The FDA's response to the debate is to the point. Another author quotes them as saying, "[T]hat it does 'not support the use of smoked marijuana for medical purposes" (Berg 49)
He states, "Botanicals are the active ingredients in tincture of opium and belladonna suppositories, both of which are legal and FDA-approved when employed for legitimate therapeutic use. Smoked marijuana could achieve the same status were the FDA to find it safe and effective for medical use" (Cohen)
In fact, the stigma is lessening so much in states where it is legal, it has led to late breaking news that a national health insurer is offering the first national insurance coverage for the dispensary industry. A Sacramento reporter reports, "A Rancho Cordova-based insurer Monday launched what it calls the first nationally available insurance coverage designed specifically for the medical marijuana industry" (Glover)
Marijuana can lesson the pain of many severe illnesses, and it has been shown to be effective in many others. One writer notes, "It has been documented that marijuana is an analgesic for sufferers of nausea related to chemotherapy, appetite and weight loss related to AIDS, migraine headaches, Alzheimer's, muscle spasms, fibromyalgia, arthritic pain, glaucoma and other conditions" (Greene)
A reporter notes, "He said the research shows marijuana should no longer be classified as a Schedule I drug. 'It is not a drug without value,' he said" (Hoeffel)
Another critic states, "Children who have used marijuana are more than 85 times likelier to use cocaine than children who have never used marijuana. They send the wrong message to our children" (Khatapoush, and Hallfors)
She says, "Douglas suffers from cerebral palsy, back pain after being struck by a car when he was 14, and pain from a fractured ankle suffered in another accident. 'When I smoke, it's easier to move,' he said" (Miller)
States are taxing dispensaries on their sales, and adding much-needed revenue to their coffers. Another writer notes, "Colorado is now the second state, behind California, to tax and regulate medical-marijuana sales, a move that comes on the heels of the Obama administration's decision in October to leave enforcement of laws governing medical marijuana to the states" (Richardson A09)
A look at the social effects of marijuana use also belies the notion that drug use is victimless. If drug use were decriminalized, the cost of ensuring the substance's purity, regulating its use from minors and treating the health costs would all be shouldered by taxpayers (Gottfried 46)
The Drug Enforcement Agency, for example, argues that current drug policies have cut the number of users in the country by half from 1979 to 1994. Furthermore, strong drug enforcement policies have been effective in stemming the drug epidemic that occurred between the late 19th and early 20th century (Marshall 21-22)
Unlike drug cartels and big-time drug dealers, individual marijuana users do not profit from distributing drugs. The marijuana laws thus only serve to ruin the lives and careers of ordinary Americans, without addressing the production side of the drug business (Stroup 57)
Marijuana triggers the release of dopamine, pleasure-inducing chemicals, in the brain. Over time, sustained marijuana use leads a person to become dependent on the drug (Wickelgren 28)
Other European countries such as Spain, Portugal, Luxembourg, France and Germany as well as Australia and New Zealand are considering allowing the medical use and/or relaxing the punishment for cannabis use. (Bandow)
The IOM highly recommended further research to determine the full therapeutic potential of this drug. (Mathre, para on "The therapeutic value of marijuana") The continued illogical criminalization of Marijuana in the U
A substance, which is termed as unhealthy, cannot be produced and distributed with the help of the state. Therefore, the legalization of marijuana means that a state is not protecting the heath of its citizens instead it is exposing them to risk (Svrakic, Lustman, Mallya, Finney, 2009)
Legalization of marijuana could also be transformed to profits to the government. If the tax on marijuana is same as the difference between local and production cost and those prices in the streets that people are paying currently, if the revenue is transferred from those that currently produce it and marketers to the government with all marketing and transportation issues left out then the government will earn revenue (Malerba, 2010)
On the other hand, the legalization of the drug has been refuted by several people and groups on the basis of the disadvantages of such an action. These disadvantages include its use being considered as morally wrong, potential increase of dangers like stoned driving, and physical damages to people who could abuse the drug (Messerli, 2011)
In some states like Colorado, marijuana is legalized for legal business and is used for recreational purposes. As the drug continues to generate a more tolerable social outlook, the United States remains at odds with itself because of the legalization of marijuana for medical and recreational purposes at the state level (Cardinale, 2014)
The changing political and cultural environment during this period contributed to increasingly lenient attitudes towards marijuana, which was widely used by white upper and middle class people. Given the increase in drug-related crimes, Congress classified marijuana as a drug with increased probability for abuse and without accepted medical use (Villacorte, 2013)
In light of the increase in support for legalization of marijuana and maturity of research on its medicinal benefits, the United States has relaxed marijuana policies. Currently, more than 23 states have legalized the use of marijuana for medical purposes including Alaska and California (Wing, 2014)