Legal Marijuana in California, Essay Example

From the personal perspective, I think that medical marijuana should be legal in the USA. The main rationale of this opinion is that people that are in pain deserve the right to ease it with something less addictive than heavy painkillers and any other drugs. It also helps people that terminally ill and they have the right to ease their condition at least in this way. In terms of some other perspectives, if medical marijuana was legal across all states it would bring extra taxes into the local budgets and would bring the business out of the shade. Therefore, legalisation of medical marijuana would take the profit of its illegal selling to the legitimate producers and sellers and would not be a source of stimulating black market development and enrichment of drug dealers. Also, from a psychological perspective, the more something is forbidden, the more often it is acquired and practiced.

Regarding the marijuana issues in California, governmental role varies according to the level of authorities involved. On the local level, sheriffs and local mayors are trying to make the most from the legalisation of medical marijuana. Sheriffs are trying to eliminate the grey areas between legal and illegal production and distribution through licensing and monitoring of pot growing and production. Thus, the aim of the local authorities is to make people understand the distinction between what is legal and what is illegal in marijuana matters. On the state level, government thinks in terms of benefits of legalisation of marijuana and the contribution it can make for the local and state budgets. The main goal on this level is to get financial benefit for the state budgets in the issues that sooner or later will be legalised. The main concern of local and state governments is how their actions will be viewed by voters and also by the federal government with further implications on their performance.

In this regard, the position of the federal government is very straightforward – marijuana of any kind is illegal and anyone involved in will be punished. Thus, the federal government plays the role of blocking power of further legalisation of marijuana and establishment of status quo in Californian marijuana market. In this regard, the main rationale for this position is that the federal government perceives the problem in terms of criminal activity of drug cartels that gain tremendous profits from illegal marijuana trade across the country. In this regard, the legalisation of medical marijuana is viewed as a source or safe haven for marijuana dealing and smuggling across the country. Consequently, for the federal government, making all marijuana illegal would be easier in destroying its criminal aspect and further drug dealing practice. It aims at destroying the black market of marijuana and punishes everyone involved that is why the federal government uses the Department of Justice letters to warn people from supporting marijuana related practice.

Regarding the role of businesses, they are one of the driving forces stimulating further legalisation of marijuana. In this regard, their rationale is that like with legalisation of alcohol, this new consumption industry stimulates further development of related spheres of economy. For instance, the supporting fields include agricultural supplies and fertilisers for growing marijuana; consumption-related spheres like bakery, glassware, paper production; technological aspect includes machines for collecting, cutting, washing and processing marijuana. All these aspect of the industry are already developed and wait for further legal institutionalisation of the practice and its spreading across the country. That is why the impact of businesses is strong in the Californian case. The main goal of the local entrepreneurs is to gain profit of what is coming and to do it while it is still hot and developing before someone else did it. Because when medical marijuana becomes legal across the country it will be too late to enter the competition. Thus, the main concern of the local businesses is the reverse of the current legal status of medical marijuana in California and damage of their already existing businesses.

The role of non-profits in the marijuana issue in California is that this is the only type of business entity organisation allowed for marijuana dispensaries to function legally. In this regard, their main role is that they are he locations were people with doctor’s prescriptions can get marijuana legally and safely. They are also important in controlling prices on marijuana making sure they correspond to the established norm and are nit increased for dispensary to gain profit, which would be illegal according to Californian laws on non-profits. Thus, the main function of non-profits is in actually securing the legal nature of transactions regarding medical marijuana. The main goal of non-profits is to help people in the local communities. Their main concern is that with the reverse of the 215 rule, their activity would become illegal, and they might be punished or their previous dealing with marijuana.

Overall, from watching the movie on the situation of medical marijuana in California, my initial opinion did not change but actually became more grounded. The main reason I still think that medical marijuana should be legalised across the country is that demand for it will always be there, and in order to weaken the power of drug cartels and economise on constants anti-marijuana raids, making it legal would take half of the stock from the black market and bring it to the legal framework.  Then, there will be fewer drug dealers growing marijuana plants in our national parks, threatening campers and ordinary people. After watching this movie, I became convinced that economically and legally people are ready for legalisation of medical marijuana across the country. It would help do many people in need not to mention that it could boost local economies and add extra funds to the local budgets that could be used for further strengthening of order in the communities.