Cannabis is a 7.6 billon dollar industry, one of the potentially most lucrative commodities in the United States, yet is still riddled with terrible connotations while its’ growth is continuously stunted by the forces of the legal system. In the United States two states (Massachusetts & South Carolina) have laws that are catastrophically different. People seem to have preconceptions about cannabis, that are not always entirely true, giving people with little knowledge about the substance a blinded and wrong view. The huge difference in opinions throughout the United States is extremely intriguing. In the past ten years the herb has gone from a substance one drug, to legal for medical use in some states, and now in 2017 legal for recreational use in five US states. The substance has proven to be beneficial by many scientist and researchers. It’s effects can substantially help several illness’s and play a huge role in the field of medicine. THC (the active ingredient in Marijuanna) has proven to help Cancer patients with the chronic pain, and even help them eat after Chemotherapy. Along with cannabis’ tremendous effect in the medical field, the recreational legalization has shown the commodity useful for states economic growth. The effects of legalizing cannabis have been proven in many aspects either medically, economically, or socially. Cannabis has proven itself as a useful and advantageous substance for this society, but has been pummeled by bad propaganda. 

In 2015 alone there was 643,121 arrested in the United States from marijuanna related offenses. Of those 643,121 people, 89%( 574,641) were arrested for a simple possession charge (Drug Policy). Over half a million Americans lives derailed for possessing such a harmless substance. A drug that has been surfaced for over 7,000 years and has no recorded fatalities has been responsible for more drug-arrests than any other substance. Over the counter drugs prescribed by huge pharmaceutical companies that have similar purposes of marijuanna are hundreds of thousands times more fatal and yet still flood the streets legally. In the last 15 years, pain killers containing opioids alone have caused over 180,000 deaths (Centers for Disease Control). Since the dawn of time, humans have needed medicine. Natural remedies were the key to providing that need. Eventually, as technology advanced, man made medicines started to surface and along with these medicines a growing increase of fatalities. Relieving chronic pain is one of the many benefits that comes from cannabis use (Doheny, Kathleen). Of the two substances, cannabis and opioids, both can be used to help treat chronic pain, yet opioid medicine is highly addictive and overdoses are at an all time high (Center for Disease Control). Cannabis on the other hand remains illegal to posses in almost half of the United States. It seems almost backwards that a natural plant (cannabis) is illegal and continues to place people behind bars while man made killers ( Methadone, Oxycodone, Fentanyl) are legal for medical use in every single state.

Many doctors have started to see and promote the rapid growth in use and legalization of the drug, and believe that it is asinine to try to continuously impede the legalization. Instead, intentions are to give their medical opinion and oversight on the drug and its effects. Dr Stephen Holt, the author of The Cannabis Revolution, acknowledges the rapid rate of legalization, and wants to inform readers about cannabis with an unbiased opinion. He explains the effects of the legalization economically and socially. Dr. Holt  also examines the effects cannabis has on the body and wants to enlighten readers the effects of it. He claims, “It is now time to forget the backbiting or niggling comments about cannabis legalization and face an understanding of the implications of the more widespread use of this drug concoction. Knowledge about cannabis is often quite muddled as a consequence of misinformation.” Dr. Holt explains how the legalization is inevitable and instead of trying halt the process, officials should work to inform and teach proper use’s and safety of the drug.

The United States economy is dependent on free trade and sale of commodities. Tobacco and alcohol play a huge role the American economy and will never be expunged.  Both have their own severe risk, but have proven to boost the tax revenue for the government and create jobs. Cannabis has been legalized in eight U.S states for regulated recreational use, much like alcohol and tobacco. Anyone in those eight states (Alaska, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, and also Washington D.C) must also be 21 to purchase and are required to go to a designated store to do so much like liquor or package store. The regulations have shown nothing but positive results for the designated areas and there is no evidence why federal government still should prohibit the drug. Although usually drinking alcohol is not fatal there was a reported 33,000 deaths last year from overdoes of alcohol (Center for Disease Control). Consuming marijuana is something that more and more adults choose to participate in, just like alcohol it has begun to be used for socialization or relaxation as a healthier substitute for drinking alcohol. This realization of a healthier alternative is sweeping the nation by storm, and the long standing prohibition on cannabis is only causing problems and costing money.

The benefits that come from the legalization  of marijuana use  are endless for those who chose to participate and even those who abstain from the substance. There is no doubt that marijuana use has increased in the past twenty years and will for sure increase in the next twenty (Welch, Ashley). The legalization will provide dispensaries or pharmacies to regulate the sales of the drug, removing a huge risk factor of Americans receiving a laced substance by a street dealer. Since the sale of cannabis is based of weight, often times street dealers will use other more dangerous substances (such as PCP) to add weight to the sale. This process is called lacing the product and is one of the only dangers of marijuana use now. Pharmacies and Dispensaries controlling the sales have proven to raise a plethora of tax money for the government (Ekins). A more reliable and safe product will give consumers more trust in the product and offer them a safer alternative to relaxation then the common go to for American’s cigarettes or alcohol. The gain of tax revenue, along with the removal of illegally distributed marijuana and the risk of “stepped on” product being sold, proves the substances’ beneficial effects on the society. 

