Legalizing Marijuana in California

Sarah Auch

American Government - P

Mr. Hawkins

15 December 2016
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Introduction

Morals and politics are the two major structures of this country, so when an issue is

received with mixed responses coming from two different points of view it becomes

controversial. Though the legalization of cannabis is a controversial subject; On November 9,

2016 the passage of Proposition 64 made it legal for individuals, over the age of 21, to use and

grow marijuana for personal use. This has opened a door for cannabis to be brought into

California. Medical cannabis was legalized in California in 1996 with Prop. 215. Now California

has passed the recreational use of cannabis; though it is only for those 21 and older. Today,

thousands of patients are able to use cannabis as an effective method of treatment for their

ailments. Twenty-eight state governments across the country have acknowledged the effective

healing properties of cannabis and legalized its consumption for medicinal purposes with the

consent of a licensed physician. However, those patients are at the mercy of the federal

government and its authority. As a child growing up we are constantly told of the dangers of

drugs, since it is illegal; marijuana is a drug and therefore it is dangerous. The dangers of

marijuana can be traced back to the 1930. There was negative propaganda that surrounded it to

appease people with private interests and reinforce racial stereotypes; there was never anything

on actual dangers to your health.

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Sub-Topic #1

What will be the positive effects of the legalization of marijuana in California?

The people have many decisions to make about their country. Due to the recent election,

not only were the people voting for the candidates, they also voted on propositions. One of the

propositions that was passed was Prop 64 which the legalized marijuana in California. Based

upon the research and the evidence, the legalization of marijuana in California will have positive

economic effects. There are a few questions that should be asked before a person is so quick to

judge the passage of Prop 64. It is important to ask, what the positive effects of the legalization

of marijuana will have on California, what the negative effects of the legalization of marijuana

have on California, and how the legalization of marijuana in California will help inside the

medical field.

California just passed a law that will legalize marijuana, and it's going to have a huge

impact on the economy. Based upon the research and the evidence, a positive effect of legalizing

marijuana would be its effect on the economy. California's looking at an additional $1.5

billion flooding into the marijuana market. That number swells to just shy of $3 billion in

2019, and nearly $4 billion by 2020 (Ben Gilbert). With California being the sixth largest

economy in the world, larger than the U.S. as a whole, legalizing marijuana in California is only

going to make them thrive more. Meaning more opportunities to use the tax money to further

enhance Californias economy. It turns out pot is a stronger economic driver than 90

percent of the industries active in Colorado. (Alan Pyke). Colorado is living proof of how

the legalization of marijuana while have a huge, positive impact on California. This should make

you think of how it would positively affect the U.S. economy, if the entire U.S. agrees to make

marijuana legal. Legal weed created 18,005 full-time jobs and added about $2.4 billion to
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the states economy last year (Alan Pyke). Because the U.S. still has a problem with

unemployment this would revenue more jobs and money to help with this epidemic.

There is a lot of talk about the negative effects of marijuana in California as well as

positive. They state all the bad things that have happened in Colorado and Washington.

Expanding the availability and access will increase adolescent use as it has in Colorado

and Washington (Roger Morgan). Let us keep in mind that these are two out of five of the

first states to vote to legalize marijuana in their states. Meaning that they have to experiment to

find what works in their state to lower the immense amount of DUIs, fatalities involving

marijuana, and the use of marijuana among adolescents. Though, there is not much a state can do

about a persons own stupidity. They should know better than to drive under the influence, but it

can be assumed that they just dont realize what could happen. The data show that 24 percent

of the fatalities would not have occurred if the drivers had not been drinking.

Nationwide, a 24 percent decrease in fatalities would mean that over 10,000 of the nearly

45,000 people killed annually in traffic accidents in recent years would not have died

(Steven Olsen, Dr). With knowing that, that means even though there is a presence of alcohol

related substances or in their system does not mean that it was the cause of the accident.

Though, I do not encourage driving under the influence, I would just like the point out that

marijuana isnt can not always be the cause of accidents caused while being under the influence.
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Sub-Topic #2

What the negative effects of the legalization of marijuana have on California?

Some people believe that marijuana is not a bad thing while other people believe that it is

deadly. Both sides are true but not everyone tells the truth about the negative effects that

marijuana has on the body. Based upon research, the legalization of marijuana will have some

negative effects on California. There are a few questions that should be asked before as person

can judge the non-supporters of Pro. 64. It is important to ask, what are the negative effects of

the legalization of marijuana in California, how will the legalization of marijuana in California

affect children, and how will people from each generation perceive the legalization of marijuana

in California.

The legalization of marijuana in California comes with some negative effects following

its path. "Marijuana also affects brain development. When marijuana users begin using as

teenagers, the drug may reduce thinking, memory, and learning functions and affect how

the brain builds connections between the areas necessary for these functions. Marijuanas

effects on these abilities may last a long time or even be permanent (NIDA). It affects

teenagers mentally and in overall brain development. Legalizing marijuana is going to change up

the whole system in which marijuana is confronted in a criminal sense.

