Marijuana in America: Legalization, Historical Injustice, and Adverse Health Impact Controversies

MARIJUANA IN AMERICA Shift Towards Marijuana Legalization, the Historical Injustice, and Adverse Health Impact Controversies The rising marijuana use in the United States has stirred mixed political reactions about legalizing or maintaining the criminalized status of the substance. Statistics reveal that by 2015, 8.3% of Americans over twelve years were using the drug demonstrating the magnitude of the issue. Yu et al. further recognize that the discussions about marijuana have largely remained divisive and heated throughout the decades leading to the emergence of its decriminalization movement in the 1960s. Although many lawmakers involved in the past federal laws emphasized controlled approaches while dealing with this drug, politicians have depicted a change of viewpoints with an inclination to lift numerous barriers in its use and handling today. The ongoing changes have uncovered underlying controversies due to disregarded adverse effects and social justice issues for minorities as supporters of the changes focus on the popularized economic potential and medical and recreational uses of cannabis. While the scientific benefits and economic gains are shifting the political perspectives, politicians are increasingly overlooking the controversial outcomes of legalizing marijuana, including the historical injustices and adverse health impacts.             Increasing recognition of medical and recreational uses of marijuana has significantly influenced the ongoing changes in viewpoints by the political class. Van Green reports that a sizeable proportion of the American population has demonstrated its support for these uses. For instance, research confirms that up to 88% of American adults indicate that the government should legalize the drug for recreational and medical purposes. Adding to Van Green’s claims, I find such support for legalizing the drug consistent with the rising shift in marijuana-related perspectives among the political class. Van Green argues that approximately 73% of Democrats and 45% of Republicans consider using marijuana for recreational and medical purposes acceptable. Perhaps, this increased shift has occurred due to the widespread recognition of these underexplored aspects of the drug in the public space. In this context, the masses seem to have played a fundamental role in influencing the views of their representatives, leading to more support politically.             The political class argues that favorable research findings by reputable scientific institutions have contributed to this change. For instance, Page et al. note that cannabis’ multiple compounds, including cannabidiol and Δ-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, have proven the presence of medical properties in this drug. Recent studies reveal that users draw diverse medical benefits, including vomiting and nausea treatment, pain relief, and anxiety. Other reported benefits comprise its use in preventing and treating various cancers, heart failure, dystonia, epilepsy, and cachexia, among other health conditions. The numerous benefits associated with cannabis use have prompted a scientific movement advocating for lifting the existing leg...