Marijuana, a schedule one controlled substance, is defined as the dried buds and leaves grown on a cannabis plant. Twenty nine states allow medicinal use, followed by fifteen other states who are pending legislation in favor of the same intention. Some of the states that have already permitted its medical use are Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington, with more likely to follow. Recreational use is also legal in seven states. The law does not allow doctors to write a prescription for it, so they recommend its use. If a patient has a condition that can be treated with medical marijuana, that person is given a card that indicates that they are eligible to purchase cannabis at local dispensaries. There are variances in the support of the legalization, differing between younger and older voters who are more likely to be conservative regarding the subject. These people have been led to believe that medical marijuana is a gateway drug and a harmful substance. However, it has an abundance of notable health benefits such as stopping cancer cells from spreading and helping reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression. Before it became illegal in 1930, marijuana was widely used across the United States as medicine. It …show more content…
Despite its growing legalization across the nation, it is still considered to be a schedule one substance with the potential of abuse along with LSD and heroin. It’s advantages include being used to cure diseases and improve aspects of other conditions, a potential to boost the nation’s economy, the creation of hundreds of jobs for Americans, and a probable decrease in crime and violence related to the drug. Based on research, it seems that the detriments and harms associated with marijuana fall extremely short of the benefits and more states should ponder if it would become a valuable asset when