of the stock market in 1929.

With the onset of the Great Depression, state governments began looking again at the tax revenue that legal alcohol sales could generate. In 1932, Franklin D. Roosevelt secured the Democratic nomination for president and won on a platform that supported ending Prohibition. Soon after his election, in 1933, Congress proposed and the states approved the Twenty-First Amendment, which repealed both the Eighteenth Amendment and Volstead Act. A few states continued statewide prohibition, but by 1966 all of them had abandoned it.

While the federal government regulates production of alcoholic beverages, taxes alcohol sales and requires a Surgeon General health warning on alcoholic products, alcohol sales are now regulated primarily by state and local governments. As a result, there are differences throughout the nation regarding when alcohol is sold, where it is sold, how it is sold, what varieties are sold and so on. In fact, some dry communities still exist. After Prohibition, the drinking age in most areas of the country was eighteen. Eventually, all states adopted a minimum drinking age of twenty-one, encouraged to do so by the National Minimum Drinking Age Act of 1984, which tied the age requirement to federal highway funds.

Also of note: home brewing of beer and wine, unlike the federally regulated production of distilled alcohols, is now legal in all states (Mississippi and Alabama were the last to legalize this activity in 2013). However, home brewers are not allowed to sell the wine and beer they produce.

A History of Marijuana Policy in the United States

Varieties of cannabis plants are also known as hemp plants, although the word  hemp  is more commonly used when referring to fiber derived from such plants. Hemp, the fiber, has been used extensively throughout history for items such as rope, paper, fabrics and sail canvas. Hemp fiber also can be used to create concrete-like blocks for construction projects, bioplastics, jewelry and biofuels. In colonial America, hemp production was a requirement of English rule, and George Washington himself grew it as one of his main crops at Mount Vernon. At that time, hemp plants were low in tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active component of cannabis, and valued mostly for their role in industry.

Medicinal use of cannabis did not make its first appearance in America until the 1850s, when products with cannabis extracts were first produced and sold for the purpose of treating maladies such as pain and muscle spasticity. Soon after, pharmaceutical regulations were introduced in individual states. Products containing habit-forming substances like cannabis were often labeled poison and, in some cases, were available only with a physician’s prescription.

In the early 1900s, California passed the Poison Act, which was intended to make it a misdemeanor to be in possession of cannabis products not intended for medicinal use. However, it unexpectedly was applied to medicinal use as well. Eventually, similar laws passed in other states. The Federal Bureau of Narcotics was established in 1930 to enforce legislation that regulated and taxed products derived from opium and coca plants, and Harry J. Anslinger was appointed commissioner. Anslinger, a supporter of Prohibition, enforced criminalization of marijuana and publicized his belief that it incited violence and lewd sexual behavior. All states soon had laws regulating cannabis, and the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937 made possession or transfer of cannabis illegal on a federal level while imposing a tax on medical marijuana and industrial hemp.

Stricter punishments for marijuana offenses were put in place in the 1950s. And, although the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 unconstitutional in 1970, passage of the Controlled Substances Act that same year placed cannabis in the Schedule I federal classification, where it remains today, making both medical and recreational marijuana illegal in the eyes of the federal government. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) was created in 1973 to enforce federal drug laws.

Changes toward more lenient marijuana policy began in the 1970s, with some states decriminalizing it, or significantly reducing the penalties for illegal use. In 1996, California legalized medical marijuana, but the U.S. Supreme Court successfully upheld the ability of the DEA to enforce the Controlled Substances Act, even when it conflicts with such a state law. In 2005, the Supreme Court once again upheld the DEA’s authority in such conflicts.

Still, more states continued to reduce penalties for marijuana-related charges, and some continued to pass medical marijuana laws. Then, in 2012, Washington and Colorado legalized recreational marijuana, with intentions to regulate it like alcohol. Colorado created a Marijuana Enforcement Division, and Washington placed marijuana regulation under its State Liquor Control Board. Since then, other states have passed laws legalizing recreational marijuana, and several have approved medical marijuana programs.

In 2013, the Obama administration said the federal government would not challenge state legalization efforts. Two years later, the Obama administration eased some restrictions on cannabis research to study its potential as medicine. Meanwhile, various bills have been introduced in Congress to reclassify federal scheduling of marijuana, reduce or eliminate penalties for minor marijuana violations and legalize medical marijuana nationally.

A Brief History of Marijuana as Medicine

Some have viewed marijuana as having medical value throughout history:

• The Chinese emperor Fu Hsi referenced it as a popular medicine in 2900 BC, and the herb was included in the Chinese Pharmacopeia, the Rh-Ya, in 1500 BC. By 100 AD, the Chinese had more than one hundred medical uses for marijuana, including treating gout, malaria and absentmindedness. In 200 AD, surgeon Hua T’o performed a number of surgeries using an anesthetic made from cannabis resin and wine.
• The original Hebrew version of the book of Exodus refers to a “holy anointing oil” that combined olive oil, fragrant herbs and  kaneh bosm  (cannabis).
• The ancient Egyptians prescribed cannabis for glaucoma, inflammation, “cooling the uterus” and administering enemas.
• Bhang , a drink that combined cannabis and milk, was used as an anesthetic and antiphlegmatic in India around 1000 BC. By 600 BC, Indians believed it could prolong life, improve thinking and judgment, reduce fevers, induce sleep, cure dysentery and cure leprosy.
• The Persians of 700 BC listed cannabis as the most important of 10,000 medicinal plants.
• The Greeks of 200 BC used it for earaches, edema and inflammation.
• In 70 AD, a Roman army medical text declared  kannabis  useful for treating earache and suppressing sexual longing. Soon thereafter, Roman author Pliny the Elder noted that the roots of cannabis boiled in water eased cramped joints, gout and violent pain.
• Across Arabia in the ninth century, cannabis was used to treat a variety of ailments, including migraines and syphilis.
• In England in 1621, clergyman Robert Burton suggested using cannabis to treat depression in his book  The Anatomy of Melancholy . Other British herbalists suggested cannabis for gout and joint pain. Later, in Victorian England, cannabis was used for muscle spasms, menstrual cramps, rheumatism and convulsions; to promote uterine contractions in childbirth; and as a sleep aid.
• In colonial America, hemp was raised as a fiber crop; however, George Washington made notes in his diary of 1765 about his interest in the medicinal uses of the plant.
• By 1840, marijuana had become part of mainstream Western medicine, and was added to the U.S. Pharmacopeia in 1850. It was also included in patent medicines. Newer uses included increasing appetites, treating opium withdrawal, and suppressing vomiting and nausea.
• In the United States from 1900 to the 1930s, cannabis was included in many medications. The American pharmaceutical companies Parke-Davis and Eli Lilly sold extracts of cannabis for use as an analgesic, antispasmodic and sedative, while Grimault and Co. marketed marijuana cigarettes to treat asthma.
• Cannabis was prohibited in the United Kingdom under its Dangerous Drugs Act in 1928. In the United States, all states had enacted laws regulating marijuana by 1936. Its use in medicine was replaced by aspirin as well as by morphine and other opiates. By 1942, it was removed from its place in the U.S. Pharmacopeia and was considered to have no therapeutic legitimacy.

What You Can You Do If Marijuana Has Been Legalized in Your State

Whether marijuana is medically legal, recreationally legal or completely illegal in your state, you still may be concerned about the dangers of use, particularly among youth, as well as the potential for addiction. You’re also likely to be interested in pursuing public education or perhaps marijuana prevention efforts, as well as making sure addiction treatment and recovery resources are available in your community.

If marijuana is legal in your state, you probably have additional concerns, such as where it is sold, how much individuals can possess, where it is legal to use the drug, where it can be transported, how to govern drugged driving and more.

