Why Medical Marijuanas Should Be Legal Essay

Why Medical Marijuanas Should Be Legal Essay

Executive Summary

Our team’s purpose in writing this report is to educate others on the topic of Marijuana; specifically the history, the medical and financial benefits, and laws regarding state and federal jurisdiction of the drug. The information used for our research came from reliable sources such as news articles from U.S. News and CNBC, Harvard Medical School Dr. Peter Grinspoon, and news outlet sources such as business insiders and the morning consult.

• Starting in the 1930s, and resurging in the 1970s, the criminalization and strict enforcement of the illegality of marijuana have been skewed and propagandized to allow the government to arrest certain groups and cultures of people.
• Marijuana has many positive effects on our body, whether it be physically or cognitively. Many studies have shown that the use of marijuana can relieve pain and reduce stress, along with many other symptoms. While it is still considered a Schedule 1 drug, marijuana could potentially change the world of medicine with all the benefits it has to offer.
• Financially, marijuana has benefited many states by allowing them to place taxes on medical and recreational usage. By legalizing marijuana in these states, the opportunity for more jobs has expanded.
• Marijuana is regulated by the Federal Government as a schedule 1 drug, but the powers of Federalism give States jurisdiction to define their own marijuana laws within their borders. Many Americans, including respected political leaders, push to decriminalize marijuana on the federal level to leave power to the states.

In conclusion, Marijuana in general has a positive impact on the general public's lives. Despite smear campaigns and criminalization, Marijuana has been found to have both financial and medical benefits. Certain states have chosen to legalize the drug, and are better off for it.

Introduction

Our team chose the topic of Marijuana to inform and educate individuals on the history of marijuana, the ultimate financial and health benefits of medical marijuana, and the debate between state and federal governments carrying jurisdiction over the laws. Our group decided to tackle this topic because of its current cultural importance since it is very controversial and at the forefront of current news. Our sources for this report include material from Harvard Medical doctors, credible news outlet sources such as Business Insider, and newspaper articles from CNBC and U.S. News. In this report, we will provide information on medical marijuana, including:

• Why Marijuana was Criminalized
• Marijuana’s effect on the human body
• The financial benefits of Medical Marijuana
• State vs Federal Law

Background

We chose to do our report on medical marijuana in order to exhibit the cultural dispute over such a drug. Our report will cover the legal laws and regulations of marijuana and why only certain states have chosen to legalize it. Today, laws on marijuana use are debated, which brings rise to the issue of whether laws should stem from state jurisdiction or federal jurisdiction.

It is important to understand that the DEA still classifies marijuana as a Schedule 1 Drug, yet the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes has positively impacted the lives of many Americans. Marijuana has many proven benefits for the human body, as well as financially for the economy.

Historically, the issue of legalizing marijuana has been a very polarizing and important topic of discussion in society. With all the misinformation from both sides of the argument, it is important to understand the facts and be able to make an informed decision about the legalization of medical marijuana.

Findings

Why Marijuana was Criminalized

Marijuana has been around for centuries in various forms. As stated by Becky Little for history.com, Anglo-Americans and certain European countries have known of and been using marijuana in the medical field since the 1830s (Little 2019). Despite the plant and extracts being around for thousands of years, Americans have had mixed views on the legal status of the plant. A majority of this started around the 1930s when Harry Anslinger of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics ran a fear-mongering campaign against the drug because it was associated heavily with Mexican immigrants (Booth 2003). This gave the general public another reason to not only keep holding prejudices against Mexican immigrants but also give the Federal Bureau of Narcotics a new drug to combat, thus increasing their funding.

According to Little for history.com, it was reported that police officers in Texas stated that smoking Marijuana led Mexican immigrants to thirst for white blood, as well as acquire superhuman strength (Little 2019). This was just a way to strengthen pr