Medical Marijuana Laws Developments, Article Writing Example

Executive Summary

The perspective of the legalization of marijuana for consumption by the chronically ill will be reviewed.  The distinct legislative initiatives which have been ratified by the legislative bodies of the various states in the United States will be explored. The implications for the exercise of state authority toward the legalization of medical marijuana will be reviewed. The effects of the legalization of medical marijuana on the consumption habits of adolescents with regards to alcohol and marijuana consumption will be explored.

Medical Marijuana Law Developments

Sixteen months ago, the legislative bodies of the State of Washington and the State of Colorado ratified laws to make the possession of quantities of marijuana that totaling to less than one ounce legal for recreational consumption.by their residents. The limitation of the new legislation is that the consumers must be twenty one years of age and over. The State of Washington and the State of Colorado are also passing legislation toward marijuana production and distribution. The aspect of marijuana for medical application has been the recipient of widespread attention due to the theorized influence on the availability of marijuana and the perceptions of marijuana n as a benign substance. This perspective has been the subject of review, especially with respect to many adolescent and youthful consumers (Cerdá 5).

In sections of certain municipalities (i.e., Denver, Los Angeles), the density of legal marijuana retailers is greater than the density of Starbuck’s cafés. . A concise comprehension of the laws which pertain to the legal distribution of marijuana consumption for medical use is of the utmost significance with regards to the development of adequate legislation. The main indexes of recreational marijuana consumption have been assessed to be more elevated in the jurisdictions which possess legal marijuana consumption laws (Pacula 3).

In the State of New York, legislation has recently been ratified toward the medical consumption of marijuana (Lynch 1). In Arizona, receipt of the applications for marijuana distributorships will initiate on May 18, 2015. There will be a restricted number of licenses available for medical marijuana distributorships made available (Arizona department of health services 1). In the State of Michigan, there is a growing movement toward the legalization of marijuana consumption for the chronically ill (MMMA 1).

The State of Hawaii was one of the initial states whose legislative body, in contrast to the popular vote , selected to ratify SB 862 HD₁ which caused Hawaii to become one of the initial states to ratify the use of marijuana for consumption be medical patients in June , 200 ( $20 college 1) . The State of Rhode Island has enacted Chapter 21- 28.6, The Edward O. Hawkins and the Thomas c. slater Medical Marijuana Act (Rhode Island 1). The consumption of marijuana in the State of New Mexico has been legalized since 2007. The legalization of marijuana for consumption by medical patients in the State of New Mexico was ratified by the Lynn & Erin Compassionate Use Act, Senate Bill 523 (New Mexico Marijuana Laws 1).

The movement toward the legalization of marijuana for consumption by medical patients has been perceived as a triumph with regards to the states’ authority to enact legislation toward the legalization of marijuana. The Obama medical marijuana initiative which has been ratified by the Obama administration has enabled the states to exercise self-determination with regards to the composition of the laws regarding the consumption of marijuana for medical and recreational use (Weiss 1).

Conclusion

A number of States have ratified or are in the process of decriminalizing the possession of limited quantities of marijuana for medical and recreational use. The initiatives which have been exercised have enabled the states to conduct self-determination with regards to the legislation, whether it was in alignment or in opposition to the laws which have been enacted by the federal government. The legalized use of marijuana in the United States is a topic of debate which will be perceived as the option which states have to exercise their proprietary authority toward legislation on medical and recreational marijuana consumption.

Works Cited

Cerdá, Magdalena, Melanie Wall, Katherine M Keyes, Sandro Galea and Deborah Hasin. “ medical marijuana laws in 50 states: Investigating the relationship between state legislation of medical marihuana and marijuana use abuse and dependence. Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 2012. Web 7 March 2014 http://www.columbia.edu/~dsh2/pdf/medialmarijuana.pdf

Chapter 21- 28.6 The Edward O. Hawkins and Thomas C. Slater Medical Marijuana Act http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/statues/TITLE21/21-28.6/INDEX.HTM

420 College. “ Hawaii medical marijuana laws.’ 420 College Corp, 2011. Web 7 march 2 2014 http://hawaiimedicalmarijuanalaws420college.org

MMMA. “ banks will now accept deposits for legal medical marijuana dispensaries.” The Michigan Marijuana Association, 2014.Web. 7 March 2014 http://www.michiganmarijuana.org

“New Mexico medical marijuana laws.” New Mexico medical marijuana laws, 2014. Web. 7 March 2014<http://www.newmexicomedicalmarijuanalaws.com

Pacula, Rosalie Liccardo, David Powell, Paul Heaton & Eric L. Sevigny. “Assessing the effects of medical marijuana laws on marijuana and alcohol use. The devil is in the   details, Working Paper 19302.” National Bureau of Economic Research, 2013.   Web. 7 March 2014 http://www.nber.porg/papers/w1932

Weiss, William. “Obama’s medical marijuana policy: a victory for state’s rights.”About.com, 2014.Web. 7 March 2014http://www.usconservatives.about.com/od/williamweisscommentary/a-weiss-5.htm