Currently in the United States, Colorado, Washington, Oregon, and Alaska have all legalized the recreational use of cannabis. These four individual state's decisions bring light to the question of whether or not cannabis should be federally legal. The Federal Government currently labels cannabis as a Schedule 1 Class drug, being extremely addictive and of no medical use. Unlike the Federal Government, these individual state governments see that cannabis has more economic, medical, environmental benefits than that of most substances condoned legal. With this being said, I must put an emphasis on the fact that any drug in excess, be it alcohol or cannabis, can be dangerous if not used in moderation. In order for the United States to reap the benefits of cannabis, legislation must be changed to make cannabis legal on a federal level and create the federal regulation of cannabis. In order to achieve this, voters must advocate for representatives that are for recreational cannabis, and spread awareness to make a difference on the ballot. 

Many Americans against the recreational legalization of cannabis have a poor understanding of what the plant really is, or what it can be utilized for. The form of cannabis referred to as weed, pot, and marijuana, describes the psychoactive capabilities of the plant. Many say it is beneficial medically because it helps with loss of appetite, nausea, and pain. Because of this, cancer patients around the world have found sanctuary in cannabis, as it relieves the roughest of symptoms from chemotherapy. This claim alone disproves cannabis' stance as a Schedule 1 drug with no medical benefit. Other short term impacts include feelings of euphoria and varied coordination impairment. However, cannabis is not just a drug. It is a plant with a lot of industrial potential. Cannabis with lower psychoactive concentrations is called hemp. Hemp is a tough and durable plant, and because of this hemp can create extremely strong fibers great for rope, paper, clothing and materials.

Only until very recently, cannabis has been widely accepted. In fact, cannabis has had an intertwined relationship with mankind beginning around ten thousand years ago (Ghose). As humans became more developed, the cannabis plant has been an essential asset, providing strong fibers which were used to create the first scrolls, ropes, sails, and clothing. Cannabis is what some people call the first cultivated plant (Walsh, 2014). Cannabis was brought to America by the first colonists and thus began cannabis's new life as an American. It is known that great presidents such as George Washington even grew it in their gardens. What many patriotic Americans do not know is that our very own Declaration of Independence was drafted and shaped on hemp paper. 

It wasn't until the 1930's that the word "marijuana" was used to negatively describe the cannabis plant. The Mexican Revolution had just ended, and the Great Depression had begun. Many Americans, fueled by fear from the Great Depression were naturally intimidated by new Mexican immigrants. These immigrants recreationally used cannabis, and so began the smear campaigns to create the illusion that anyone who recreationally used cannabis were racially inferior and belonged in the underclass (Frontline). Fast forward to the 1970's, the DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency) was created by Nixon with his "War on Drugs" policy which placed cannabis in the Schedule 1 class next to heroin and methamphetamine. Little scientific research was conducted during the creation of the "War on Drugs" policy; even today the policy remains the same after astounding technological and scientific advancement. 

Some people argue that making the cannabis plant recreationally legal is dangerous. A few of the main arguments surrounding recreational cannabis can be summed up in John Hawkins article "5 Reasons Marijuana Should Remain Illegal." This right wing colonist's first two reasons regard risks pertaining to mental and physical health; however, in a recent scientific study, cannabis was found to be "114 times less deadly than alcohol" (Lachenmeier and Rehm). 

In Lachenmeier and Rehm's report, "Comparative Risk Assessment of Alcohol, Tobacco, Cannabis and Other Illicit Drugs Using the Margin of Exposure Approach." found that cannabis proved to be the only low risk drug out of the five tested, including alcohol and tobacco. Their findings led them to believe that for such low risk drugs, like cannabis, "regulation contrary to prohibition is the recommended approach" (Lachenmeier and Rehm). As a result, these scientists feel that instead of spending all our energy fighting the war on illegal drugs, we should focus some of that energy toward the management of alcohol and tobacco. Although it may be alarming to think of an illegal substance as less risky than alcohol, a drug that's available at any restaurant, bar, and gas station, scientists assessed the risks involved and have found it to be true. These scientists conducted a new technique for assessment called "Margin of Exposure" (MOE) (Lachenmeier and Rehm). This creates a ratio between the usual dose people take and the dosage that causes harmful effects. This unbiased system of assessment eliminates any prejudice or judgments regarding any of the drugs tested. This same study has "in agreement with previous research [has] consistently ranked [cannabis] as the safest recreational drug" (Lachenmeier and Rehm). Physical effects including damage to brain cells can be expected in chronic users, but a mass majority of users would not partake to this extent. There is not a lot of available research on the long term effects of cannabis use due to its legal status. However, severe side effects including the development of schizophrenia have never been proven (Hawkins). 

