In the 1930’s Marijuana was made illegal through the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937. In the trial claims were made that would be laughable in courtroom today.  The act was later ruled unconstitutional and replaced by the Controlled Substances Act in the 1970’s. The Controlled Substance Abuse Act established a system of ranking substances based on their dangerousness and their ability to cause addiction. All of this being done with little to no scientific data to back it up. Marijuana was and still is categorized a schedule 1 drug. In 1996 California started a trend; they legalized medicinal marijuana. Today in 2019 marijuana in now recreationally legal in 13 states and medicinally legal in 23 states with that number growing everyday. Marijuana has been a very controversial subject for almost a hundred years now. Science is finally being collected that recommends marijuana isn’t bad for human consumption, in fact it suggests it’s beneficial. My call to action is to legalize marijuana and present to you the benefits it will have on human health, the economy, crime rate, and why it shouldn’t be a schedule 1 substance. 

Humans have been reaping the benefits from marijuana for over 5 centuries. Our ancestors have been using marijuana for medicinal purposes and recreational fun long before us. According to  Abazia Daniel, PharmD in the article “Medicinal Cannabis: History, Pharmacology, and Implications For The Acute Care Settings” science can trace marijuana back over 5000 years using ancient ashes from what is now Romania. Abazia also says; “In the US cannabis was widely utilized as a patent medicine during the 19th and early 20th centuries, describe in the US pharmacopoeia for the first time in 1850. Medical Marijuana has many of the benefits opiates have to offer, without the health risk of actually consuming the opiates. Marjuana has prove to decrease chronic pain just as well as opioids. Marijuana also has little to no health risks, while opioids are very easy to miscalculate dosage and result in overdose. So basically marijuana can decrease opioid overdoses and lower the health risks and side effects from opioids as well. Carlini, Bia, PHD, Senior Research Scientist Of University of Washington in her article titled;” Role Of Medical Cannabis as a Substitute for Opioids” says in her article “Many people suffering from chronic pain have access to cannabis in the US; relief of pain is is by far the most frequent condition reported by medical cannabis patents. Medical cannabis patients indicate they have been substituting all or some of their prescribed opiate based medications with cannabis.” The biggest medical marijuana breakthrough has to be the impact marijuana has on cancer. Marijuana has been proven to ease specific cancers and mask symptoms of cancer. Marijuana is helpful in treating nausea and vomiting from cancer chemotherapy. It also improves hunger and appetite. The American Cancer Society in article titled; “Marijuana and Cancer” say “ a number of small studies of smoked marijuana found that it can be helpful in treating nausea and vomiting from cancer chemotherapy.” CBD is a derivative of marijuana coming from the almost genetically identical hemp plant. CBD is nationally legal and can be bought at most convenience stores. Wilson, Debra PhD In article titled “CBD VS THC: What’s the Difference” says “CBD and THC have the same molecular structure: 21 carbon atoms, 30 hydrogen atoms, and 2 oxygen atoms.”

The Controlled Substance Act of the 1970’s left Marijuana categorized as a schedule 1 substance, along with heroin, ecstasy, and cocaine. Marijuana should not be in the same category as heroin, ecstasy, and cocaine. does not have an attainable overdose dosage. Drug overdone is the leading cause of accidental death in the United States, with opioids being the most common cause. Heroin, ecstasy, and cocaine all contain opioids, marijuana does not. Marijuana contains THC which is made up of cannabinoids.  According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drug overdose deaths are increasing every year. From 1999 to 2017  more than 702,000 people have died from drug overdose, almost 68% opioid related. 

Marijuana is at an all time high on the market and growing daily. Marijuana has not been legalized nationally yet so there aren’t very many notable chains of dispensaries in the business. I believe if we decriminalize and legalize marijuana, increase the taxes on marijuana enough to balance out the decline in prices it will boost the economy and create more jobs in America. More people will want to come to America for marijuana. 

For this paper I conducted some field research of my own at a local dispensary here in town named “GreenMed.” I interviewed the lead of the warehouse responsible for all of the products and the mastermind behind the quality of their products, Christian Hernandez. Christian Hernandez’s credentials are a bachelors in chemistry, Molecular and cellular biology, and math. The first question I asked him was “Why is marijuana illegal?” He responded with “similar to the alcohol prohibition marijuana was banned once it was deemed harmful by the government.” I asked him, “ At the dispensary, what range of ages come in for purchases of marijuana?” He responded, “ We serve customers of all ages, teenagers to grandparents.” I asked, “ how many different ways can someone consume medical marijuana?” Christian responded, “Smoke has been proven to be harmful to the lungs. Marijuana is slightly better for your lungs than cigarettes but not much. With that being said marijuana can be consumed in various ways: smoke, vapor, or edibles.” My final question was, “do you think marijuana should be recreationally legal?” He responded, “ yes, I believe it is safer than other stimulants both legal and illegal, that people consume regularly to have a good time. I trust Marijuanas medical properties and believe it should be as easy to get as Tylenol.” 

The research I conducted on my own was beyond helpful. My interview made me rewrite my entire essay and come up with some new key points. Christian was very knowledgeable and had some very strong points in his answers. I do not consume marijuana or alcohol personally so I don’t consider myself biased. My solution is simple, legalize marijuana. The fast growing market for marijuana with boost the economy. Opioid dependency and overdose will decrease. Also marijuana crime rate will decrease because marijuana will be easier to get legally. I believe in the data and clinical trials. I believe in the fast growing market for marijuana and do not see it stopping.