ROGERIAN ESSAY: MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION
Medicinal marijuana is a topic of increasing controversy. Marijuana as a medicine has only come into the public spotlight relatively recently, but it has quickly gained momentum and widespread acceptance. Medicinal marijuana can be used to treat AIDS, cancer, and anorexia patients, as well as a slew of other afflictions (medicalmarijuana.com). Today, eighteen states either allow medical marijuana, have decriminalized marijuana possession laws, or both. Advocates of medical marijuana also argue that the federal legalization of medical marijuana will lead to economic stimulation across the country as well as a decrease in drug-related crime (medicalmarijuana.procon.org).
Opponents of medical marijuana’s viewpoints are not outside the realm of reason. Opponents argue that the drug will be always be a problem regardless of its legality, and that even if their state elects to adopt medical marijuana, the drug will still be completely illegal in the federal government’s eyes. This viewpoint of medical marijuana opponents does have some validity. It is completely understandable that a citizen would have an aversion to breaking a federal law. The civic duty of America’s citizen is to obey these laws, and to break them may go against what people have been taught to believe.
The opponents of medical marijuana do have valid viewpoints, however, almost all of these concerns and aversions have explanations. Although federal law does prohibit all marijuana possession, medical or not, the federal government tends not to prosecute medical marijuana users. Medical marijuana dispensaries seldom attract legal attention, and when they do, as long as the building has the proper licenses and paperwork, they tend not to incur any charges or fines (medicalmarijuana.procon.org).
Anytime something illegal has the potential to become illegal, it will always be a topic of controversy, and rightly so. The movement to legalize marijuana goes against what almost everybody is taught-drugs are bad and should be avoided. However, Marijuana is first and foremost a medicine. Medical marijuana allows its users temporary relief from pain, stimulates appetite, and promotes a positive outlook on an otherwise dreary situation (medicalmarijuana.com). Medical marijuana should have its critics, but its critics need to look at it from the medical standpoint. Marijuana has an ability to help people, and things that can help people have better lives should absolutely be legal.