A Harvard Study on medical cannabis found that the effects of cannabis had a negative effect on those who suffer with psychosis like bipolarize; however, if one has a serious form of psychosis, indulging in certain drugs should not be done in the first place (Harvard Health). Their findings showed that cannabis helped with other medical issues like relieving pain and pain from nerve damage (Harvard Health). The article also articulates its estimate that cannabis could be linked to schizophrenia due to its effect on dopamine levels, but admits that it does not have the available testing to prove this theory. 

 Hawkins third reason is that cannabis decimates peoples lives; however, it is completely the choice of the individual, not the drug. If someone lost their job from a failed drug test, it was the consenting individual's choice, cannabis did not posses the individual to ingest it. Hawkins relies on a study conducted with college students that demonstrates that cannabis users' "critical skills related to attention, memory and learning were seriously diminished" (Hawkins). He fails to emphasize that the students admitted to smoking cannabis at least twenty-seven of the thirty days before the surveyed were chronic users. The effects of cannabis on a recreational user are less severe as those on an individual who almost never goes a day without. Harmful side effects can be seen when using any drug in excess. 

The fourth issue he mentions is cannabis and its addictiveness. Just like any other drug including alcohol and nicotine, the intake releases a hormone called dopamine that creates a sense of happiness. Dopamine is even released when you eat food. Hawkins states that it is extremely addictive, yet just a sentence later states that "[Cannabis is] not very addictive for many people" and continues to say it is a smaller subset of people with addictive personalities who find themselves addicted to things easily. If anyone is aware of an addictive personality either in themselves or a friend, they should seek help, and not use recreational drugs like alcohol, tobacco, or cannabis. 

The last reason that Hawkins provides is that Amsterdam, Netherlands, has not seen the best results; although the source reinforcing this fact is also written by Hawkins. However, by legalizing cannabis as a "soft drug" they have more control on the locations of retail and the amount sold (up to 5 grams max). Also, contrary to what Hawkins has led us to believe, "government officials in Amsterdam have fought to keep the coffee shops from going out of business" due to the extreme revenue from tourists, around 170 million annually (Ross). The Negative effects mentioned by Hawkins includes children being exposed to the drug in public places; however, this is not legal in Amsterdam. The only legal locations to buy and smoke cannabis is within privately owned coffee shops. What Hawkins, an American, claims Amsterdam is facing has little to nothing to do with American legalization. 

Other more average American citizen concerns are that with the prevalence of availability, cannabis consumption will rise. As a result, available cannabis will lead to an an increase of traffic fatalities as well as an increase in youth use. With regard to an increase in consumption, "Miles Light and three other analysts at the Marijuana Policy Group" note that consumption fell right as the medical cannabis industry took off (Sullum). After analyzing data from the NSDUH (National Survey on Drug Use and Health) it appears that broader legalization has not resulted in a prevalent increase of cannabis users (Sullum). Even if the public saw an increase in cannabis consumption, it may not be a bad thing. A study conducted by the Departments of Economics at the University of Colorado concluded that with legal obtainable cannabis, it may substitute alcohol consumption and actually create a safer environment. This substitution of cannabis for alcohol could provide reason as to why Colorado has seen a decrease in traffic fatalities. This can be better explained as "there is some evidence that [cannabis] has on balance reduced traffic fatalities by encouraging the substitution of marijuana for alcohol, which has a more dramatic effect on driving ability" (Sullum).  The researchers that conducted this study studied the effects of the minimum drinking age of twenty-one on the consumption of cannabis. Their hypothesis (pre-experimental educated guess) was that alcohol and cannabis would be substitutes for each other (Crost). With use of mathematical calculations, they were able to create a number of tables and graphs depicting their observations. Their findings indeed supported their hypothesis when they discovered that once alcohol became easily obtainable at age twenty-one, cannabis consumption went down (Crost). The researchers were in favor of regulation over prohibition; however, just because this study found cannabis to be safer, doesn't make it completely harmless. 

When the youth is brought to question, Colorado saw a decrease in minor use when the nation saw a bump in minor use. When purchasing illegally from a drug dealer, anyone who has money is of age; however, with legal recreational cannabis, the market for drug dealers will likely diminish and soon enough the dealers would also likely follow. When cannabis is legal, an ID of 21 or older is required to purchase cannabis, which helps the effort to keep minors from possessing it. 

