Legalization of Marijuana

The War over the Legalization of Marijuana There has been a long battle over whether or not to pursue legalizing marijuana. “Marijuana is any part of the plant Cannabis sativa L., including viable seeds, resin, and derivatives of the plant, but not the stalk of the plant, or fiber,” defined by the federal and states laws (Rich). Marijuana has a long history including the era with Virginia in the 17th century having the first American lane involving marijuana (Rich). The issue of legalizing marijuana is national, but some states have already legalized marijuana, therefore, cons and pros would not be uncommon with handling such an important matter. While many states are continuing debating to legalize marijuana, two have legalized marijuana for recreational use. Colorado and Washington State could only pass the law for proposition 19 is a law that legalizes marijuana in a state for recreational use (Marijuana legalization loses, but proponents say fight not over). “Even under national alcohol prohibition, which unlike the federal ban on marijuana was authorized by a constitutional amendment, states were free to go their own way” (Sullum). Many people believe the fight over marijuana is recent but the United States has been trying to legalize weed since the 1970s by the National Commission on Marijuana (Rich), however, In November of 2012, Election Day was very historic not only re-electing our first black president, but also Washington State and Colorado became the first two states to legalize marijuana for recreational use (DECEMBER 10: HISTORIC DAY AS COLORADO MARIJUANA LAGALIZATION LAW TAKES EFECT). More over, “anti- legalization activities, as well as the United States Supreme Court, have argued the federal government should have the power to supplant state and local laws, since people in states with permissive drug laws could conceivably trade with restrictive laws” (Rich). One state that voted was California, but the