An Analysis of Marijuana Legalization and Federalism Perspectives

This essay examines the contentious issue of marijuana legalization, exploring its social implications, public health concerns, and economic impacts. The author evaluates the arguments for and against recreational marijuana use, highlighting potential negative health effects, particularly on adole...Read More

Surname 1
Marijuana Legalization and Federalism Perspectives
Professor’s Name
Module
Date of Submission
Marijuana Legalization and Federalism Perspectives
Marijuana use has generated heated debates globally. However, in recent times, a lot of
perception shifts have been witnessed regarding its medical and recreational use. Notably, the
acceptance of Marijuana for legal purposes has attracted support from more states than its use for
recreation purposes. I will evaluate legalization of marijuana, the state-centered and nation-
centered perspectives on federalism and provide an opinion on best approach.
The use of marijuana for recreation is a highly contentious legislative suggestion due to
its social implications. The legalization for recreational purposes would impact the activities of
drug cartels, public health, federal tax revenue levels, and the criminal justice policies in the
country. Due to some changes in public attitudes towards the use of marijuana, some of the states
in the US like Colorado and Washington have permitted its use freely. However, it is said that
the negative effects of marijuana on the health of consumers are not given a priority in the debate
around its legalization. Notably, marijuana has negative health effects that are more pronounced
among the young people especially the adolescents relative to adults (Wilkinson 524-27).
Consequently, some of the negative health effects of Marijuana include a decline in
cognitive abilities, impulsive behavior, depression, and psychosis as well as addiction (Copeland
et al. 2-4). It is also noted that the concentration of marijuana has been increasing in potency due

Surname 2
to increased knowledge. The legalization of marijuana for recreation would open a window for
commercial manipulations of marijuana for competitive market advantage. The tendency would
lead to development of highly potent marijuana for the consumers. It would not be a good idea to
see the adolescents who are the future of the country get affected by such malicious
manipulations. On the same vein, it should be noted that the legislation around supplier
verifications would be complex to develop and implement. As such, regulating the quality of
marijuana that would be used for recreation purposes through legislation would be quite difficult.
The debate on the therapeutic significance of marijuana is progressive and cannot be
underestimated. Most states have already legalized the use of marijuana for medical purposes
despite the stern classification by the Federal government of marijuana under schedule I
controlled substance. Several studies attest to the significance of medical marijuana use (Pacula
398-400). Marijuana use medically can help in the management of nausea and vomiting among
patients undergoing chemotherapy for cancer. The drug is also suspected to have strong
therapeutic effects on chronic pain management, especially for neuropathic related medical
issues. Further, use of marijuana can relieve the spasticity of the muscles that lead to health
conditions like multiple sclerosis and even paralysis.
Some of the medical benefits have been proven scientifically indicating a greater promise
of marijuana contributing to the wellbeing of people. Besides, the use of the drug would easily
be monitored by the government to guarantee its strict use for therapeutic purposes only. Given
the above circumstances, I would support that marijuana should only be used for medical
purposes. Using it for recreational purposes would create issues regarding the supply, taxation,
and health issues that would not be easy to solve.

Surname 3
Notably, with some marijuana possession legal for medical use, growth and sale should
be strictly regulated. Only government approved pharmacies should be licensed to sell the
medical marijuana. The selling points would only be allowed to dispense the medical marijuana
to users with doctor prescriptions only. Similarly, the growth of marijuana should be left for
specified cooperatives approved to use evidence-based cultivation methods approved by public
health. It is also worth highlighting that the medical marijuana should be well labeled and
controlled with Food and Drug Administration department just like other medications in the
United States. These measures would ensure the use of marijuana for medication purposes is
highly regulated to confer its benefits to users (Chemerinsky et al. 78-9).
I support a nation-centered perspective on federalism relative to the state-centered
approach. The decriminalization of marijuana by states is not related necessarily to its
legalization. The nation-centered approach takes note of the fact that health is a universal need.
Individuals from all states could get sick and demand for therapeutic relief. It would make sense
to allow such individuals access to marijuana for therapeutic purposes. Denying sick people their
right to quality of health may not be the best decision to make.
On the other hand, supply of marijuana is a contentious issue at the state-centered
approach. This is due to increases in demand that are not necessary met by equal supply
approach. The shortages promote the thriving of black markets to fill the gap in supply of
medical marijuana. Black market is not well regulated and poses challenges in the collection of
revenue. Importantly, the state-centered approach has the capability to meet the deficits of some
states by authorizing legitimate suppliers or imposing government monopoly to regulate the use
of marijuana (Caulkins et al. 1-8)

Surname 4
In addition, given that the debate about legalization of marijuana is evolving and may not
stop soon, the nation-centered approach is the best to implement. The federal government has the
capacity to develop comprehensive structures and policies that would be uniformly enforced in
the whole of USA. The policies of the nation would focus on minimizing heavy consumption of
marijuana, thriving of black markets and the impact of youth consumption. Moreover, the federal
government has enough resources to develop and implement policies and laws based on supply,
taxation, and regulation of the use of marijuana.
My views are consistent with the federalism perspective. This is because federalism
would increase the accessibility of marijuana to most patients who need it. Also, the states would
formulate different policies based on their circumstances relative to the ability of the federal
government to set uniform policies cutting across the board. Lastly, the robust resources at the
hands of the federal government would lead to the development of comprehensive policies and
structures to better regulate the use of marijuana medically.

Surname 5
Works Cited
Caulkins, J. P., et al. "Options and issues regarding marijuana legalization. Santa Monica, CA,
RAND Corporation, coll." Perspectives (2015).
Chemerinsky, Erwin, et al. "Cooperative federalism and marijuana regulation." Ucla L. Rev. 62
(2015): 74.
Copeland, Jan, Nicole Clement, and Wendy Swift. "Cannabis use, harms and the management of
cannabis use disorder." Neuropsychiatry 4.1 (2014): 55.
Pacula, Rosalie Liccardo, and Rosanna Smart. "Medical marijuana and marijuana
legalization." Annual review of clinical psychology 13 (2017): 397-419.
Wilkinson, Samuel T. "More Reasons States Should Not Legalize Marijuana: Medical and
Recreational Marijuana: Commentary and Review of the Literature." Missouri
medicine 110.6 (2013): 524.