Not only does cannabis provide a safer substitute for currently abused drugs in the nation, but it also provides many medical, economical, and environmental benefits. Cannabis provides many people with needed medication. Currently twenty-three states within the United States have passed medical cannabis at a state level. Medical cannabis treats symptoms from seizures, menstrual pain, nausea, and chronic pain. Many families struggling with young children diagnosed with epilepsy have been denied medical cannabis to treat their children's seizures. Because of this, families have had to uproot their entire lives and move to states with legal medical cannabis to receive any treatment. A popular cannabis strain "Charlotte's Web" was named after a seven-year-old girl who saw a drastic decrease in the amount of seizures she experienced as a result of taking the drug (Bernard-Kuhn). These epileptic seizures, some children have up to three hundred a week, leave small children sustaining multiple injuries including: bite marks, bruising, and black eyes. Children with severe epilepsy suffer new seizures creating more injuries before the injuries from previous seizures have time to heal. Leaving them with constant bruising and pain. Even on prescription medication, children still experience many seizures causing them to constantly live in fear of when the next one will be. Cannabis has been the leading medication that has seen extreme results in reducing these seizures; allowing these young children to enjoy their childhoods.  Many families feel more comfortable giving their young children cannabis, a naturally occurring plant, over the prescribed medications that don't work near as well as cannabis. Doctors have informed patients' parents about the uncertainty of long term effects of cannabis; however, they feel that for better results, it is worth the risk compared to the side effects of the prescription medications such as liver failure (Bernard-Kuhn).

Not only is medical cannabis proving to be beneficial to millions, it is also in four states and the District of Columbia benefiting the economy with large cash influxes through recreational legalization. Probably one of the best examples of the economic and communal benefits of legalizing cannabis on a recreational level is the One-Year Status Report from Colorado; a published telegraph from Colorado officials. This report provides the stats the state has witnessed over the year due to cannabis sales including: tax revenues, justice system savings, lower motor fatalities, increase in jobs, and decreased crime rate. From January to October, Colorado saw 40.9 million dollars in recreational cannabis tax revenues alone, not including medical cannabis fees and licensing, or the millions saved in the Colorado Justice System (DrugPolicy 1). 

This influx of revenue is now available to serve the communities of the state, not benefit the criminals. Two and a half million of that money was spent toward increasing "the number of health professionals in Colorado public schools" (DrugPolicy 1). These newly hired nurses and social workers filled the gap created by the 2011 budget cuts; they now focus on mental health and educate students on drug abuse (DrugPolicy 1). Because of recreational legalization, Colorado has experienced "the fastest growing economy in the United States [with] unemployment rate [at] a six-year low" (DrugPolicy 2). This kick in the economy, at a federal level, could be exactly what the United States needs to get out of debt. An economist at the University of Denver, Jack Strauss, concluded that two dispensaries alone created $30 million in economic output in six months. These dispensaries all the while are contributing "10 times the tax revenue of either a typical restaurant or retail store" (DrugPolicy 2). With such an influx of revenue, the state has decided to spend eight million of its revenue on youth drug abuse prevention and education measures. This is done through "mental health and community based developmental programs" (DrugPolicy 2). Mentoring and drug prevention at a young age is key in a society that has legalized cannabis; being well informed at a young age prevents the chances of drug abuse. Colorado is setting an example for the United States by taking a big step toward a future of understanding cannabis. 

Legalizing the cannabis plant is also extremely beneficial to the environment too. Hemp, the fibrous part of the plant, can be used to make goods from rope, textiles, paper, materials, and more. This plant has "agronomic benefits (deep roots, bioremediation, nitrogen fixation, etc.)" (Tourangeau 533). This means that the cannabis plant is easier on the soil, maintaining and fixing the amount of nutrients while aerating the soil with deep roots. Other crops like cotton and wood cannot fix the nutrients, only deplete them. Because of this, over time the soil becomes less and less fertile making it unusable. Hemp can serve as a cheaper, more reliable resource than cotton or wood. It doesn't require the amount of energy, water, or chemicals necessary for other plants. It grows faster, fuller and stronger. Hemp requires a substantially smaller amount of chemical inputs like fertilizers and pesticides as wood pulp to create paper and cotton to be grown (Tourangeau 533). Unlike cotton, hemp has "the ability to grow without herbicides or pesticides and [the] ability to suppress weeds" meaning less fertilizers and pesticides are sprayed on the field. When fertilizers and pesticides are sprayed on crops, most run off as the water returns to the environment and eventually find their way back to us (Tourangeau 539). With excess nutrients (fertilizers) in the water, algal blooms occur, robbing the waters of oxygen and killing fish, plants, and anything living there. This decimates the water quality and prevents an ecosystem from returning. When excess pesticides are added, a process called bioaccumulation occurs. When pesticides make their way into the water, they are absorbed by smaller fish, which are in turn eaten by larger fish. The pesticides only accumulate up the food chain in higher concentrations until ultimately, us humans ingest them through the fish we consume. Not only are we poisoning the waters and all animals within them in efforts to maintain crops, but we are poisoning ourselves.  Hemp does not require these excess fertilizers or pesticides saving surrounding ecosystems from destruction and the population from ingesting harsh chemicals. Substantial amounts of money are also saved by not using these pesticides and fertilizers. As an environmentally friendly industrial crop, "it is an important plant in need of further research and public attention" (Tourangeau 533).