There are many negative effects following the legalization of marijuana; one of them

being the affect it will have on our children. Ability for anyone to grow 6 plants in a home

will endanger children living there and provide even easier access for kids and their

friends, while serving as a magnet for home invasion robberies (Roger Morgan). This not

only makes it a danger to kids, but yourself included. Due to the fact that many people will not
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be able to buy marijuana until 2018 they might end up trying to get some off of others, which is

in fact illegal.

Marijuana has always been a strong issue with adolescents, but now that it has become

legal for recreational use for those 21 years old and older in California, it is making marijuana

more available to adolescents. There was a 40 percent increase in drug-related suspensions

and expulsions in Colorado from school year 2008/2009 to 2013/2014. And a 20 percent

increase in the percent of 12 to 17 year old probationers testing positive for marijuana since

marijuana was legalized for recreational purposes (Joshua Denton). Colorado is proof that

is has started to affect their education now. Marijuana has become just as common as cigarettes

among teenagers. Marijuana use by adolescents has grown steadily as more states enact

various decriminalization laws. According to CDC data, more teens now smoke marijuana

than cigarettes (American College of Pediatricians). Marijuana is considered an illegal drug

under the federal law, even though state governments have approved of its use, the federal law

has the right to take anyone into custody that is carrying marijuana on their person. Think of

what could happen to any teenager caught with marijuana. What could happen to them?

Many people perceive marijuana in different ways: as an escape, as an outlet, and even as

a medicine. Many people find it hard to believe that marijuana has a positive effect, if used

properly. Normally, the younger generation is the one the believes marijuana is positive in more

ways than one. Even among those who say the use of marijuana by adults should not be

legal, many consider alcohol to be more harmful to a persons health (Seth Motel).

Alcohol is found more harmful to a person's health than marijuana; this coming from all

generations. Marijuana is also not as addictive as social media has lead us to believe. The

rating scale is from 1 to 6. 1 denotes the drug with the strongest addictive tendencies, while
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6 denotes the drug with the least addictive tendencies. (Unknown). The most addictive

drug, even above heroin, is nicotine. Nicotine is found inside of cigarettes; these are more

harmful to your health than marijuana is. After nicotine and heroin comes cocaine, and then

alcohol. Below that is caffeine; the very bottom of the chart is marijuana. Which is found less

addictive than your can of Dr. Pepper.

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Sub-Topic #3
What will be the social benefits of legalizing marijuana in California?

There is a lot of controversy about marijuana, the good and the bad, and the effects that it

has on your body. There is so much more to this drug than meets the eye. When people think of

marijuana they think of pot and edibles for recreational use not the medical benefits that it can

have on people. Based upon the research and evidence, the legalization of marijuana in

California will have medical benefits in the social region. We need to ask a few questions before

we are so quick to judge the use of marijuana, especially medically. It is important to ask, what

effects does the legalization of marijuana in California have socially, how was California effected

by legalizing marijuana medically, and how does medical marijuana affect high school students.

When medical marijuana was legalized people believed that it would increase crime

rates, especially for recreational use. There is a study that shows otherwise. Legalization of

medical marijuana does not lead to increased crime, and may even be tied to lower rates of

offenses such as assault and murder, a new study suggests (Dieter MacPherson). There is a

large variety of gossip on whether or not Researchers in the United States found that by

comparing traffic deaths over time in states with and without medical marijuana law

changes, fatal car wrecks dropped by 9% in states that legalized medical use which was

largely attributable to a decline in drunk driving (Dieter MacPherson). Since the

legalization of medical use of marijuana, teen have not been seeing it as a forbidden fruit and it

has decreased their interest in it. ...in the majority of states with medical marijuana laws,

youth consumption decreased after the introduction of medical marijuana regulations

(Dieter MacPherson). Although, now that it has been passed for recreation use we may see in

increase in usage by adolescents.

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Medical marijuana is seen as a blessing that helps patients in need. With the legalization

of recreational use of marijuana there is a worry cast over many patients who use marijuana for

pain and diseases. Some medical cannabis users fear the measure, Proposition 64, would

impose stricter regulations that would affect where they could consume marijuana and how

much marijuana they could grow (Brooke Edwards Stagg). It is an honest worry for patients

to have. They fear that the legalization of marijuana for recreation use will inhibit the supply for

medical use.

Studies have shown that marijuana affects adolescents differently than it affects adults.

First, new research shows adolescence is a crucial time for brain development and

marijuana use can permanently change the teen brain. Second, young people who start

using marijuana before age 18 are much more likely than adults to become addicted to the

drug (Katie Kerwin McCrimmon). This means that adolescents are smoking pot, saying that

it helps them, when in reality it is affecting them internally; causing them to become addicted. A

adolescent's brain is not fully developed till the age of 25.

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Bibliography

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