The Controlled Substances Act of 1970, a federal law, classifies marijuana as a Schedule I drug, implying that it has a high potential for abuse and has no acceptable medical use, and thus it prohibits the possession, usage, purchase, sale, and/or cultivation of marijuana. Recently, over a dozen states, most notably California, have decriminalized and legalized the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes. However, federal agents still enforce FEDERAL laws in California, and many patients have been arrested and prosecuted for using medical marijuana (in contention with California STATE law). In recent decades, numerous U.S. States have decriminalized personal use of marijuana, in addition to legalizing medicinal use.

Some states and local governments have established laws attempting to decriminalize cannabis, which has reduced the number of “simple possession” offenders sent to jail, since federal enforcement agents rarely target individuals directly for such relatively minor offenses. Other state and local governments ask law enforcement agencies to limit enforcement of drug laws with respect to cannabis. In the summer of 2008, congressman Barney Frank pushed for a bill to decriminalize up to 100 grams of marijuana in the United States. Frank is also a supporter of medical marijuana.

California passed Proposition 215 in 1996, later renamed the Compassionate Use Act, which would protect anyone from criminal prosecution if recommended by a doctor to use marijuana as relief from some critical illnesses such as cancer, anorexia, AIDS, and glaucoma. In early 2009, California state representative Tom Ammiano introduced a bill, titled Marijuana Control, Regulation, and Education Act, to legalize, regulate, and tax the recreational use of cannabis in California.[5] The bill remains pending. The legalization of Marijuana is said to generate over one billion dollars of state revenue per year. Marijuana would have the same regulations that alcohol has. With every ounce of marijuana sold, there would be a 50-dollar tax. The State of California has a 42 billion dollar budget deficit right now. Placing a tax on marijuana would definitely be beneficial in helping the state get out of this deficit. California alone is estimated to produce about 14 billion dollars worth of marijuana per year. [47]

On March 24, 2009, a pair of bills (House Bill 2929 and Senate Bill 1801), seeking to “tax and regulate the cannabis industry”, were introduced into the Massachusetts legislature.

The bill seeks to legally regulate the commercial production and distribution of marijuana for adults over 21 years of age. Like California’s proposal, licensing requirements and excise taxes would be imposed on the retail sale of cannabis. Currently in California, marijuana farming is the largest illegal cash crop. If legalized, marijuana will be taxed $1.00 a joint or $50.00 an ounce.[citation needed] By some estimates, these taxes could raise nearly $2 billion in annual state revenue.

Economists have not yet reached a conclusion on legalizing marijuana. Most believe that legalizing, regulating, and taxing marijuana would both stimulate the economy and reallocate US funds towards enforcing more dangerous crimes than illicit drug possession. Others believe that the social cost of legalizing marijuana outweighs the economic benefits. [48] Economists such as Robert J. Barro and Gary S. Becker believe that marijuana should be legalized and the profits taxed to act as an economic stimulus to bring the United States out of the recession in 2009. [49] The revenues could be used to increase public awareness about the harmful effects of Marijuana on the body. Legalization would also decrease the $8 billion of government spending on law enforcement in regards to Marijuana possession every year.[50] On the other hand, those such as Joel W. Hay and Paul Taubman believe that the legalization of Marijuana would have negative consequences on society, such as an increase in substance abuse, negating the economic benefits. [51] Overall, the general consensus of economist seems to be opposed to prohibition, but only slightly supporting decriminalization or liberalization. [52] However, most seem to agree that Marijuana Policies in 2008 to 2009 have been ineffective and costly to the government. [53] Daniel K. Benjamin and Roger LeRoy Miller believe that the most effective policy of Marijuana would be the a purely Constitutional approach, which would allow each individual state government to regulate and control Marijuana within their own borders.

There are many medical benefits of marijuana. It has been used in the treatment of over 13 different illnesses. [63]

The most common treatment are those suffering from cancer. Marijuana has been used to help with the nausea that is commonly associated with chemotherapy treatment. Patients that undergo chemotherapy often experience vomiting and nausea. Marijuana helps combat these feelings so that patients don’t experience these side effects from chemotherapy treatment.[64]

Another condition that marijuana has helped with is AIDS Wasting Syndrome. Often patients suffering from AIDS or HIV lose a considerable amount of body weight. Marijuana has been used to help patients maintain a healthy appetite and diet which is important to avoid other infections.[65]

Arthritis is an inflammatory joint disorder that causes pain, swelling, and limited movement. This condition inflames and degenerates cartilage and bone in the joint. Marijuana contains chemicals that help reduce pain as well as reduce swelling. There are many anti-inflammatory qualities in marijuana which make it a good treatment for those suffering from Arthritis [66]

A study at Columbia University has shown the effects that marijuana can do to one’s immune system. For an entire year a group of people smoked a marijuana cigarette every other day. The results of this study showed that the white-blood-cell count in the participants was 39% less than normal. Losing this many white-blood-cells has a significant effect on the immune system and makes them more vulnerable to sickness or infections. As seen in the study at Columbia University regarding the negative effects that marijuana has on a person’s immune system, marijuana can make a person weaker. People that are sick already have a weak immune system, therefore smoking marijuana will only make their fight against their illness worse.

“Marilize Legajuana ?”

You sure about that buddy?