Many topics in the world today have come to the spotlight of national and world news. Some are more important or more relevant than others but most are topics that should be settled or mentioned by those in power. The topic and question I have been researching is that on the legalization of marijuana. Why has the medicinal and recreational use of marijuana not been legalized in every state as a federal law instead of just some of them? There are many examples and evidence to show how it would positively affect the country. The legalization of marijuana would greatly help our country in ways such as medical usage, crime rates would decrease in loom of it now being legal and it would help the economy with the revenue it would receive. I was drawn to this topic by the legalization of the drug in some but not all states and the positive effects it has on those states. With this, I have had family members using it for medicinal purposes that have improved and seen great improvement with their health problems. It has many purposes medically that can help with symptoms of many issues. It has properties in it that can help relieve and calm many different symptoms for different illnesses. I see myself as being able to research and argue this topic due to personal experiences, myself and family, as well as proven facts and stats. 

The federal war on medical marijuana must come to end sooner than later. In Matt Ferner's article, he writes that millions of people could benefit from the legalization of marijuana. They would benefit from the effects that the drug gives by helping them with relieving the symptoms of many illnesses. Kate Hintz, mother of Morgan Hintz who has a problem where she has seizures must use marijuana to help relieve the symptoms. The drug has "CBD, a non-psychoactive compound found in cannabis, which can be used to treat epilepsy and seizures for her daughter and others" (Ferner). It can help relieve symptoms such as nausea, seizures and anxiety. This could help the Hintz's situation if it were legalized to use. Legalization can also help veterans who need something to settle their minds from the war. A major value would also be reclassifying it as a less dangerous drug since it can be used medically. Some views at stake with the source are users of the drug because they are the people risking being caught to use it and another would be the doctors who prescribe it to them since it is not legal federally. I believe Ferner is credible because of his reputation with the Huffington Post. 

In the second source, written by Alison Hulcomb, she expresses her views on legalization. Alison states that "More than 40 percent of Americans have tried marijuana at some point in their lives, and millions are current users" (Hulcomb). This shows that if millions of people already use it illegally then once it is legal, then they will continue safely. She states that over the past 20 years, even though many have been arrested because of it, usage rates have not gone down. And also that between the US and Mexican Cartel, we have spent an estimated $1.5 billion dollars on the marijuana market. She believes we should treat it like tobacco and to legalize it but to tax it which would also help raise the economy. With a rise in the economy, that money could go back to the people, or to organizations or education. With these issues, people are directly affected by this no matter what happens. Those at stake referring to this are users as well as dispensaries that are selling the drug to the American public. I see credibility with her because she is the Drug Policy Director of the American Civil Liberties Union and it could be biased coming from a union standpoint. 

Across the country many people are talking about legalization of marijuana. In this article, the author Jessica Atkins lists the advantages of marijuana and why it should be legal in a petition. She states that marijuana is not an addictive drug unlike cigarettes, those born from a marijuana using mother have never seen birth defects and are typically smarter than average and like many now know it can help mentally and physically. Her values she tries to express are all of her evidence and that marijuana is proven safer than guns, alcohol and cigarettes. And those who are at stake for her argument are the marijuana users, dispensaries, the government and the public as well. They are at stake because if it were legalized because it would be legal everywhere for the users and the public will see it more. And the government will have to deal with it being legal as well as a boost in economy. I see no credibility and that is is biased because it is a petition making it opinionated. 

The topic of legalization has always been an arguable topic. There are points from both ways such as with all the positive effects it can have for someone medically, there are some people that marijuana does not help them, but can harm them. But those people should know that before asking or being referred a prescription. Another would be crime rates decreasing when legalized but before that, they increased. These views influence me because they open my eyes to more reasons as to why it should or shouldn't be legalized. But many just increase my views on legalizing it. I may need to change my exigence to something more in depth to be able to get more research and arguments out of it. 