It may be helpful to know that in states where recreational marijuana has been approved, individual communities still have the right to opt out. For example, shortly after the passage of Oregon’s Measure 91 (legalizing statewide recreational marijuana), the League of Oregon Cities proposed a bill allowing cities and counties to ban marijuana within their borders or to levy their own taxes on retail sales to make marijuana prohibitively expensive. Some communities have also banned use in public areas, established zero-tolerance policies at schools and encouraged local businesses to adopt drug-testing programs for employees. In another example, the Colorado Attorney General’s Office has supported employer policies that forbid employees from using marijuana, even when off duty.

Many are keeping a close eye on the impact of marijuana policies in states where it is already legal. Indeed, your community may look to existing policies elsewhere for lessons learned. Yet keep in mind that those communities are still learning. Community monitoring and involvement need to be ongoing in order to continuously improve regulations and education about marijuana, and to minimize the negative impact of marijuana on youth and public health.

Understanding the Regulatory Framework if Marijuana Has Been Legalized in Your State

If you live in a state with legalized marijuana and want to help prevent marijuana from negatively impacting your community, it’s best to start by familiarizing yourself with the state law that made marijuana legal. It should either provide information or lead you to information about the regulatory framework that was established to govern your state’s marijuana industry. These regulations might address any number of issues, including licensing and production, taxes and pricing, how marijuana is prepared and consumed, and packaging and marketing. What’s more, ongoing regulatory oversight will ensure that changes are implemented when necessary and additional concerns are tackled as they arise.

Let’s start with licensing and production. State regulations will govern who is licensed to produce and sell marijuana, guidelines for product safety and quality, and security requirements designed to limit diversion from legal production systems to illegal markets. Review the state statute to learn how your state is addressing these issues in its regulatory framework.

You also will want to review your state’s marijuana taxes and how they relate to retail pricing. Both are flexible regulatory tools that can swiftly respond to changing circumstances or new evidence. The legal price of marijuana has a huge impact on the size of the illegal market, levels and patterns of consumption, home-growing trends, use of other drugs that may be less expensive and revenue generated from production and sales.

In 2014, Colorado rang up $700 million in marijuana sales and garnered $70 million in tax revenue—almost twice as much as the state collected from alcohol taxes that year. Of that, $24 million was appropriated for building schools, $8 million for marijuana research, and $11 million for addiction prevention and treatment targeted to students. Additional funds were set aside for law enforcement.

Community involvement can help steer marijuana revenues to education, prevention programs and addiction treatment. It is worth noting, however, that marijuana-based revenue streams remain at some risk, should the current or a future presidential administration decide to enforce federal laws more strictly.

As you examine your state’s regulatory framework, you may find rules and guidelines specific to different forms of marijuana. The drug can be prepared and consumed in a number of ways. Most often, we think of marijuana in its smoked form. But the drug also can be prepared in pill form, as an oil to be vaporized, as an edible product, as a liquid tincture and in other forms. Some argue that non-smoked derivatives should be regulated, approved and promoted in policy as a healthier alternative to smoked marijuana.

At the same time, others raise unique concerns about edible marijuana products. Indeed, recent deaths related to the dosages in edibles have highlighted the need for increased regulation of such goods. Advocates have called for better warning labels on the packaging, uniform lab testing standards to ensure product consistency and education campaigns. Stricter regulation of edible products means better control over what’s available, better information for the general public and fewer accidental deaths. Meanwhile, the need to expand research on marijuana edibles parallels the need to expand all types of marijuana research.

Another important issue is  marijuana potency . As you may have heard, the tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) levels in marijuana today are much higher than they were in decades past. While marijuana with higher THC levels poses more health risks, legal marijuana with low THC levels can fuel the illegal market for marijuana with higher THC concentrations. Regulations ought to be balanced accordingly.

Regulation of the tobacco and pharmaceutical industries has resulted in child-resistant packaging and other packaging requirements. Similarly, marijuana packaging should be child resistant, include general safety information and be targeted only to adults. That was not initially the case in Colorado. Edible marijuana products sold there looked so much like candy that Hershey won a lawsuit against an edibles company for trademark infringement. In response to this and other concerns, Colorado created a legislative task force dedicated to monitoring regulations on packaging of edible products and launched media campaigns to more effectively educate the public about cannabis consumption. In both cases, community advocates played a big role in raising concerns and bringing about change.

When it comes to marketing marijuana products, we can learn much from the alcohol and tobacco industries. Widespread marketing of alcohol has accompanied ever-increasing use, especially among youth. The same could once be said for tobacco marketing. However, with the advertising restrictions in recent decades, tobacco use has declined significantly. In light of this, banning all forms of marijuana advertising, promotion and sponsorship could significantly help with prevention efforts. Effective marketing restrictions can prevent problems, especially with underage use. Marijuana business interests may disagree with marketing restrictions, and in fact, they do in states like Colorado and Washington. For prevention-minded communities, this is an issue demanding early attention.

A related issue to licensing for marijuana producers is licensing of vendors, who must be trained to enforce and follow restrictions on sales relating to age, amount, intoxication and so on. Communities can also expect vendors to help educate customers about using responsibly, minimizing risks, and getting help or further information if needed. Vendors that fail to meet requirements should be penalized and, potentially, lose their license.

Also subject to regulation are the retail outlets where vendors sell their marijuana products. Most believe such stores should be only functional and should not include advertising, signage or product displays that promote marijuana use. Many also support restricting marijuana outlet locations to keep them away from places like schools, playgrounds, parks and homes, and to prevent them from becoming too concentrated in one area. Designated areas for consumption should be clearly marked and publicized to minimize public exposure and assist with law enforcement.

Purchaser regulations are another essential aspect of a state’s legal framework. Of course, age limits are important. Limits on purchasable amounts are critical, too, because they promote more responsible consumption and prevent resale to minors and others on the black market. In addition, drugged driving laws are vital to protecting the public from buyers who would drive under the influence of marijuana.

In the end, people’s well-being is the most important factor in the public discussion over marijuana, and establishing a regulatory framework is an important first step in reducing the negative impact of marijuana on the community. But the real work starts afterward. Regulations must be monitored for effectiveness and altered if necessary. That means data should be collected and measured to track progress toward policy goals—something that requires funding. As a community member, you may need to advocate for funding to support data collection, focus groups, research studies and more, all of which can be used to monitor use and addiction rates, demographic trends, drugged driving convictions, crash incidents, hospital visits, calls to poison control centers, public consumption violations and so on. Such data can inform local policymakers as they consider changes to laws, regulations and public investments. Ultimately, changes in public policy take place through community action—action that starts with you. So ask questions and be proactive.

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The Evidence—and Lack Thereof—About Cannabis

Research is still needed on cannabis’s risks and benefits. 

Lindsay Smith Rogers

Although the use and possession of cannabis is illegal under federal law, medicinal and recreational cannabis use has become increasingly widespread.

Thirty-eight states and Washington, D.C., have legalized medical cannabis, while 23 states and D.C. have legalized recreational use. Cannabis legalization has benefits, such as removing the product from the illegal market so it can be taxed and regulated, but science is still trying to catch up as social norms evolve and different products become available. 

In this Q&A, adapted from the August 25 episode of Public Health On Call , Lindsay Smith Rogers talks with Johannes Thrul, PhD, MS , associate professor of Mental Health , about cannabis as medicine, potential risks involved with its use, and what research is showing about its safety and efficacy. 

Do you think medicinal cannabis paved the way for legalization of recreational use?

The momentum has been clear for a few years now. California was the first to legalize it for medical reasons [in 1996]. Washington and Colorado were the first states to legalize recreational use back in 2012. You see one state after another changing their laws, and over time, you see a change in social norms. It's clear from the national surveys that people are becoming more and more in favor of cannabis legalization. That started with medical use, and has now continued into recreational use.

