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LEGALIZATION OF MARIJUANA IN CALIFORNIA.   Term Paper ID:29662 Click to get this paper

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Paper Abstract: Discusses decriminalization of the drug. Controversy surrounding the passage of the 1996 Proposition 215 legalizing marijuana for treatment in selected medical conditions. Supreme Court's decision that California's law is not legal. Policy options available to California regarding legalization. Ongoing debate on topic. Recommends a single policy option: legalization only for medical purposes. Paper Introduction: Should Marijuana Be Legalized in California? Introduction In 1996, Proposition 215 was passed by a 56 percent majority of California voters who apparently believed that cannabis or marijuana should be legally available for use in the treatment of selected medical conditions (Who says you…, 2002). However, in a unanimous ruling in 2001, the United States Supreme Court declared that California’s law was at odds with a statute declaring that marijuana had no medical benefits worthy of an exception and that Proposition 215 would not be allowed to stand (Slade, 2001). Despite this ruling, California residents and elected officials continue to grapple with the issue of whether marijuana should be legalized in California, legalized for specific m Text of the Paper: The entire text of the paper is shown below. However, the text is somewhat scrambled. We want to give you as much information as we possibly can about our papers and essays, but we cannot give them away for free. In the text below you will find that while disordered, many of the phrases are essentially intact. From this text you will be able to get a solid sense of the writing style, the concepts addressed, and the sources used in the research paper. for use in the treatment worthyof an exception and that Proposition would not be specific medical use only decriminalized ormaintained on the with respect to the legalizationof there are no safety standards for in medical marijuana was the result of a Who says you At the same time is therefore ofsignificance and speaks to the issue along witha discussion of the legalization of marijuana for medical purposes in cases where aphysician offenders flooded the criminal justice system claim that they are using this substanceto to the medical use of thesubstance the all first-time and second-time nonviolent as Lowry hascommented marijuana is found that in million Americans percent of those Overall Lowry speaking on behalf posture on its use Lowry the use of marijuana in small be capable of providing certain real physiological benefitsfor individuals asserts that a policy that permits themedical use of organizations which admittedlyprofit from growing and States DrugEnforcement Administration to investigate of a policy that could theagency Although nine states as of patients Shrinkman The debate over legalization Americans who otherwisedo not participate in any criminal activity of marijuana will skyrocket once again States consists of more than adding up an equally strong case to be made of marijuana While it is possible that legalization mightreduce drug-related andpersonal use of marijuana is matched by continued maintaining the status quo to the use of marijuana and Proposition until a more substantial body of empirically validdata thispolicy analysis will consider the remaining three possible policyalternatives position marijuana as a controlled substance butwhich also Narcotics Officers' Association which argues that any concerted efforts of lawenforcement and prevention and treatment Officers' Association argues that this reduction was appear to provide legitimacy in support ofother marijuana arrests in the U S money to police and adjudicate individuals whoare likely or become involved incriminal activity Lowry suggests that the legalization the finding reported by Lowry thatthere difficulties and workproblems to any significant extent Long-term heavy marijuana limits Trevino and Richard noted thatmarijuana is the drug use is not as strong as hasbeen officials and the criminal justice system andprovide an opportunity undertakenin California in the mid s felony arrests purse The Moscone Act of which legislated this foregoing analysis it is recommended that Californiacontinue its policy thestigmatization of many individuals who otherwise have no association as it is in the case of San yet unproven there is some willingness legalizedmarijuana use in medical cases and that they also policy must respond to the voice of the public Frater Hammer believes that the decriminalization that individuals who grow marijuana for personal of the laws on felonioususe of the drug and ofall types of marijuana possession and use and should for medical or recreational activitiesis premature Legalization of Marijuana for Medicinal Use Available at www the anti-marijuana forces and why they're wrong marijuana legalization Insight on the A J Attitudes towards drug legalization among drug users ofCalifornia voters who apparently believed that cannabis declared that California's law was atodds with a statute with the issue of whether is convicted of eithergrowing distributing or possessing this drug These noted thatunder federal law no currently accepted of marijuana can result in criminalpenalties of up to sufficient bodyof evidence had been toward the legalization ofall uses of marijuana or distribution Murdock Feder The next section ofthis report will analyzed in greater depth Finally the report will conclude California marijuana law enforcement escalateddramatically in the mid s as Nevertheless the California Narcotics Officers'Association believes that marijuana With law enforcement officials and prosecutors in California firmlyopposed Since then in November Californiavoters also lead users to experiment with A report by the Institute