Alexander Hand and Marisa Sullivan

Dr. Crone

COMM 1100

31 October 2017

The Case for Legal Marijuana

Of Americans over 18, more than 50 percent have experimented with marijuana at least

once in their life. Marijuana is currently federally classified as a schedule one drug- meaning that

it is illegal because of its high potential for addiction and it allegedly has no potential medicinal

applications. Marijuana was classified as a schedule one substance in 1970 with the passage of

the Controlled Substances Act (Anderson). Now, in 2017, medical marijuana has been made

legal in twenty-six states and for recreational use in seven states as well as Washington D.C.

(Zimmermann). With recent research that support the medical benefits of marijuana and its few

side-effects, it is time to legalize marijuana in the United States. Our interest group, Americans

for Responsible Marijuana Use, wish to see the passage of a federal law that will legalize both

medical marijuana and recreational marijuana for adults ages 21 and up. We also want the law to

include provisions for licensing and regulate the production of marijuana.

Regardless on your stance on marijuana use, it is impossible to ignore that marijuana

simply is not a schedule one substance. Recent research from Israel has proven that marijuana

does, in fact, have many medicinal uses. Due to the substances benefits, Marijuana has potential

for medicinal uses, and it does not fit the definition of a schedule one substance. Where as

fentanyl - a highly potent, lethal, and addictive drug- is under the category of schedule two, a

lesser offense than marijuana. Though fentanyl is made legal for medical use, it is stricted
regulated. Like fentanyl, we believe a similar classification should be placed upon marijuana. All

of these reasons create a compelling case for legalizing marijuana, at the very least marijuana

should be declassified as a schedule one narcotic and placed in a schedule two or three category.

In addition to not fitting the description of a schedule one drug as described, marijuana is

not physically addictive. While there are cognitive impairment risks when used at a young age,

marijuana is safer once the user is in their mid 20s which is why we want to legalize it at the age

of twenty-one. Another reason marijuana should be legalized is the low risk of overdose. This is

because essential functions such as breathing or regulating heartbeat are not affected by the

chemicals found in marijuana (Zimmermann). This allows marijuana to be used recreationally

with minimal risk.

The benefits of marijuana are numerous: from reducing stress to helping with seizures.

Legalization could also save the government money for legal cases involving possession of

marijuana. A chemical that can be derived from marijuana called CBD has been shown to help

people with epilepsy reduce the number of seizures that they suffer from (Zimmermann).

Additionally, marijuana does not have to be smoked to have medical benefits. Marijuana can be

vaporized and inhaled, baked into food, or cannabinoids from the plant can be extracted and

made into an oil. Regardless of a medical condition, marijuana can remain a viable option for the

treatment of epilepsy and nerve pain. Marijuana extracts have already been approved by the FDA

for usage in states where the drug is legal. The drugs empoy synthetic THC compounds known

as dronabinol and nabilone (Steffens). The medical benefits of marijuana have been well

documented and are further proof that it's time to legalize marijuana at the federal level.
 The miscategorization of marijuana as a schedule one substance, new evidence about the

medical benefits of marijuana, and the relative lack of harm in adults all form a compelling case

for marijuana legalization. As previously stated, Americans for Responsible Marijuana Use

would like to see medical marijuana legalized and recreational marijuana legalized for adults

ages 21 and over. Additionally we would like to see a system to regulate and oversee the

production of marijuana at commercial farms. We believe that these measure would create a new

revenue stream for the federal government and allow for a better society in the United States.

With this said, the government could tax the new drug and boost the economy through the

consumers. We encourage the congress to consider our case as marijuana can improve the lives

of those struggling with ellipsis and seizures. A once demonized and stereotyped drug can create

a new story with its low risk usage and many medical benefits.

Works Cited

Anderson, L. CSA Schedules. Drugs.com, Drugs.com, 4 May 2014,

www.drugs.com/csa-schedule.html.

"The Latest Scourge." Economist, May, 2017, pp. 15, SIRS Issues Researcher,

https://sks-sirs-com.cscc.ohionet.org.

O'Hara, Mary Emily. New Poll Finds Majority of Americans Have Smoked Marijuana.

NBCNews.com, NBCUniversal News Group, 17 Apr. 2017,

www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/new-poll-finds-majority-americans-have-smoked-pot-

n74746.
Steffens, Bradley. Issues in Society: Is Marijuana Harmful? SIRS Issues Researcher ,

ProQuest, 2017,

sks-sirs-com.cscc.ohionet.org/webapp/article?artno=0000394044&type=ART.

Zimmermann, Kim Ann, and Alina Bradford. Medical Marijuana: Benefits, Risks & State

Laws. LiveScience, Purch, 6 June 2017,

www.livescience.com/24554-medical-marijuana.html.

https://www.aclu.org/gallery/marijuana-arrests-numbers