But there is a murky differentiation between medical and recreational cannabis. I think a lot of people are using cannabis to self-medicate. It's not like a medication you get prescribed for a very narrow symptom or a specific disease. Anyone with a medical cannabis prescription, or who meets the age limit for recreational cannabis, can purchase it. Then what they use it for is really all over the place—maybe because it makes them feel good, or because it helps them deal with certain symptoms, diseases, and disorders.

Does cannabis have viable medicinal uses?

The evidence is mixed at this point. There hasn’t been a lot of funding going into testing cannabis in a rigorous way. There is more evidence for certain indications than for others, like CBD for seizures—one of the first indications that cannabis was approved for. And THC has been used effectively for things like nausea and appetite for people with cancer.

There are other indications where the evidence is a lot more mixed. For example, pain—one of the main reasons that people report for using cannabis. When we talk to patients, they say cannabis improved their quality of life. In the big studies that have been done so far, there are some indications from animal models that cannabis might help [with pain]. When we look at human studies, it's very much a mixed bag. 

And, when we say cannabis, in a way it's a misnomer because cannabis is so many things. We have different cannabinoids and different concentrations of different cannabinoids. The main cannabinoids that are being studied are THC and CBD, but there are dozens of other minor cannabinoids and terpenes in cannabis products, all of varying concentrations. And then you also have a lot of different routes of administration available. You can smoke, vape, take edibles, use tinctures and topicals. When you think about the explosion of all of the different combinations of different products and different routes of administration, it tells you how complicated it gets to study this in a rigorous way. You almost need a randomized trial for every single one of those and then for every single indication.

What do we know about the risks of marijuana use?  

Cannabis use disorder is a legitimate disorder in the DSM. There are, unfortunately, a lot of people who develop a problematic use of cannabis. We know there are risks for mental health consequences. The evidence is probably the strongest that if you have a family history of psychosis or schizophrenia, using cannabis early in adolescence is not the best idea. We know cannabis can trigger psychotic symptoms and potentially longer lasting problems with psychosis and schizophrenia. 

It is hard to study, because you also don't know if people are medicating early negative symptoms of schizophrenia. They wouldn't necessarily have a diagnosis yet, but maybe cannabis helps them to deal with negative symptoms, and then they develop psychosis. There is also some evidence that there could be something going on with the impact of cannabis on the developing brain that could prime you to be at greater risk of using other substances later down the road, or finding the use of other substances more reinforcing. 

What benefits do you see to legalization?

When we look at the public health landscape and the effect of legislation, in this case legalization, one of the big benefits is taking cannabis out of the underground illegal market. Taking cannabis out of that particular space is a great idea. You're taking it out of the illegal market and giving it to legitimate businesses where there is going to be oversight and testing of products, so you know what you're getting. And these products undergo quality control and are labeled. Those labels so far are a bit variable, but at least we're getting there. If you're picking up cannabis at the street corner, you have no idea what's in it. 

And we know that drug laws in general have been used to criminalize communities of color and minorities. Legalizing cannabis [can help] reduce the overpolicing of these populations.

What big questions about cannabis would you most like to see answered?

We know there are certain, most-often-mentioned conditions that people are already using medical cannabis for: pain, insomnia, anxiety, and PTSD. We really need to improve the evidence base for those. I think clinical trials for different cannabis products for those conditions are warranted.

Another question is, now that the states are getting more tax revenue from cannabis sales, what are they doing with that money? If you look at tobacco legislation, for example, certain states have required that those funds get used for research on those particular issues. To me, that would be a very good use of the tax revenue that is now coming in. We know, for example, that there’s a lot more tax revenue now that Maryland has legalized recreational use. Maryland could really step up here and help provide some of that evidence.

Are there studies looking into the risks you mentioned?

Large national studies are done every year or every other year to collect data, so we already have a pretty good sense of the prevalence of cannabis use disorder. Obviously, we'll keep tracking that to see if those numbers increase, for example, in states that are legalizing. But, you wouldn't necessarily expect to see an uptick in cannabis use disorder a month after legalization. The evidence from states that have legalized it has not demonstrated that we might all of a sudden see an increase in psychosis or in cannabis use disorder. This happens slowly over time with a change in social norms and availability, and potentially also with a change in marketing. And, with increasing use of an addictive substance, you will see over time a potential increase in problematic use and then also an increase in use disorder.

If you're interested in seeing if cannabis is right for you, is this something you can talk to your doctor about?

I think your mileage may vary there with how much your doctor is comfortable and knows about it. It's still relatively fringe. That will very much depend on who you talk to. But I think as providers and professionals, everybody needs to learn more about this, because patients are going to ask no matter what.

Lindsay Smith Rogers, MA, is the producer of the Public Health On Call podcast , an editor for Expert Insights , and the director of content strategy for the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

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How marijuana legalization would benefit the criminal justice system

Cody Jorgensen is Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice at Boise State University. His research interests include developmental and biosocial criminology, policing and forensics, drug policy, and quantitative methods.

The 2020 election is ramping up and the democratic candidates have been laying out their agendas in preparation for the upcoming primary election. The issue of marijuana policy reform is not the cornerstone of any of the leading democratic candidates’ platforms; however, most of them have discussed their plan dealing with the marijuana issue.

For example, Bernie Sanders has laid out a comprehensive plan to reform our current marijuana laws that includes legalizing the substance within the first 100 days in office and vacating/expunging all marijuana-related convictions. Other candidates like Elizabeth Warren, Corey Booker, Kamala Harris, Pete Buttigieg, Andrew Yang, and Amy Klobuchar have taken a similar stance and most of the democratic candidates support the Marijuana Justice Act sponsored by Senator Booker. This proposed legislation would remove cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act, expunge marijuana-related convictions, and bar federal funds to states that enforce cannabis laws in a discriminatory way.

Of the leading candidates, Joe Biden is an outlier. He does not support the legalization of marijuana at the federal level. Instead, Biden argues that legalization should be determined by the states. His reluctance seems to be due to his belief that marijuana is a gateway drug. However, research ( Jorgensen ; Cleveland and Wiebe ; Van Gundy and Rebellon ) has consistently shown that Biden’s belief is misguided.

On the other hand, President Trump and his fellow members of the GOP remain steadfast in their opposition to marijuana legalization. They tend to favor the status quo or even ramping up enforcement and prosecution of marijuana-related offenses.

Critics of cannabis reform have given several justifications for prohibiting marijuana, including arguments such as the following

• marijuana causes more harm to society and the user than alcohol and tobacco
• the increased potency of marijuana is dangerous
• the addictive properties of cannabis cause abuse
• decriminalizing marijuana sends a latent message that people should be using it
• drug use is on the rise (especially among youth)
• and marijuana is a gateway drug causing the use of harder drugs.

All of these justifications listed have been debunked by empirical research and are more fiction than fact. As an alternative to misinformation supporting prohibition, this article will present an evidence-based argument for legalizing marijuana and suggests that doing so would be beneficial to our criminal justice system. In short, the Marijuana Justice Act would be good policy.

Marijuana prohibition is undemocratic

According to the latest Gallup poll , a large majority of Americans favor legalizing marijuana. As of 2019, 66% of Americans support legalization. Looking back at long term trends, the data show that attitudes about marijuana and its prohibition have changed dramatically over the past few decades.

When Gallup first measured attitudes about marijuana, only 12% of the population favored legalization. A steady increase in favorable attitudes towards legalization followed with a more dramatic increase beginning in the early 2000s. In 2001, 31% favored legalization and in 2010 that percentage increased to 44%.

There also seems to be a relationship between political ideology and attitudes toward legal cannabis. Gallup data shows that 76% of Democrats, 68% of Independents, and 51% of Republicans favor legalization. Going into 2020, the recreational use of marijuana will be legal in 11 states. This trend began with moves by Colorado and Washington to legalize in 2012.

A likely explanation for the change in marijuana attitudes is that the public understands that cannabis is a less harmful substance than other substances that are currently legal, such as alcohol or prescription drugs. Alcohol is by far a more harmful drug to society and the individual user as compared with marijuana . It follows that criminalizing recreational marijuana use is seen by a large swath of Americans as unjustified or even hypocritical because many Americans drink.

