Legalization of Recreational Use of Marijuana

Legalization of Recreational Use of Marijuana: A Critical Evaluation
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Table of Contents Abstract 3 Introduction. 3 Legislations on Marijuana Use in America: A Historical Perspective. 4 Details of Marijuana Legislation. 7 Marijuana's Use in America: A Statistical Review.. 8 Legalization of Marijuana: Overview of Implications. 9 Social Implications. 9 Healthcare Implications. 10 Legal Implications. 11 Economic and Financial Implications. 13 Personal Opinion on the Legalization of Marijuana. 15 Conclusion. 17 References. 19   Legalization of Recreational Use of Marijuana: A Critical Evaluation
Abstract
Marijuana is the most widely used drug in America, whose recreational use remained banned for decades for its biological and social impact on human beings. However, since 1990, in light of new evidence and public demands, the demand for the legalization of the recreational use of marijuana has gained momentum. Consequently, more than 30 American states have legalized the recreational use of marijuana. However, this legalization entails several legal, economic, social, and biological implications that contradict its legalization. Moreover, the conflicting clauses within the state legalizations also hamper the smooth and effective implementation of these laws. In the same way, contradictions exist between federal and state governments regarding the legal status of marijuana. Finally, the ethical and moral issues related to the legalization of marijuana have not been taken into account; thus, based on these facts, one may consider the legalization of marijuana a highly controversial step that should be revoked for the nation's best interest.
Introduction
In the modern age, among the most used drugs in the United States, Marijuana occupies one of the topmost positions. However, the history of marijuana's use as a drug in America goes as far back as the colonial period; nevertheless, the origin of marijuana use for its medicinal properties occurred in Asia in approximately 500 BC. Throughout history, the debate over the medicinal significance of marijuana and its potential legalization has erupted into several controversies. However, besides being used as a drug and medicine, ancient American society of the colonial period also grew this drug to manufacture textiles and ropes. For the same reason, throughout the seventeenth century, the American government encouraged hemp production for industrial and trading purposes via active legislation. However, in the early decades of the twentieth century, the recreational use of marijuana became a significant concern for American authorities, and they issued legal bans on its misuse (Stringer & Maggard, 2016). This trend of imposing bans and running campaigns against the recreational use of marijuana continued till the end of the twentieth century.
Despite its criminalization in the 1930s, several social, economic, and political factors have contributed to the increase in public demand for marijuana' legalization; this unprecedented change in public and policymakers' perception has been prominent since the 1990s. Based on one scholarly resea...