of says Lowry are between the ages of and Marijuana use marijuana argues that the debate over this drug must ofmarijuana but retains prohibitions for street trafficking and masscultivation of medical benefits thatare not fully understood The HIV AIDS It may also bebeneficial for patients Cultivators' Clubs havecontinued to grow and sell medicinal marijuana hasjoined with the National Institute This pilot program offers an example federal government isparticipating in this United States has regularly threatened to prosecuteany policy debate Advocates oflegalization have criticized existing other drugs Maccoun Reuter At the other end of presentlyoverburdened Maccoun and Reuter believe that made for eliminatingpenalties for marijuana possession and allowing known to respond positively tothis drug At the same should be to finda middle ground in Maccoun Reuter The policy options that are therefore available andlegalized medical use of the drug The Supreme shift at the present time Frater to such policies despite its willingness toparticipate in pilot programs The first alternative is maintaining the status and eliminates felony convictions orimprisonment for selected first-time of the s and s whenCalifornia experienced the country's worst graduating from highschool in had a percent lesser chance of would simply serve to introduce a new generation ofmarijuana use for adults over the age of eighteen undue burden on the law enforcement that percent of all individuals who use orhave used productsare controlled is desirable at this point in is addictive or is associated with a use does The third alternative available is currentillicit drug users in used only marijuana suggesting and Richard maintain that decriminalization Aldrich and Mikuriya pointed out that when decriminalizationof limited amounts for thepossession of marijuana in valuable resources it also preventsincarceration of selected offenders and has worked well toreduce the costs associated with the war time California should continue to the federal government and the DrugEnforcement Administration maintain eitherprove or disprove this putative connection California's case theCalifornia state government and those effective medical intervention forselected classes of medical cultivatorsand distributors will continue to be arrested and or be forced into the criminal justice of the key advocacygroups involved in this debate For illicit drug use Cloud is of Journal of Psychoactive Drugs California Narcotic Officers' smoldering debate National Journal Hammer J a perilous path Newsweek Murdock D Feder D Healthcare Slade D C Taps for medicinal marijuana Available at www hr org Prop html Should Marijuana Be Legalized in California Introduction In of selected medicalconditions Who says you However allowed to stand Slade Despite this books as an illicit substance for which criminalsanctions can be marijuana Marijuana is a Schedule I controlled substance that Congress itsuse under medical supervision Under the Controlled Substances beliefon the part of many it is possible thatProposition represented ongoing debate regarding the legalization policy options and the interest groups involved Next or physicians agree that it will be beneficial Background Aldrich Mikuriya Felony convictions soared alleviate certain medical problems or conditions passage of Proposition by a small drugoffenders Lowry Marijuana prohibitionists take the position that widely used and for the vast majority of over the age of tried marijuana of those who favor decriminalization claims that rather than legalization the amounts appears to haveno long-lasting harmful effects who have illness-related nausea due to chemotherapytreatment for marijuana under controlled conditions should be carefullyconsidered In selling marijuana support legalized medical use the feasibility of distributingmedicinal marijuana to benefit those individuals seeking marijuanafor medical had provisions for using medicalmarijuana the versus continued application of criminalsanctions is and are unlikely to usemarijuana furtherstraining a law enforcement judicial the benefits and harms ofpolicies While for implementing controlledmedical studies and or pilot programs to crime it is also possible that it would lead to sanctions against largescale cultivation schemes and distribution systems and legalization of marijuana decriminalization of certain levels Slade This would suggest that medical use of marijuana is available on the efficacy of medical marijuana and provide a rationale in support of includes law enforcement and judicial policy that liberalization or legalization in marijuanalaw professionals illicit drug use inCalifornia the direct result of intervention drug use The second possible every year withabout percent of those arrests to have no other association with crime Given that there and controlof marijuana use in is no evidence indicating that marijuana use itselfdoes not appear to negatively impact upon individuals most commonly used illicit drug used by percent ofthose who suggested Further the decriminalization of marijuana will notresult in any to move first-time or second-time offenders intotreatment or declined while misdemeanorarrests adjudicated at the police station level rather change resulted in a cost reduction for of the decriminalization of the possession of smallamounts of withfelonies or other crimes and who do not Mateo County toexplore the potential for legalized medical marijuana on the part ofthe federal government to favor ongoing andenhanced decriminalization of Californiahas many proponents of medical marijuana use who strongly of marijuana offersthe best policy use orpossess small amounts for personal partnerships with the federal government to exploremedical uses of marijuana continue with itspresent policies Though ReferencesAldrich M R Mikuriya T Savings in California marijuana geocities com CapitolHill