It should also be noted that laws that are viewed by the public as unjustified or illegitimate are not likely to be complied with . Put another way, people are unlikely to voluntarily abide by laws or rules that they view as unwarranted. When the criminal justice system enforces laws that the bulk of the public disagrees with, it harms the credibility of the criminal justice system which, in turn, impedes its ability to accomplish its goals of controlling and reducing crime.

Marijuana prohibition is costly

In 2018, there were more than 663,000 marijuana-related arrests made in the United States. More than 608,000 of those arrests were for marijuana possession only . This means that law enforcement is primarily arresting recreational cannabis users, not dealers. Many of those arrested will end up incarcerated, exacerbating the fact that tax monies supporting the incarceration of non-violent drug offenders are significant. Costs range between $30,000-$35,000 per year to house an inmate.

Furthermore, there are substantial costs involved in making arrests. While calculating the cost of an arrest is difficult and estimates vary widely based on how the cost is calculated, low estimates put the average cost of an arrest around $1,000 (The National Juvenile Justice Network; Drug Policy Alliance) and up to around $5,000 on the higher end . This suggests that between $600,000,000 and $3,000,000,000 is spent simply arresting recreational marijuana users. Those tax dollars could be better spent elsewhere, such as on officers’ salaries or updating equipment. Additionally, the process of making an arrest and taking an offender to jail takes the arresting officer off of the street for a significant amount of time, typically a couple of hours. That lost time could also be better spent with officers out on the street making their presence known and/or engaging with community members.

The economic costs are not the only costs associated with marijuana prohibition. There are also human costs, which may outweigh the economic costs . Having a conviction for marijuana possession on a record is not a trivial matter. This mark of a criminal record can negatively affect people in numerous ways. For example, college students can lose their federal aid for tuition and employees can get fired from their jobs due to a single marijuana-related offense. Having such a record also makes it significantly more difficult to get a job, a loan, or to rent an apartment. These are obviously stressful events that can strain relationships and negatively impact one’s mental well-being.

One of the more damaging effects of an arrest is the harm caused by introducing an otherwise law-abiding pot smoker into the formal criminal justice process. Being processed through the system, from initial contact with police to completion of a sentence, is stressful, frustrating, and often seen as unjust. This is especially relevant for non-violent recreational marijuana users who have done nothing else wrong.

The experience is generally viewed as an excessive punishment that does not fit the crime which often leads to offenders (and people close to them) to lose faith and trust in the criminal justice system . This is important because the system cannot effectively do its job if it does not have the support of the public. In this way, marijuana prohibition can do more harm than good.

Marijuana enforcement is racially biased

Marijuana use is fairly equally distributed across social strata. Whites, blacks, Hispanics, the affluent, and the poor use marijuana at about the same rate . However, enforcement of marijuana laws is not equally distributed across social strata. Instead, minorities and the poor are much more likely to be arrested for simple marijuana offenses. Nationally, African Americans are about four times more likely than whites to be arrested for cannabis.

The disparity is even greater depending on where people live. For example, in Iowa, Washington, DC, and Minnesota, African Americans are eight times more likely to be arrested. This is strong evidence of racial bias and largely stems from the racially biased practice of stop-and-frisk .

Stop-and-frisk tactics have been used in cities throughout the country; however, nowhere has the issue been more salient than in New York City. Throughout the history of the practice used by the NYPD, the overwhelming majority of people stopped-and-frisked were young black and Hispanic men. In the overwhelming majority of these instances, the young men were innocent . In 2013, the way the NYPD had been implementing stop-and-frisk was ruled unconstitutional.

Racial profiling is damning to the criminal justice system for obvious reasons. This is particularly the case for police. Racial bias, whether real or simply perceived, negatively affects the police-community relationship . The relationships police have with minority communities have been fractured in recent years due to racial disparities in enforcement and use of force, the consequences of which certainly hinder the system from doing its job effectively .

For example, the police typically do not solve crimes on their own. Instead, crimes are usually solved because members of the community cooperate with the police and give them information about the crime. Community members tell the police who the suspect is, where they hang out, who they hang out with, etc. When people do not trust the police, they will be unlikely to help them in their investigations, and racial profiling is a primary source of distrust.

Additionally, when the police-community relationship is fractured, people in minority communities may be reluctant to call the police for service. Instead, they might opt to deal with problems or conflicts themselves which could lead to an increase in violence.

The War on Drugs is basically a war on marijuana

In their book Drugs and Drug Policy , researchers Clayton Mosher and Scott Akins examine the evidence showing that the War on Drugs has been a resounding failure. This is not a controversial or speculative statement. There is consensus among criminologists, criminal justice scholars, and drug policy experts that the War on Drugs has not been effective and offers no clear benefit to society. It is also expensive costing around $47 billion per year .

The War on Drugs has not reduced drug use and has not reduced crime associated with drug use and the illegal drug trade. At the same time, this approach has incentivized policing for profit via asset forfeiture laws , increased police militarization through the Pentagon’s 1033 program , and contributed significantly to mass incarceration which has disproportionately affected communities of color.

What is more, the War on Drugs is primarily a war on marijuana since the vast majority of arrests made and resources spent have been focused on marijuana offenses. In recent years, drug arrests in general, and marijuana possession arrests in particular, have been increasing while at the same time the rates of serious crimes have been decreasing .

This increase is unwarranted since marijuana use is not a cause of harder drug use nor is it associated with an increase in crime and violence, as is the case with other substance use, like alcohol or methamphetamine. Marijuana is also not associated with the risk of overdose, unlike heroin and the prescription drugs that are at the heart of the current opioid epidemic. This topic has been extensively studied and the empirical evidence generally shows that the War on Drugs has caused more harm than it has prevented.

An evidence-based alternative to the War on Drugs is harm reduction. Harm reduction aims to reduce the harms associated with substance use by focusing on prevention and rehabilitation instead of enforcement and incarceration. Harm reduction strategies have shown to reduce drug use, crime associated with drug use, the spread of infectious diseases, drug overdoses, etc. For example, therapeutic community programs  and drug court programs  are far more effective at reducing behavioral problems associated with drug use than typical “get tough” deterrence based approaches which typically have little to no effect on reducing antisocial behavior.

Wasting precious resources on ineffective deterrence-based strategies does not inspire confidence in the system. The money spent on the enforcement of marijuana laws and the sentencing of marijuana offenders would be better spent on rehabilitation and prevention programs.  As such, continuing the failed War on Drugs, marijuana prohibition in particular, is not conducive to the goals of the criminal justice system. It is ineffective, expensive, and it harms the credibility of our legal institutions.

The marijuana economy is worth billions

It is estimated that the illicit marijuana economy is worth around $30-$40 billion dollars. Surely, it is reasonable to think that this industry should be run by American business owners rather than drug cartels and drug gangs. Demand for marijuana will always exist, and whenever an in demand product or service is made illegal, the black market will inevitably provide it. Criminal enterprises that deliver illicit goods and services do not use the law to solve problems and resolve conflicts. They use violence. Recent research has shown that legalizing marijuana reduces violence and trafficking associated with the illegal drug trade thereby reducing the power and wealth of cartels and drug gangs .

On top of reducing drug related crime, legalizing marijuana has shown to be a meaningful avenue of raising tax revenue. For example, Colorado’s legal marijuana industry has brought in over one billion dollars in tax revenue to the state since it abandoned prohibition . A portion of the tax revenue generated by a legal cannabis industry could be earmarked for police agencies, correctional facilities, drug rehabilitation centers, and crime prevention programs.

There are several programs that are not only effective at reducing crime, but are also cost effective as well. For every dollar spent on an evidence-based crime reduction or prevention program, several dollars are saved down the road in enforcement and correctional expenditures. One of the most successful prevention programs known is the Nurse Family Partnership program .

