Legalization of Recreational Marijuana

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The Debate on Legalizing Recreational Marijuana

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Recreational marijuana legalization has been a hot topic recently. Humans have been using marijuana, or cannabis, for thousands of years — most of the attention on the great debate for legalizing marijuana centers on its recreational use. Unfortunately, fear-mongering and propaganda have cheapened and restricted the other beneficial uses of cannabis, including its industrial properties and medicinal purposes. When it comes to recreational use of marijuana, the debate continues to rage. State legislatures have become battlegrounds, and CBD enthusiasts need to know where the fight in the legalization of marijuana is headed next.

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What is the difference between CBD and marijuana?

CBD is not the same as marijuana. The cannabis family is home to two distinct strains of the plant – hemp and marijuana. CBD supplements manufactured and sold in the U.S. are made from hemp, not marijuana. Also, CBD derived from hemp will not make someone high. The active chemical compound in marijuana, THC, is the substance that makes someone high. Some studies have uncovered that THC may offer medicinal qualities. Research into the effectiveness of CBD for health issues is still ongoing and inconclusive at this time.

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Is marijuana or CBD legal on a federal level?

The issues surrounding both marijuana and hemp’s legal status can be extremely confusing for many consumers. For one thing, marijuana is still considered a schedule 1 substance according to the DEA and the federal government. On a federal level, pot is illegal for any purpose – recreational or medicinal. The individual states in the U.S. have introduced their own legislation regarding the legal status of marijuana. Some states have maintained that marijuana is an illegal substance. Other states have legalized the plant for medicinal uses or decriminalized the drug. A handful of states have legalized it for recreational purposes.

On a federal level, hemp and hemp-derived CBD products are legal to buy and sell across state lines. As long as the CBD product contains .3% of THC or less, the federal government will not prosecute users and sellers of CBD. However, the sale and manufacture of CBD are still left up to the individual states. A handful has insisted that CBD should be illegal. Consumers in Idaho, Nebraska, and South Dakota cannot buy or sell CBD products.

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What’s the difference between decriminalization and legalization?

Although these two terms are often used interchangeably, they are fundamentally different. Decriminalizing marijuana refers to the loosening of criminal restrictions and penalties against users and growers of marijuana. When a state decriminalizes marijuana, they are instructing law enforcement officials to “look the other way” when they catch someone will small amounts of the drug meant for recreational or personal use. People who are caught with marijuana may also face civil fines instead of a criminal charge for drug possession. Under decriminalization, the state leaves the sale and manufacture of marijuana mostly unregulated.

Legalization refers to the complete abolishment of any laws that ban the use and possession of marijuana. When the substance is legalized, it gives the state the power to tax and regulate the sale and use of the substance. People in favor of legalization will often tout the benefits the taxpayers will reap by saving a lot of money otherwise used to prosecute marijuana users.

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Where is marijuana legal for recreational purposes?

So far, marijuana has been legalized in 11 states and Washington DC for recreational purposes. Most of these states that have legalized the use and sale of marijuana have used what’s called a “commercialization model.” A commercialization model occurs when a for-profit, private business sells the substance. These states also have introduced guidelines and limits for the sale of marijuana, including age limits and limits on the amount a person can buy. Taxes and packaging guidelines have also been introduced in states where marijuana is legal for personal use.

In Vermont, the legislature has been consulting with drug policy experts on the different models the state can use for legalization. The state can allow people to possess marijuana, but not sell it. Vermont is also exploring the idea of letting people distribute small amounts of marijuana in private clubs, or letting the state government operate supplies and sell marijuana exclusively. State-run marijuana monopolies would have a similar effect that occurred when alcohol became government-operated. Government-run monopolies for alcohol kept prices elevated, decreased access to the substance for young people, and decreased overall uses of the substance.

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Where is marijuana likely to be legal next?

Recently, Illinois has passed legislation that will make the possession and commercial sale of recreational marijuana legal in January of 2020.

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What states have said “no” to recreational marijuana?

The following states continue to classify marijuana as completely illegal:

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  • Idaho
  • South Dakota
  • Wyoming
  • Wisconsin
  • Kansas
  • Kentucky
  • Tennessee
  • South Carolina
  • Alabama

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Has legalization of marijuana caused any problems?

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While marijuana may seem like a harmless plant, the use and legalization of marijuana do have a few consequences. For one thing, legal drugs and substances are used far more than illegal ones. When California legalized marijuana, prices for the drug plummeted, and use increased. Rarely are people put in jail for small amounts of marijuana for personal use, even in states where the drug is entirely illegal. The benefits of saving taxpayer dollars with legalization may not be as substantial as many proponents claim. Also, THC levels of modern-day marijuana plants are much more potent than marijuana from just a few short decades ago. THC is known to be addictive, and research on the drug’s effects on teens is particularly worrisome.

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What are the differences between treatment and punishment for marijuana-related crimes?

Alcohol is legal, and while people can become addicted to alcohol or choose to drink and drive, many people consume alcohol responsibly and do not become addicted. New research into addiction have found that it is a brain disease, and often has roots in untreated mental health disorders like depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Treating addiction to substances like marijuana as a medical problem instead of a criminal problem can make the transition to fully legal, recreational marijuana safer and smoother for consumers and taxpayers.

After you get the green light from your doctor, shop online at Hugs CBD, and have high-quality, lab-tested CBD products delivered to your home.

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Last updated September 20 2019

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