The Marijuana Tax Act Of 1937

Legalizing Marijuana

The Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 essentially outlawed the possession or sale of marijuana, it was considered a “demon weed”. In 1952, the Boggs Act provided stiff mandatory sentences for offences involving a variety of drugs including marijuana, heroin, morphine and several others. In 1971, it was deemed a Schedule 1 narcotic. “Schedule 1, the most restrictive category, contained drugs that the federal government deemed as having no valid medical uses and a high potential for abuse” ("Should Marijuana Be A Medical Option", 2016). Marijuana is considered a schedule 1 narcotic, so research has become very difficult to deem it medically safe. Today, even though it is legal for medical and recreational use in 28 states as of

They say that marijuana is addictive, leads to harder drug use, interferes with fertility, impairs driving ability, and injures the lungs, immune system and brain. They say that medical marijuana is a front for drug legalization and recreational use.” ("Procon", 2016). Let’s look at driving for example, alcohol warns not to dive after consumption, prescription narcotics also warn people not to drive or operate heavy machinery after consumption. The reality of it is that thousands of people in the United States are still doing it every day even though they are told not to. Regardless whether something is legal or not, people will still make their own choices. Just like there are thousands of people obtaining and consuming marijuana illegally where it is prohibited. People will still face the same penalties of driving under the influence of marijuana as they would alcohol or prescription

Let’s take alcohol for example. Underage people will always find a way to get alcohol if they want it bad enough. Stricter gun laws for example, will not keep guns out of the hands of the wrong people. Just as legalizing marijuana will not guarantee it will stay out of the hands of those who should not have it. There will still have to be laws in place to punish those who obtain it illegally. Just as people still obtain it illegally now, there will always be a market for it for those who should not have it.

Marijuana can be consumed in ways besides the traditional smoking of it. It can be turned into cannabis oil, which can then be used to make edible foods that contain THC. It can also be used as a topical oil to be applied to the body for muscle aches and soreness. Vaporizing is a method that allows people to inhale marijuana without the risks of smoking on their lungs. It has even been produced in capsule form know as cannabis caps using oil, wax or other