Where is Marijuana Legal? A Guide to Marijuana Legalization

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Where is Marijuana Legal A Guide to Marijuana Legalization

Marijuana is legalized in different parts of the world as more people get educated about the product, and the stigma reduces. While some believe that Marijuana potentially affects physical and mental health, others hold it beneficial for therapeutic purposes, including stress and pain relief. Furthermore, some consider Marijuana a social justice initiative and an economic contributor to state revenue. Looking for organic and high-quality marijuana? Try Cannasseur Pueblo West, Colorado.

Where is Marijuana Legal in the US?

Marijuana is not legal at the federal level in the United States, neither for recreational or medicinal use. It is listed under “Schedule I” drugs of the Controlled Substances Act of 1970. However, despite its illegal status, various US states have legalized it for recreational and medicinal use.

36 states currently permit the use of Marijuana for medical purposes, and 16 states allow its recreational use. States that have allowed marijuana consumption for both purposes include Washington, Alaska, Vermont, Arizona, South Dakota, California, Oregon, Colorado, Nevada,

District of Columbia, New Jersey, Guam, Montana, Illinois, Michigan, Maine, and Massachusetts. 

The states that allow the use of marijuana as medicine only include Arkansas, West Virginia, Connecticut, Utah, Delaware, Rhode Island, Florida, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Pennsylvania, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Maryland, Ohio, Minnesota, North Dakota, Mississippi, New Mexico, Missouri, New York, and New Hampshire.

What Are The Types of Marijuana Legalization?

As a result of several drug policy reforms, US states can currently take the following stances around marijuana:

  • Decriminalization: Criminal penalties around the consumption or dealing of Marijuana are removed. These penalties are replaced with civil fines.
  • Legalization: The State law declares that the consumption/dealing of Marijuana is no longer a crime. Instead, the government adds new regulations around cultivating, dealing, testing, and selling marijuana across different parts of the state. Marijuana distribution falls under the Controlled Substances Act.
  • Medical Legalization: Under medical legalization, the law permits marijuana use for medical purposes. This includes commercial licensing and testing.
  • Prohibition: No allowances are made; the state imposes criminal penalties for indulging in the consumption/dealing of Marijuana.

What Are The Pros and Cons of marijuana legalization?

Legalizing marijuana can have a few positive results:

  • Better-quality marijuana; by legalizing weed, the movement of the product will be easier, leading to better quality. 
  • Decreased prices of marijuana; with reduced weed trafficking and the product readily available, the prices may go down. 
  • Reduced aggressive policing on people of color: many people of color may be stopped by the police if suspected of carrying marijuana. If legalized, this may not be a problem anymore. 
  • Increase in tax revenues: legalizing the substance may open more doors for the government to collect more taxes. 

What could go wrong?

  • Disorders among susceptible population
  • Increased emergency visits for exposure to Marijuana
  • Adverse impacts on physical health, such as bronchitis
  • Adverse effects on mental health like schizophrenia

Where is marijuana legal around the world?

Although various countries worldwide treat the consumption/dealing of Marijuana illegally, some countries have legalized its usage. Canada and Uruguay have legalized the use of marijuana for both medical and recreational purposes.

The countries that have legalized the usage of Marijuana (as of June 2020) for only medical purposes include Argentina, Zimbabwe, Australia, Zambia, Barbados, Vanuatu, Bermuda, The United Kingdom, Brazil, Thailand, Chile, Switzerland, Colombia, Sri Lanka, Croatia, South. Korea, Cyprus, South Africa, Czech Republic, San Marino, Denmark, Portugal, Ecuador, Peru, Finland, Norway, Georgia, North Macedonia, Germany, New Zealand, Ghana, Netherlands, Greece, Mexico, Ireland, Malta, Israel, Malawi, Italy, Luxembourg, Jamaica, Lithuania, Lebanon, Poland, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

How do you go about legalizing marijuana?

Here are a few steps that the state must consider:

  • Maintaining an age bar is important. Marijuana should be prohibited for minors as it can cause various ill effects if consumed in excess.
  • Before selling Marijuana in outlets, the state must test how efficient and safe it is.
  • The unauthorized import or export of Marijuana should be prohibited, and strict actions should be taken if this prohibition is violated.
  • Awareness about the dosage, pros, and cons of Marijuana should be made in schools and government-affiliated institutions.
  • Suggestions should be provided to those involved in the cultivation of Marijuana to maintain rural and urban infrastructural development.
  • Any advertisement of Marijuana should be strictly monitored. It must follow the legal guidelines and must not misinform the public in any way. 
  • The tax system should be regulated as banning Marijuana can disturb the economy of the country.

More countries may legalize the consumption and dealing of marijuana in the coming future. There’s no doubt about the fact that the drug is medicinally beneficial. With mounting public pressure in its favor, governments may also start legalizing it for recreational use. Only time will tell!