I have never had a particularly strong opinion when it came to the legalization of marijuana for recreational purposes. In my belief, everyone has been endowed with free will, a sense of right and wrong, and a “gut-feeling” of knowing what is best. In addition, tax-paying citizens who do choose to buy marijuana have a greater economic role and are in fact helping to supply a business (although it is not always a legal business found nationally). On the other hand, people of all ages, backgrounds, and states of wealth can become addicted and put their health at risk. With this being the case, I do think when it comes to the recreational use of marijuana, the detriments outweigh the benefits.

Based on the medical approach, there was always more evidence for medical marijuana than evidence against it. Many people tend to forget this drug is in fact derived from a plant which was utilized by many eastern cultures in ancient times for its pain-relieving and relaxing properties. When it comes to modern times, these pain-relieving and relaxing properties are highlighted for medical purposes. Those who get this drug prescribed to them for medical purposes do not take it the same way those who use the drug for recreational purposes do. Based on experiences I have seen with my own two eyes, I definitely think there is a major difference between people who use marijuana medically and people who use it recreationally; there has to be a difference because if a patient were to become addicted to the drug, the entire purpose of using it would be defeated. Furthermore, under the Controlled Substances Act, medical marijuana is listed as a Schedule 1 drug, which means the DEA recognizes the high potential for abuse and is prepared to take an actions necessary in case of this happening. I actually learned all of this over the summer when studying to become a pharmacy technician. The FDA and DEA have such tight control over the dispensing of Schedule 1 drugs that the typical pharmacy is not allowed to serve as a Schedule 1 drug provider. For the most part, research shows marijuana does in fact help with pain and anxiety. In addition, the protocols for dispensing this drug are pretty strict. On the other hand, many physicians who decide on this drug for a patient are doing so for research purposes. With any research, things can go wrong and the effects this drug has may not be generalizable (going back to the five major questions of successful experimental research). Many of the research articles promoting the use of medical marijuana may have bias and the positive results could always be due to some kind of correlational effect, not a direct cause and effect relationship.

This debate is ridiculous to me. It was not until the 1900’s the United States decided to outlaw the drug. Marijuana has been used for thousands of years as a tool for medication, relaxation, and as a fabric. The only real reason one can find that it is outlawed now are as follows. There are billions apron billions possibly even trillions of dollars at stake in the legalization of Weed. If weed were federally legal, The economy would be turned upside down. Americans would start to see cannabis clothing, cannabis blankets, cannabis paper, cannabis drugs. Might I add that Marijuana as a medication will not always deliver the high that seems to haunt so many people who don’t use it. In marijuana there are 2 chemicals (there are also many more) THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD. THC which is relatively low in marijuana but is the chemical that gives the sensational high that some people adore and others deem demonic. CBD is much more prominent in marijuana and is not a source for the high. CBD can be used to help treat epilepsy,reduces anxiety, is an anti-inflammatory, reduces antipsychotic effects, reduces nausea and vomiting and potentially has the power to combat cancerous or tumorous cells. Now wouldn’t you say that there are plenty of major companies and doctors making billions off of the benefits derived from treating people with substances and practices that did not grow on its own? The government has implemented a negative social stigma behind the drug. which in return has produced ignorance on the use of the plant for decades now. Ignorance is something Americans especially love to cling to. The American people also love to cling to the idea that they have a perfect government, and can truly trust those that they give their lives and health to. Well how often has someone you loved lied to you? Then why would someone making enormous amounts of cash off of your blindness teach you how to see? Wakeup marijuana has pros and cons. But the great thing about it is you don’t have to partake it if you don’t want to. It is a somewhat free country isn’t it? Not only does the medical industry profit on the illegality of the plant that can literally grow in your closet. The privately owned major prison corporations and every business they are connected to whether it be food, clothing, toiletries, postage, are thriving off of the incrimination of plant burning. Drug offenses amount to about half of incarcerations and arrests in America, and marijuana amounts to about 30% of that 50. What I do not agree with is the idea Marijuana is perfectly okay to partake every day all day long with no negative effects to smoking\eating\drinking weed. That is the beauty about the substance it comes in every form imaginable. What I will say is like alcohol like these thousands of drugs we deem legal there are negatives. The negatives of weed though are nowhere near in comparison. Weed can be addictive. When you get addicted to weed, all it takes is a few days maybe a week or two and the addiction has become controlled. Weed withdrawal may give you a head ache and cause some restless nights, and at first will increase your anxiety levels. Like any other drug like any other pleasure stimuli there is a chance for addiction. That is a hard pill to swallow for the pharmacy bigots, and the alcoholics. Marijuana use is the individuals right and should be sanctioned as so and legal for recreational and medical use so that everyone may benefit from the wide array of applications the drug has to offer.