Using tax money generated from a legal marijuana industry to fund this program nationally will not only reduce crime rates, but will save a lot of money in the long term. Another useful way to spend this proposed tax revenue is by paying our police better. The current salaries for newly hired police officers are abysmal in most jurisdictions across America. Increasing base pay for these public servants may entice qualified candidates into police work who were previously uninterested because of the low pay. Additionally, it is not good for our police to be tired and under excessive stress while on duty.

It is fairly common for police officers to work overtime or have a part-time job to make extra money. Having an over-worked, under-paid, and stressed police force is not conducive to a healthy police-community relationship . Paying rank-and-file police officers more could help reduce their stress and fatigue and may help with recruiting excellent candidates that will make good cops.

The common denominator

The underlying theme of the previous paragraphs is that marijuana prohibition harms the legitimacy and credibility of the criminal justice system for a variety of reasons: it is undemocratic, racially biased, ineffective, detrimental, costly, and wasteful. When any authority figure is viewed as illegitimate or not credible, people are not likely to support that authority figure nor are people likely to voluntarily comply or cooperate with that authority.

In his book Why People Obey the Law , Yale psychologist Tom Tyler shows that this is a robust and consistent finding across a variety of domains. Such evidence strongly suggests that the criminal justice system must be viewed by the public to be legitimate, and the laws it enforces justified, in order to gain the compliance and cooperation of the public and to function as effectively as possible. Marijuana prohibition damages that legitimacy.

Our criminal justice system is ripe for major reform. Some of the reforms that are needed are those that will maximize the perceived legitimacy of our legal institutions. Given the reasons outlined, it is argued here that one of the simplest and most effective ways to accomplish that would be to legalize marijuana. Doing so would also be an effective way to fund crime reduction efforts and to ease the financial burden placed on the criminal justice system.

In the end, marijuana use is not completely harmless and the legalization of it is not without risk; however, the harm associated with marijuana use and legalization pales in comparison to prohibition. The Marijuana Justice Act would make good policy and would ultimately be beneficial to the criminal justice system.

Legalization of Marijuana: Arguments For and Against Essay

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There have been arguments about marijuana for a very long time now with some people supporting it while others opposing its use in the society. People have proposed that marijuana is very addictive and can cause dire health effects to people who use it. On the other hand, marijuana has been used for medicinal purposes since historical times. Nevertheless, marijuana has destroyed people’s lives and made them totally irresponsible.

It has also helped reduce the excruciating pain that other patients undergo in various health facilities. The crux of the matter is whether marijuana should be made legal and its use accepted in the society or not. If marijuana is made legal, people will not be restricted on how to use it because getting it will be easy. On the contrary, illegalizing it ensures that its use is at least put under control and many of its effects are not large scale.

The medical use of marijuana goes back to ancient periods when it was smoked by people to reduce pain. Additionally, recent studies in the medical field have also depicted the importance of marijuana patients especially cancer patients. There are several patients who have testified that use of marijuana has had an impact on their pain.

Scientific research has also proved that marijuana can really help in pain alleviation. While scientists are really trying to ensure that efforts are made to enhance the quality of service that patients receive, they hit a dead end in their research due to legal restrictions (Goldberg 251). Debates about marijuana in the political arena have found their way into scientific studies thus hindering any progress that would have been made.

The government’s argument of illegalizing marijuana is to deter people from harming themselves. However, it is rather difficult to determine what is good or bad for a person. People should have the freedom of choosing what is right or wrong for their lives.

The government’s role should be to limit choices made by people if the choices endanger the person’s live or that of others. But if a patient chooses to use marijuana to alleviate the pain he or she is undergoing, the act is beneficial to the patient and the community at large (Ponto 1081). As a result, the patient should not be compelled not to have a choice where his or her own live is involved.

Moreover, the argument that illegalizing marijuana will be beneficial to the whole community is wrong. Tobacco and alcohol are legal and their effects are not any different from those of marijuana. On the contrary, nobody is campaigning against tobacco and alcohol though they are both responsible for destroying lives. Marijuana is addictive and so is tobacco and alcohol. Why should marijuana be treated differently?

Currently marijuana is illegal and yet many people still have access to it. Each year numerous people are arrested for using marijuana and sent to prisons.

These people strain the government facilities which are already overpopulated. The government has to provide for the basic necessities of this people while they are in prison. The law also requires the government to put in place measures that will ensure that any person found using marijuana is arrested.

In addition, the government spends money to ensure that distribution channels of marijuana are curtailed. All these require the government to spend a lot of money thus increasing public expenses. Despite all this expenses, marijuana still finds its way into the hands of its users. However, if marijuana was legal the government will not only safe the money it spends but would also increase its income through taxing marijuana (Rabin Par 1).

Lets think for a moment the effect that illegalization of marijuana has had to our community. Young people still get marijuana whenever they want without any hindrance. It is also not possible to associate illegalization of marijuana with reduction of its use. Various studies have shown that the number of people using marijuana has steadily risen over the past years. Given that marijuana is sold under great secrecy, it is easy for young people to get it than it is to get alcohol or tobacco.

Distributors of illegal commodities usually do not care who they sell the commodities to. People who are below the legal age usually get and use marijuana as they wish. All this show that illegalization of marijuana has not met the intended objectives of reducing its use in the community (Rosenthal and Steve 108). Therefore, it is worthless trying to implement a policy that does not have any positive impact to the society.

Our constitution outlines that people have freedom to exercise their religious practices. It is stated that people should not be discriminated against on grounds of their gender, religion, racial background or any other grounds. Christians are allowed to enjoy their freedom without any regulation from the government and so are some other religions.

In the latter and spirit of this requirement, no restriction should be placed on the religions that use marijuana (caulkins, Angela, Beau and Mark 58). There are religions especially the Rastafarians which use marijuana as part of their practices. Illegalizing marijuana is tantamount to restricting religious practices of these religions.

On the same note, it can be proved that implementation of the law against marijuana is discriminative. There are many people who use marijuana in the United States of America and they are not restricted to the low economic class only. People from all economic classes as well as different racial backgrounds use marijuana.

However, people from the economically upper class are able to disguise themselves and slip the net of police. Consequently, it is people from low class and mostly the colored that are arrested and charged for using marijuana. The Whites usually find a way of getting themselves out of the hook.

However, there are people who are against the idea that marijuana should be made legal. As a result, they have forwarded several points to support their position. Firstly, the addictiveness of marijuana is not like that of tobacco or alcohol.

While addicts of alcohol and tobacco will stick to them even when it is hard to get them, addicts of marijuana will turn to other narcotics in case they are unable to get marijuana. Moreover, even when marijuana is available research has shown that marijuana users will be using other narcotics (Ponto 1082). It is therefore clear that legalizing marijuana will bring a lot of problems in regulating the use of other narcotics.

Secondly, the argument that marijuana is a good painkiller is insufficient to counter the negative impacts that the substance has to human life. So far the medical use of marijuana is not so common that it can make any impact in the medical field. Moreover, there are other pain relievers which are as effective as marijuana. On the same note, research can be done to come up with an alternative painkiller that would be effective but not addictive.

It is therefore not necessary to legalize marijuana solely on the reason that it has medical benefits (Rabin par 2). It is important to note that legalizing marijuana for medical use will open avenues for people to misuse it. Arguably, it would be very difficult to define what is meant by medical use. Furthermore, there is a possibility that people will fake different diseases so that they can be able to use marijuana. Additionally, cases of people taking too much doses than required would be very high thus leading to addiction.

It has been argued that illegalization of marijuana has not stopped illegal selling of the substance. But nobody has proved beyond reasonable doubt that legalizing it will do any good in reducing illegal trading.

