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Medical Marijuana Essay

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Medical Marijuana Essay
The issue on legalizing marijuana is a very controversial topic in the U.S. and all around the world. This is an issue for the fact that some people are being denied medical treatments just because marijuana has been illegal and misunderstood for so long. For as long as anyone can remember medical and legal marijuana has been seen in the negative side of the news and bad opinions by the general population. In recent years people, local governments, and state governments in the United States have been speaking out and is changing the way many people are viewing marijuana in this paper we will discuss the financial, medical, negative and positive effects of marijuana. Ways that you can fix this issue are contacting your local and state governments and expressing your opinions on this issue.
First, look at the way America is viewing the legalization of marijuana. Marijuana now being fully legalized in Colorado and Washington, also with 23 states making it legal for medical purposes and 6 others decriminalizing the drug is now on a different path with legalization. “Owners of the 37 new dispensaries around the state reported first week retail sales to The Huffington Post that, when added together, were roughly $5 million.” (Frener, 2014). As you can see the financial revenue from just one state in its first week of opening is huge. All of this money can go back into school programs, equipment for classrooms, and other community related budgets. Colorado and Washington are hopeful that they will make up to 2.1 billion in revenue for the states.
Uses for medical marijuana have been looked down upon until recent years. Many people follow what their parents think of the drug and that it is bad or they follow what their friends think. Scientists have been researching the positive medical effects of marijuana from tests and studies.
“Medical marijuana has shown positive results for epilepsy treatment, especially for patients who have physical resistance, to



References: Armentano, P. (2014, January 7). Recent Research on Medical Marijuana. Retrieved March 18, 2014, from norml.org/component/zoo/category/recent-research-on-medical-marijuana Ferner , M. (2014, January 8). Colorado Recreational Marijuana Sales Exceed $5 Million In First Week. Retrieved March 24, 2014, from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/08/marijuana-sales-colorado_n_4552371.html Ingold, J. (2014, 12). Marijuana case filings plummet in Colorado following legalization. Retrieved March 19, 2014, from http://www.denverpost.com/marijuana/ci_24894248/marijuana-case-filings-plummet-colorado-following-legalization Nelson, S. (2013, September 16). Police Made One Marijuana Arrest Every 42 Seconds in 2012 - US News. Retrieved March 18, 2014, from http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2013/09/16/police-made-one-marijuana-arrest-every-42-seconds-in-2012 Shim, E. (2014, March 14). A 22nd State Is About to Legalize Medical Marijuana - PolicyMic. Retrieved March 18, 2014, from http://www.policymic.com/articles/85291/a-22nd-state-is-about-to-legalize-medical-marijuana Welsh, J., & Spector, D. (2013, April 20). Physical And Mental Effects Of Marijuana - Business Insider. Retrieved March 19, 2014, from http://www.businessinsider.com/physical-and-mental-effects-of-marijuana-2013-4?op=1

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