On October 27, 1970 Richard Nixon signed the Controlled Substance Act classifying cannabis as a Schedule 1 drug, along with other known illegal substances such as cocaine, bath salts, and heroin. A Schedule 1 drug is can be defined by the Act as the drug or substance having a high potential for abuse, no current accepted medical use in treatment in the United States and a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug or other substance under medical supervision. During the time, there was little to no knowledge on most of these substances, especially cannabis. Now in 2017, the federal government has provided the facts for the people and has done nothing but contradict their own laws. Cannabis has no recorded account of high abuse, and has proven more than effective in the medical field. The other Schedule 1 drugs under the act in 1970 have been nothing but dangerous for the society and should remain highly illegal. Cannabis, on the other hand, is completely mis-scheduled in the terms of the “law”. It’s medical benefits alone should be enough for the federal government to at least decriminalize the substance in all fifty states. Scientist continuously have debunked any myths of the substance being addictive, and the medical properties The decriminalization alone would substantially lower the crime rate, proceeding to lower the unemployment rate as well. Many people are unable to procure jobs due to a simple possession charge on their record and end up working a job that they are most of the time overqualified for.

The stereotypes and preconceptions that come along with cannabis are part of the reason it remains illegal in some states. The government still mis-scheduling the drug in the same category as useless and harmful substances such as heroine and crack cocaine, gives people who know little about marijuana a skewed idea of the drug and its useful purposes. The thought that the drug causes violence is not entirely wrong, but only because the drug remains illegal in the country. Cartels in other countries such as Mexico see that the demand for cannabis in the United States, and the opportunity for large-scale profits. As long as the drug remains illegal, these barbaric cartels will remain to funnel the product in the country and kill any other people who try to impede their sales (law enforcement, other cartels, innocent land owners). Legalizing the substance would require domestic growth of the plant, creating jobs for millions and ending the brutal presence of the cartel in the United States. One of the biggest arguments against the legalization of cannabis is that false connotation that it is a “gateway drug”. By definition a gateway drug is a habit-forming drug that, while not itself addictive, may lead to the use of other addictive drugs. It is simply not true. There are zero scientific studies to back this unwarranted claim, yet the false opinion is wide speared across America. In fact, Cannabis has little to no addictive properties and hasn't proven once to incline users to try other substances (Igor). People who do not want cannabis to be legalized use this term “gateway drug”, but the aspect they do not realize is that the people are molded by parents and mentors and given this idea that cannabis is nothing but trouble. Considering it is categorized in the same place as killers like heroine it is tough to blame unknowing parents to preach this to their kids. Little do they know it is only making things worse, with the use of marijuana rapidly growing teaching the right information is crucial. The government leaving the substance categorized as schedule 1 is extremely dangerous in 2017. It is inevitable people are going to use marijuana and there is no stopping it, with no recorded fatalities it should not be a problem, but leaving it in the same category as substance as deadly and terrible as something like bath salts is extremely negligent. As long as cannabis is a schedule 1 drug people who use marijuana (statistics show over 51% of americans have tried it at least once) will be given the facade that all schedule 1 drugs are as harmless as cannabis (Marijuana Arrests). The legalization of cannabis would remove it as a schedule 1 substance, alleviating its connotations and relationships with deadly substances.

In the past two decades the information and knowledge The United Staes has compiled on cannabis is almost overwhelming. The extensive research done along with the millions of americans who have advocated and researched for this natural plant to finally be relinquished from Nixon’s long and unwarranted prohibition. The medical benefits alone of the substance should be enough to convince most anyone this substance is useful in society, weather its helping treat cancer patients with chemotherapy, reliving pain for those who experience chronic pain, or treating those diagnosed with epilepsy. The staggering amount of medical benefits combined with the recent development of the unlimited potential the drug has shown in the recreationally makes one think it should be criminal to make this miracle substance illegal in the first place. Cannabis is a natural plant that can be more than useful in the United States society, countless synthetic opioids and other prescription medicines are taking the lives away of many young americans yet fly right past the governments radar simply because they were not around during the prohibition (1970) not because they are safer in anyway. It is time to realize this catastrophic unconformity in the debate of the legalization needs to come to an end, money need to stop being wasted in attempts to upheld the prohibition, and instead go towards boosting the economy and well-being of the society. One must be blind not to see how the benefits of legalization outweigh any negative effects by a long-shot, that in the long run the legalization will in turn, save lives, create jobs, lower incarnation rates, and increase the overall well being of the american society. 