As a matter of fact, legalization of marijuana on any grounds whether medical or otherwise will increase illegal trading because that will provide an excuse for illegal dealers to transport the substance. It will therefore be difficult to regulate the use of marijuana among young people and other unauthorized people if it is legalized (Goldberg 253). Consequently, abuse of the substance will be uncontrollable and this will lead to even dire negative effects.

On the same note, while other medical drugs are subjected to several stiff safety tastes before they are allowed to be used; it is difficult to subject marijuana to the same.

Of all the medical researches that have been done on marijuana, none has identified it as totally safe to be used for medical purposes. Moreover, legalizing marijuana would be tantamount to encouraging its smoking. It should be noted that marijuana has various negative effects to the health of people. Marijuana has been associated with tachycardia and motor impairment (Earleywine 76).

On the same note, research has shown that marijuana can lead to increased chances of one getting lung infections besides weakening the immune system. Moreover, continuous use of marijuana can cause fatal complication in older people. Similarly, marijuana has been depicted to cause negative effects to brain and nerve cells. All these negative effects of marijuana increases doubt on its benefits to society. It shows that there would be many negative impacts associated with the substance if it is legalized (Rosenthal and Steve 109).

There are those who have argued that illegalization of marijuana has had no effect to the society. The fact that marijuana gets its way into people’s homes and even high school children can get it cannot be swept under the carpet. But imagine for a second that there were no regulations on the use of marijuana.

Everybody in need of it could just go to the nearby shop and purchase it. More youth would be using marijuana than they do today. Cases of people dropping out of schools due to over indulgence in marijuana would be very high. The fear of being caught and imprisoned has reduced the quantity of marijuana that is distributed in the community. Legalizing marijuana will increase its availability leading to increased number of users both legal and illegal. Given the side effects marijuana has, this will spell doom to the society as a whole.

Though people are supposed to have freedom to decide what is good for their lives, other people’s affair should be put into consideration. Religion should not be an excuse for people to use harmful substances.

The effects of marijuana to secondary smokers should be minimized as much as possible. The side effects of marijuana are too many to be left unchecked. It is the role of the government to ensure the well being of all its citizens. In this regard, it is upon any government to ensure that any harmful product to people is not available for choices (Goldberg 249).

On the same note, it has been argued that legalization of marijuana will save a lot of money that is currently used trying to implement the policy illegalizing marijuana. The same argument proposes that there would be increase in government income from taxing marijuana. This argument is as wrong as it is misleading.

Research has shown that use of marijuana leads to increase in crime rates. When addicts of marijuana cannot get money to purchase the drug, they will turn to crime to get money. As a result, the government will still have to spend on keeping criminals in prison. Moreover, there should be some regulation to ensure that marijuana meets some specified safety standards before it is allowed into the market. The cost of implementing these regulations is likely to exceed the tax collected in the case of marijuana.

The social impacts of marijuana are also negative and many. To begin with, marijuana is known to make people violent. Therefore, many families will be marred with cases of violence thus leading to family breakdown.

Consequently, more and more children will grow up without proper parental care which will increase juvenile delinquencies. On the same note, it would be morally wrong to legalize a substance whose negative effects are well known to everybody. Moreover, legalization of marijuana will increase the chances of minors getting access to it.

This will not only increase cases of juvenile delinquency but also other economic problems. Similarly, marijuana is known to be addictive and makes people dependent on it (Rosenthal and Steve 107). Consequently, massive use of the substances will be problematic economically since most people will stop providing for their families just to have money to buy the substance. This will lead to low living standards.

Many people will give reasons why marijuana should be made legal. Alcohol and tobacco have been made legal so why is marijuana treated like it kills instantly. Some will argue that no study has directly linked marijuana with any of the health conditions it is suspected of causing. On the same note, it is a fact that marijuana is still being used even by high school students yet it is illegal.

Others will argue that it will be unfair and morally wrong to deny patients the chance of reducing he pain they endure by illegalizing marijuana. However, we should ask ourselves which option is better between getting alternative pain relievers and having a society where majority are addicts of marijuana. Clearly, if it was not for the regulation against marijuana, there could have been a disaster especially in schools.

It would be immoral to allow patients touse marijuana as a pain reliever knowing very well that the substance has dire impacts on their health. Consequently, legalizing marijuana will do more harm than good. In this regard, the subject of whether to legalize marijuana or not should be dropped.

Earleywine, Mitch. Understanding Marijuana: Anew look at the scientific Evidence . Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2002. Print.

Caulkins, Jonathan P., Angela Hawken, Beau Kilmer and Mark R. Kleiman. Marijuana Legalization: What Everyone Needs to Know . Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2012. Print.

Goldberg, Ray . Drugs Across the Spectrum . Stanford: Cengage learning.

Ponto, Laura L. Challenges of Marijuana Research. Oxford Journals 129.5 (2006): 1081-1083. Print.

Rabin, Roni C. “ Legalizing of Marijuana Raises Health Concerns .” The New York Times. 2013. Web.

Rosenthal, Ed and Steve Kubby. Why Marijuana Should be Legal . New York: Running Press, 2003. Print.

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Marijuana Legalization - Free Essay Examples And Topic Ideas

Marijuana legalization is a contentious issue with implications for health, economy, and society. Essays might explore the arguments for and against legalization, the experiences of regions where marijuana has been legalized, and the legal, economic, and social ramifications of legalization. Additionally, discussions might extend to the medical uses of marijuana, its impact on the criminal justice system, and its societal perceptions. We have collected a large number of free essay examples about Marijuana Legalization you can find in Papersowl database. You can use our samples for inspiration to write your own essay, research paper, or just to explore a new topic for yourself.

Marijuana Legalization and Regulation

Medications/Drugs are a part of everyday life. We take medications for various ailments, to return ourselves to good health. Yet, as time and healthcare technology have moved along, we have discovered that some medications or drugs are inherently good (i.e.: antibiotics, cancer medications, and insulin) and some are inherently bad or, at least, can be used for bad purposes (i.e.: mind altering substances such as LSD, and cocaine). The "bad" drugs can be deadly. They have effects that can addict […]

Medical Marijuana and Marijuana Legalization

Thursday, June 09, 2011 Much debate has been conducted regarding the legalization of marijuana, with an unusual amount of contradicting research. There are many perspectives to take into account, and they always seem to come down to the personal motives of the debater. Whether it's being argued from a medical, political, or economical perspective; it continually comes down to whether Federal Government should be our dictators or we should be responsible for our actions. The Canadian medical Association Journal reports […]

Marijuana should be Legalized?

We are living in an era where noxious things like alcohol, rum and cigarettes -that lead us to nothing but a dreadful death- are legal, and a plant which has no obnoxious effects on our body and mind is illegal. For years and years, marijuana has been used as a mean to achieve elation. The criterion to impose a ban on something, or to term it illegal, is that its cons should overshadow its pros; and that it will have […]

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Medical Marijuana Legalization the Good Bad and Ugly

The legalization of medical marijuana has been discussed amongst the country's states for decades. Medical marijuana legalization has taken a positive shift throughout these years and is now legal in 20 states and the District of Columbia. The initial drug, marijuana, was band for the dangerous effects it brought to people. Throughout the year's people have turned to marijuana to ease anxiety, pain, and stress. Legalizing marijuana has brought multiple perspectives on the topic. Differences such as medical marijuana legalization, […]

Medical Marijuana Legalization

Marijuana legalization has become a topic of relevance in the United States as recent changes in various state legislations fuel the controversial issue relating to its effects on society. With more than thirty states legalizing marijuana for medicinal or recreational uses, the once taboo topic has reemerged into the spotlight for policymakers to consider the benefits and adverse effects of cannabis for state legislation. Although the legal status is changing nationwide, the uncertainties surrounding marijuana today stem from the political […]

When we first picked our topic for our presentations I had an idea of what we were going to do. Ideas from school shootings to you and human trafficking were some I was thinking of. The drug epidemic was what first came to thought but I felt that was to broad of of a topic. With state after state legalizing Medical or Recreational Marijuana it is becoming more likely within the near future will become federally legal. Today there are […]

