Kiara Farrell
American Government and Politics
4/23/2020
Final Paper
As of right now, recreational and medical marijuana is legal in 11 out of 50 states in
America, some states including Michigan, Washington, California, and Alaska. Marijuana is a
psychoactive drug that comes from the Cannabis plant, which is then used for medicinal and
recreational purposes. The legalization of marijuana has been up for debate since the early
twentieth-century and remains so today. Throughout this process and debate towards the
legalization marijuana, there have been plenty of points of approval and disapproval. The
arguments in support of marijuana becoming legal are; the country benefiting economically and
the health benefits marijuana has. On the other hand, the arguments in support of marijuana
staying illegal throughout the country are; it is a “gateway drug” and taxes would increase. The
federal government should listen to the benefits of legalizing marijuana across the country
because they outweigh the disadvantages. Right now, the process of keeping marijuana illegal is
costing the country more instead of the alternative. Even though marijuana is seen as
recreational, done for enjoyment, there are also many health benefits that come right alongside it.
Throughout the country, the legalization of marijuana has been discussed, acted on in some
states, and debated by many. There are pros and cons with marijuana becoming completely legal
in all 50 states, but the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. I believe that it is time for
marijuana to become legal completely in all 50 states, and the United States will prosper in the
wake of that legalization.
As of right now, marijuana is illegal throughout the majority of the United States. The
Defense Information Systems Agency created a map of marijuana legality by state. Throughout
this time, advances have been made towards marijuana to become legal. There are 11 states
including, California, Colorado and Michigan, that marijuana is completely legal pertaining to
medicinal and recreational use.
1
As far as legal status goes, over half of the country is still
currently mixed. According to DISA, Ohio has a very mixed legal status, where medicinal
marijuana is legal for residents as long as you are registered as a medical marijuana patient.
According to Marijuana Policy Project, in the state of Ohio specifically, individuals who are not
a registered marijuana patient and possess “less than 100 grams (or about 3.5 ounces), giving 20
grams or less of marijuana to another person, or growing less than 100 grams of marijuana are
each considered “minor misdemeanors,” punishable by a maximum fine of $150”.
2
Even though
states like Ohio are in the process of legalizing marijuana and have already legalized medical
