User:Lpoliachik/sandbox

For my topic on the benefits of legalizing marijuana, I would like to review on a larger scale the benefits both medical and recreational. The health, economic, and lifestyle benefits of this topic have a significant impact on the views for each state. Providing reliable citations and information could help individuals change their views towards this topic. Throughout my article I would also like to discuss the history, misconceptions, and politics following this plant.

Bibliography

Jacques, Renee. "This Is Why Marijuana Should Be Legal Everywhere." The Huffington Post. HPMG News, 23 Jan. 2014. Web. 27 Mar. 2017. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/24/marijuana-legalization_n_4151423.html>.

"Marijuana as Medicine." National Institute on Drug Abuse. USA.gov, Mar. 2017. Web. 27 Mar. 2017. <https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/marijuana-medicine>.

Pyke, Alan. "Marijuana’s $2.4 billion impact in Colorado is a lesson for 5 states considering legalization." Think Progress. N.p., 28 Oct. 2016. Web. 27 Mar. 2017. <https://thinkprogress.org/5-states-weighing-marijuana-legalization-would-reap-enormous-economic-benefits-study-suggests-cb06831d154b#.jjlatzocc>.

"Marijuana Legalization and Regulation." Drug Policy Alliance . N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Mar. 2017. <http://www.drugpolicy.org/marijuana-legalization-and-regulation>. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Lpoliachik (talk • contribs) 13:05, 27 March 2017 (UTC)

~~Lpoliachik~~

Lead Section

Marijuana

The legalization of marijuana sparked fire throughout the nation in 2013 as Colorado and Washington legalized the use for medical and recreational cannabis. Since the legalization, several states have voted the use of marijuana and have listed Marijuana as one of the highest used recreational drugs in the United States.This plant has many uses for individuals medically, economically and legally. Economic improvements have created a large scale decrease in unemployment, a decrease in police and government arrest costs and an increase in tax revenue. The labor drive for harvesting and growing marijuana has increased over 90 percent higher than any other industry in Colorado within 2016. Although the use of recreational marijuana alone provides multiple positive repercussions, the use of medical marijuana has formed even more of a legalization swarm throughout the United States. Marijuana has alleviated many medical issues such as illness, seizures, mental disorders, pain, and many more. Over 60 U.S. and International health organizations provide medical marijuana for their patients on a daily bases.

Medical Benefits

The word medical marijuana refers to using the whole plant or extracting the ingredients within the plant in the form of a pill, spray, liquid, or "joint" as a remedy to treat illnesses or symptoms. The ingredients within the marijuana plant are known as "cannabinoids" and contain two main ingredients known as THC and CBD. THC also known as "tetrahydrocannabinol" effects the brain and central nervous system alleviating migraines, nausea, appetite loss, PTSD, cancer, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson disease, ADHD, insomnia and allows the body to relax. CBD also known as "cannabidiol" affects the central nervous system and receptors found within the organs and skin. CBD can alleviate anxiety, inflammation, pain, therapy, cancer, diabetes, nicotine addiction, and chronic or neuropathic pain. The use of these two ingredients combined can help many individuals. For woman during pregnancy however, this herb is often not recommended by physicians due to the long term possible side effects such as abnormalities and learning disabilities. Although there are many benefits the FDA does not approve the use of medical marijuana due to the lack of over weighing benefits opposed to the risks individuals may face. The negative medical short term effects that may follow the use of marijuana can include dizziness, drowsiness, short term memory loss, and euphoria.

Economic Benefits

Agricultural Act 2014

Since the legalization of marijuana in Colorado and Washington increases in tax revenue have gained more than one hundred and thirty five million dollars in taxes, medical and recreational use. This led to a 30 percent increase in sales and marijuana production across all of North America. The selling and distribution of marijuana has proven a ninety percent higher workers drive than any other industrial job in Colorado. This new job opportunity employed over 18,005 individuals in 2016 according to the Marijuana Policy Group. After the State of Arizona legalized marijuana the economic benefits spread to the educational aspects. The states fiscal analysis implies that Grades k-12 show an eighty six million dollar immersion in educational programs as of 2016.This revenue's potential shows increases for years ahead. According to the Nevada official taxpayer employed analysts, estimations show a 7.5 billion dollar economic output as of July 2016 for Nevada State. The economic benefits are proven to positively impact several states since their legalization of marijuana. For some states the use of recreational marijuana has yet to be legalized; however in 2014 the Agricultural Act of 2014 known as the farm bill allows individuals to grow industrial hemp carrying a THC level less than 0.3%. This bill allows individual's to cultivate, process, and grow any hemp products. Enforcing the illegal consumption or selling of marijuana costs taxpayers ten billion dollars yearly and causes more than seven hundred thousand arrest increasing each year by the hour according to a 1965-2015 visual by The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. In Washington D.C. during the states legalization, initiative 71 as well as decriminalization was approved. This removes criminal's penalties for marijuana possession up to two ounces and can remove the individual from the criminal justice center.

Legal Benefits

The United States is one of the second highest countries known for drug wars with over seven hundred thousand people arrested from marijuana related incidents as of 2013. Marijuana prohibition has created hardship for thousands of US Americans in their homes, at their jobs, and on their permanent records. For families suffering from the ongoing war on marijuana, parents arrested for the consumption of marijuana often have their children listed as "In danger" according to state agencies which places them into foster homes or horrible conditions. The emotional and physical toll placed on the children and the parents as a result affects millions of Americans. The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws was created to help individuals providing legal support to monitor and change the state as well as federal laws associated with marijuana. Since the legalization of marijuana in the State of Colorado, according to the DPA, the violent crime rate fell 2.2 percent over a time frame of eleven months and arrests for marijuana related crimes since the legalization in 2010 has dropped over eighty four percent.