Against Marijuana Legalization

In my high school years I met a lot of people, I’ve meet hundreds of people who ruined their lives by just “trying” a drug. One of those friends is named Carmen, my dear friend Carmen smokes marijuana recreationally everyday, she’s tried everything under the rainbow; pot brownies, gummi bears, cookies, anything that you can think of is probably an edible. She’s even forced me to try marijuana when we were in high school once. It was the worst experience […]

Marijuana Legalization in Texas: an In-Depth Examination of the Ongoing Debate

The contentious issue of marijuana legalization has engendered fervent discourse across the United States, resulting in a patchwork of divergent legislation among different states. The state of Texas, renowned for its traditionally conservative ideology, is now grappling with a pivotal juncture as it engages in more prevalent deliberations around the legalization of marijuana. The primary objective of this essay is to critically analyze the complex and intricate discourse pertaining to the subject matter in the state of Texas. This analysis […]

Legalization of Marijuana: Good or Bad

The legalization of marijuana is a hot topic these days. Marijuana has been legalized in many different states. Colorado legalized marijuana for recreational use in 2012. Since then, Texas has been talking of legalizing it as well. Although the legalization of marijuana has brought quite a bit of controversy over the nation, I believe the good outweigh the bad. Marijuana is used for different medical reasons, ranging from anxiety all the way to helping some side effects of cancer. Many […]

Legalization of Recreational Marijuana

Marijuana, also known as pot, weed, kush, or dank, is a debated topic nationwide. Surveys have shown that " more than half of American adults have tried marijuana at least once in their lives ...nearly 55 million of them, or twenty two percent, currently use it"(Ingraham). Many people believe that there are only few negative effects affiliated with smoking weed, but there are many poor and preventable outcomes that are not always taken into consideration. The effects of marijuana on […]

A Legalized Drug in the United States

In the United States, marijuana is one of the most commonly used drugs that should have been legalized a long time ago along with alcohol. Although, 15 states in the United States have already legalized the use of marijuana, many others still lag behind at the thought of even legalizing Cannabis. In addition, many people think that marijuana is a bad drug, while on the other hand, people like myself believe for many reasons that it should be legalized. Marijuana […]

Pro-Legalization of Marijuana

Marijuana has always been a much-discussed subject that has sparked heated discussions among experts and officials, in addition to a perpetual dialogue among family and associates. This is primarily due to the fact that people are still divided on whether cannabis should be legalized or not. While many people are aware of the dangers of cannabis for recreational purposes, many states are pushing for the legalization of medical cannabis. Several studies of cannabinoid elements have revealed its medicinal qualities, which […]

Proposal One: Impact on Warren, MI’s Future

Proposal One is the allowing of individuals age 21 and older to purchase, possess and use marijuana and marijuana-infused edibles, and grow up to 12 marijuana plants for personal consumption. Impose a 10-ounce limit for marijuana kept at residences and require that amounts over 2.5 ounces be secured in locked containers. Creating a state licensing system for marijuana businesses including growers, processors, and transporters. Ryan Mainer (Libertarian party) supports proposal one. How do we know this is true? He has […]

The Legalization of Marijuana Today

Over the last decade, there has been plenty of speculation revolving around the whether the legalization of marijuana is even ethical, well it is here, and it is legal. For the time being it happens to be in only a select number of states. Despite some people not agreeing with various laws that have decriminalized marijuana because they still believe it is a harmful "drug" for humans. Well when the facts reveal the real benefits from marijuana and how it […]

Legalization of Marijuana: the Current Situation

Scholars are increasingly exhibiting interest in matters concerning marijuana legalization especially considering laws related to healthcare. The increments in interest emanate from concerns that legalization of this drug is not in alignment with existing health-related laws according to the federal government (Kilmer et al., 2010). According to Hopfer (2014), the government has failed to fully support legalization because few studies have been conducted to prove its medicinal worth. Nonetheless, medical legalization of this particular drug is increasingly gaining support. A […]

Marijuana Decriminalization in all States

The government should legalize marijuana on the federal use due to the multifaceted health, economic, and criminal benefits now outweigh the outdated downsides of use. Many researchers have come to the conclusion of outdated research not being correct. "One function of government is to protect citizens from harm, whether it is from foreign enemies or from internal causes such as poisonous food or contaminated water." Researchers believe that legalizing marijuana will not help the people only harm them and the […]

The Cost and Benefit of Legalization of Marijuana

In recent years, marijuana has become a controversial topic, and the United States government has been struggling to find a solution for the legalization of marijuana. Some argue that the government should legalize marijuana because it is less harmful than alcohol and tobacco. They also believe legalizing marijuana will decrease crime rates, especially drug trafficking. It is because marijuana is illegal in most states, and its penalties are often quite harsh, which can deter people from committing related crimes. Others […]

Legalization of Marijuana Throughout States

Legalization of marijuana use is spreading throughout states in the nation. There are many people who want to make recreational marijuana legal in the state of Texas. Some opponents of keeping marijuana criminalized argue that it would decreased alcohol and tobacco consumption, makes people passive and peaceful and that it aids those who are in pain. However after researching the effects that long-term marijuana use has on people, one will find that those are not realistically always the case and […]

The Impacts of Legalizing Marijuana

The impacts of legalizing marijuana have been far reaching. Legal or not, there are health issues to consider when it comes to medicinal purposes or recreational purposes. Studies show that non-medical marijuana users are at an increased risk for physical ailments involving the respiratory system and pulmonary functions. Psychological problems are also a concern, involving depression, insomnia, anxiety, and drug addiction. Other things associated with marijuana use are criminal justice involvement and lower academic achievement and functioning (Lankenau, et al., […]

Legalization of Marijuana and Economic Growth

These would make occupations as well as set the ball moving for financial action in the pot business in these regions. On account of states like California and Nevada where such foundation as of now exists, the financial effect has turned out to be more quantifiable as the part has developed. A RCG Economics and Marijuana Policy Group consider on Nevada says that legitimizing recreational marijuana in the state could bolster more than 41,000 employments till 2024 and produce over […]

Marijuana as a Psychoactive Drug

Marijuana is a psychoactive drug from the Cannabis plant used for medical or recreational purposes. It is sold in the form of dried leaves which can be smoked. Recreational marijuana was introduced in the U.S in the early 20th century by immigrants from Mexico. Marijuana is a controversial topic in the United States because many people think it shouldn't be legalized . Some will agree on making it legal throughout the United States, and some would think otherwise. Many debates […]

Persuasive Speeches on Legalizing Weed: Exploring the Benefits and Concerns

Introduction Legalizing marijuana is a controversial topic for many states. If marijuana is legalized, it would save prisons and jails funds because they could release people who have been convicted of felonies with the dealing of this incidental drug. This means that the government would have more money to use towards education on the safe use of the product and the prosecution of dealers who control the use of extremely dangerous hard drugs. However, people against legalizing marijuana argue that […]

The Case against Legalizing Marijuana: Health Social and Economic Concerns

Marijuana legalization sparks intense debates with folks arguing fiercely on both sides. Yet the case against it packs a punch when you weigh up the potential health risks social changes and economic fallout. While some sing praises for legalizing pot it's crucial to dig into what all this could mean for us. First off you can't brush aside the health risks tied to using marijuana. Loads of studies link it to serious health problems especially among young folks. Regular use […]

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How To Write an Essay About Marijuana Legalization

Introduction to marijuana legalization.

When embarking on an essay about marijuana legalization, it's crucial to begin with a comprehensive overview of the topic. Marijuana legalization is a multifaceted issue that encompasses legal, medical, social, and economic dimensions. Your introduction should briefly touch upon the history of marijuana use and its legal status over time, setting the stage for a deeper exploration of the arguments for and against legalization. Establish your thesis statement, outlining the specific aspect of marijuana legalization you will focus on, whether it's the potential medical benefits, the social implications, or the economic impact of legalizing marijuana.