After considering possible consequences and the social, medical, economical, and environmental benefits, one might wonder where America stands on the issue of legalization. As of 2014, 54% of the public supported the legalization of recreational cannabis (Pew Research). Public support for the issue has only risen since 2014. If over half of the population is for the legalization of recreational cannabis, it seems suspicious that we have seen no federal change of any policies. If we take a look at who is leading the crusade against the legalization of cannabis we may find our answer. 

"The Nation" published an inside look on the major contributors and lobbyists for the war on cannabis and found two of the major players were "Pharmaceutical companies that make billions off painkillers and police unions" (Engel). These corporations can be seen endorsing groups that are against cannabis even for medical purposes. The motive for both of these investors is simple: "Legalizing marijuana could hurt the bottom line of drug companies that make money off drugs like Oxycontin and Vicodin" cannabis would serve as a substitute for these prescription drugs in mild cases (Engel). Although cannabis provides a less addictive and safer alternative these pharmaceutical companies are making sure cannabis never sees a federally legal status for their personal financial gain. These same pharmaceutical companies, nice enough to warn the public about the extreme dangers of a plant, push extremely addictive and deadly opiates and amphetamines on younger and younger children like it's candy for the sake of profit. On the other hand, police unions motives may be the fact that "local police departments have become dependent on federal funding from the war on drugs, which includes marijuana" (Engel). It is said that police unions would lose money if it weren't for penalties regarding cannabis and have "lobbied for harsher penalties for marijuana-related crimes" in order to obtain more money (Engel). Lobbying for harsher punishments is absurd, as even first time offenders with small amounts lose their jobs, scholarships, sometimes even children and homes over possessing a plant.

In order to further our understanding and research regarding cannabis and its effects, we as a country must strip cannabis of its Schedule 1 class name and make it recreationally legal. This will improve our communities, provide economical and environmental benefits, as well as medical benefits to those who are in need.  The means of doing this calls for reform on a federal level. Many states have taken it upon themselves to legalize recreational cannabis, and further state reform looks promising. The time for reform is now according to the Huffington Post and their article "2016 Will Be the Biggest Year yet for Marijuana Reform Policy." This article articulates that many states including Vermont and Rhode Island are most likely to legalize recreational cannabis in 2016 alone (Kampia). Currently many more states are questioning decriminalization and medical cannabis like Illinois, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania (Kampia). Hawaii has expanded their medical cannabis laws to allow retail dispensaries to sell to patients for convenience and Michigan is projected to follow suit as well. 

Although state level legal recreational cannabis is working for the individual states, there are many conflicting issues with federal law making these dispensaries jump through hoops. Because cannabis isn't federally illegal, banks are penalized for doing business with these dispensaries. This causes these businesses to be cash based, and vulnerable to robberies. To fix the conflicts regarding state recreational and medical cannabis law with federal law, new bills must be created and enforced to make things run more smoothly. For the sake of coexisting until the ultimate transition of federal legality, "amendments like [prohibiting the] DOJ [Department of Justice] from interfering with all state-level marijuana laws ... and an amendment [prohibiting] the U.S. Treasury Department from penalizing banks that do business with canna-businesses" would be needed to let states run more efficiently (Kampia). 

According to an interview with Jacob Sullum on ReasonTV, Sullum explains how many potential presidential candidates this year are for the state decision to legalize recreational cannabis. "When they repealed alcohol prohibition, it was left up to the states" says Sullum, confident that if the choice of legalization is left up to the states, federal legal recreational cannabis is inevitable (Reason TV). Perhaps history will repeat itself, as more and more states notice as their neighbors are reaping the benefits of recreational cannabis. It looks as if it is up to the states and all those who reside within them to vote yes for recreational cannabis, encourage state officials to pass progressive legislature, and simply spread awareness about recreational cannabis.  