Examining the Arguments for Legalization

In this section, delve into the arguments commonly made in favor of legalizing marijuana. These arguments often include the potential medical benefits of marijuana, such as its use in pain management and treatment of certain medical conditions. Discuss the viewpoint that legalization could lead to better regulation and quality control of the substance, as well as potentially reduce crime rates related to illegal drug trade. It's also important to consider the economic aspect, such as the revenue generated from taxing legal marijuana sales. Provide well-researched evidence and examples to support these arguments, ensuring that your essay presents a balanced and informed perspective.

Exploring the Counterarguments

Next, address the arguments against marijuana legalization. These may include concerns about the health risks associated with marijuana use, such as potential impacts on mental health and cognitive function, especially among young people. Discuss the fears that legalization might lead to increased usage rates, particularly in adolescents, and the potential for marijuana to act as a gateway drug. There's also the argument regarding the challenges of enforcing regulations and controlling the quality and distribution of legal marijuana. Like the previous section, ensure that you present these counterarguments with supporting evidence and a fair analysis, demonstrating an understanding of the complexities of the issue.

Concluding the Essay

Conclude your essay by summarizing the main points from both sides of the argument. This is your opportunity to reinforce your thesis and provide a final analysis of the issue based on the evidence presented. Reflect on the potential future of marijuana legalization, considering the current trends and policy changes. A well-crafted conclusion should provide closure to your essay and encourage the reader to continue contemplating the nuanced aspects of marijuana legalization. Your concluding remarks might also suggest areas for further research or consideration, underscoring the ongoing nature of the debate surrounding marijuana legalization.

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In November 2023, 57% of voters in Ohio voted for Issue 2, a ballot initiative which legalized adult recreational marijuana use and tasked the Ohio Departments of Commerce and Development with implementing a legal recreational cannabis industry in the state.As of December 7, 2023, individuals 21 years and older can legally consume and possess marijuana throughout Ohio, although recreational ...

Green Thumb has a record as the best-performing company in cannabis, and its superior management makes it a good bet for the long term. See why GTBIF stock is a Buy.

Bruen didn't just dramatically alter the entire American gun-toting landscape; it also became the paradigm for a whole new way of interpreting the Constitution: the supposed big triumph for ...

A new survey finds that 53% favor the legal use of marijuana, while 44% are opposed. As recently as 2006, just 32% supported marijuana legalization, while nearly twice as many (60%) were opposed. Millennials (currently 18-34) have been in the forefront of this change: 68% favor legalizing marijuana use, by far the highest percentage of any age ...

Marijuana is the only 'medication' that is smoked, and, while still incompletely understood, there are legitimate concerns about long-term effects of marijuana smoke on the lungs. 11, 12 Compared with cigarette smoke, marijuana smoke can result in three times the amount of inhaled tar and four times the amount of inhaled carbon-monoxide. 13 ...

A new Gallup poll has found that in the United States, medical aid is the top reason why supporters want marijuana legalized while opponents view driver safety as the top reason for keeping it banned.

While many Americans say they have used marijuana in their lifetime, far fewer are current users, according to the same survey. In 2022, 23.0% of adults said they had used the drug in the past year, while 15.9% said they had used it in the past month. While many Americans say legalizing recreational marijuana has economic and criminal justice ...

Legalizing Marijuana Is a Big Mistake. May 17, 2023. Evelyn Freja for The New York Times. Share full article. 2652. By Ross Douthat. Opinion Columnist. Of all the ways to win a culture war, the ...

In spite of the many laws prohibiting the use of marijuana, it is one of the most highly abused drugs. 58% of young people from all over the world use marijuana. It has not been attributed to any health complications. Paragraph 3: Legalization of marijuana would help state governments save taxpayers money.

Legalization of medicinal marijuana, simply, would provide for relieving a great deal of discomfort and pain in those suffering from a variety of illnesses. Cons. As will be shortly demonstrated, marijuana offers an enormous benefit to those in physical and/or emotional distress. It is, however, as naïve to assert that marijuana is wholly free ...

Several people support the legalization of marijuana. On the contrary, some disagree due to the effects of using cannabis. This essay will first discuss the history of cannabis, then examine its negative effects, and then look at the benefits of marijuana on economic and medical. ... GradesFixer. Retrieved July 22, 2024, from https://htracer ...

A 2014 study of the state's legal pot market, conducted by the Marijuana Policy Group for the state's Department of Revenue, found the top 29.9 percent heaviest pot users in Colorado made up ...

Marijuana, also known as cannabis, is a psychoactive drug made from a plant and used for recreational and medical purposes. Being fully prohibited in some countries, it is fully legalized in others. In your essay about marijuana, you might want to focus on the pros and cons of its legalization. Another option is to discuss marijuana dependence.

Pro Arguments (Support for your position): The majority of Americans agree on the necessity to legalize marijuana. Its medical and recreational use is a sufficient basis for this change. Con Arguments (Opposing Views): The resistance of older populations to this idea is highly possible. This initiative is accompanied by concerns regarding the ...

This week on "The Argument" podcast, the columnists talk pot. First, Michelle Goldberg presses former New York Times reporter Alex Berenson on his forthcoming book about the dangers of ...

The Cons of Legalizing Marijuana. Those who oppose the legalization of marijuana point to the health risks of the drug, including: Memory issues: Frequent marijuana use may seriously affect your short-term memory. Cognition problems: Frequent use can impair your cognitive (thinking) abilities.

For Help, Call: 1-866-831-5700. Harnessing science, love and the wisdom of lived experience, we are a force of healing and hope for individuals, families and communities affected by substance use and mental health conditions. Discover Hazelden Betty Ford's position on marijuana legalization, including the risks and effects of cannabis use ...

We know there are risks for mental health consequences. The evidence is probably the strongest that if you have a family history of psychosis or schizophrenia, using cannabis early in adolescence is not the best idea. We know cannabis can trigger psychotic symptoms and potentially longer lasting problems with psychosis and schizophrenia.

Gallup data shows that 76% of Democrats, 68% of Independents, and 51% of Republicans favor legalization. Going into 2020, the recreational use of marijuana will be legal in 11 states. This trend began with moves by Colorado and Washington to legalize in 2012.

Cannabis is the most widely used illicit drug globally, particularly in North America and high-income countries in Europe and Oceania. Although the use of medicinal cannabis is legal in many countries, for example to treat chronic pain, poor appetite, or nausea due to chemotherapy, legalisation of non-medicinal or recreational cannabis is a topic of growing public discussion and debate globally.

Conclusion. Cannabis is difficult to discuss or ascribe morally. The drug affects a person's mental and physical condition. Antagonizing one's brain receptors, cannabis has relaxing properties. Efforts of decriminalization and legalization help populations that need cannabis.

Introduction. For a long time now, the debate on the legalization of marijuana has remained a controversial issue in the United States. Cannabis sativa found diverse applications in the field of medicine in many nations from as early as 2700 BC. Get a custom Essay on Legalizing Marijuana: Arguments and Counter-Arguments. Some of the merits that ...

Get a custom essay on Minor and Major Arguments on Legalization of Marijuana. Premises 1: If marijuana were to be legalized it would be impossible to regulate its' sell to, and use by the minors. It would set free, the bounds that exist on the transit of the drug, making it reach the intended and unintended places including possession by ...

The fear of being caught and imprisoned has reduced the quantity of marijuana that is distributed in the community. Legalizing marijuana will increase its availability leading to increased number of users both legal and illegal. Given the side effects marijuana has, this will spell doom to the society as a whole.

23 essay samples found. Marijuana legalization is a contentious issue with implications for health, economy, and society. Essays might explore the arguments for and against legalization, the experiences of regions where marijuana has been legalized, and the legal, economic, and social ramifications of legalization.

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