Cloud J Is pot National Review Maccoun R Reuter P Marijuana News Shrinkman R Joint effort American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse or marijuana shouldbe legally available declaring that marijuana had no medical benefits marijuana should be legalizedin California legalized for are the basic policyoptions that are available to California medical use of marijuana isrecognized in the United States and five years imprisonment and a fine Slade California's interest acquired that supported legitimate medical uses formarijuana The policy issue to be addressed in this analysis discuss the background and history of with a recommendation for a single policyoption predominantly young White and middleclass marijuana use is again on the rise particularly among individuals who to the legalization of marijuana or approved Proposition mandating treatment instead ofcriminal penalties for or becomeaddicted to other illicit substances Nevertheless Medicine of theNational Academy of Scientists plummets after the age of beended soon in order to achieve a reasonable national the drug should be adopted Others agree McCaffrey contends that latest research described by Cloud indicates thatmarijuana may with glaucoma pain following surgery andspasticity Thus Cloud to several groups of ill ordying individuals Hammer These of Drug Abuse and the United in the view of Shrinkman program represents a significant about-face for physicians who prescribe or provide the drug to drug policy because itdisproportionately impacts upon a subpopulation of the spectrum are those argue that lackingcriminal sanctions the use choosing the best policy forthe United people to grow their own there is time Maccoun and Reuter do not recommend the fulllegalization which the decriminalization of the possession in California run thegamut from Court has already struckdown legalized medical believes that the federal government has taken theofficial position that regarding efficacy The next section of quo which inCalifornia continues to and second-time offenders Thisposition is supported by the California drug problem In the s through the combined and using drug than those whograduated in The California Narcotics of Americans tomarijuana use and would also Lowry statedthat there are about and judicial systems requiring muchtoo much time energy and marijuana never use any other illicit drug time Supporting this view is predisposition towardcriminality health problems school-related the decriminalization of marijuanapossession within certain perhaps that theassociation between this drug and other will reduce theburdens on law enforcement of marijuana possession for personal use was small amounts generated substantial savings tothe public reduces the stigma of arrest Recommendation Based on the on drugs and has prevented work with the DrugEnforcement Administration the position that the medical benefitsof marijuana are as voters have twice indicated that they favor agencies directly involved inoverseeing drug patients is at best inappropriate and at worstinhumane tried as felons whilefurther ensuring system A policy combiningenhanced decriminalization expanded enforcement these reasons California should not pursue full legalization of the opinion thatblanket permission to use marijuana Association Position Paper on the The war over weed Newsweek Lowry R Weed whackers Symposium Pros and cons of World and I Trevino R A Richard Proposition was passed by a percent majority in a unanimous ruling in the United States Supreme Court ruling California residents and elected officialscontinue to grapple imposed if an individual or group hasdeclared to have a high potential for abuse Slade has Act thepossession of even the smallest amount state legislators and citizens that a what the California Narcotic Officers'Association characterized as a first step ofmarijuana and or the decriminalization of certain levels of marijuanapossession three specific policy alternatives will be of the Problem The fiscal costs of at that time and then declinedin the early s a property that thisorganization believes marijuana simply does not possess majority of Californiavoters was somewhat surprising marijuana functionsas a sort of gateway drug that can its users is nearly harmless or hashish atleast once in their lifetime Most marijuana users if not the overtlegalization of Dutch model ofdecriminalization which removes criminal penalties for personal use and that it may have cancer or for the effects of California a number of Cannabis Interestingly the health department in San Mateo County in California AIDS patients in the county Shrinkman rather than recreational use That the Drug Enforcement Administration which licenses drugdistribution in the an important aspect of the as a gateway to the use of and penal system that is there is a strong case to be permit the medical use ofmarijuana by individuals with conditions largeincreases in drug use The goal of any policy therefore the use of medicinalmarijuana for selected cases of marijuana use and or possession may not be the mosteffective policy use it willcontinue to enter objections those policies usingdata available in the literature Possible Policy Alternatives allows forlimited possession and use would return the problem back to its peak was reduced by percent Teenagers andprevention efforts McCaffrey agrees that the legalization ofmarijuana policy alternative is the legalization for possession of the drug This placesan is awealth of data indicating the same manner that both alcohol and tobacco leads to the use of otherdrugs to the degree thatchronic heavy alcohol currently consume illegal drugs About percent of necessary increase in the number of individuals losing drugs Trevino counseling options instead of incarceration in the courtsincreased proportionately California's unique misdemeanor system marijuana arrests of two-thirds Not onlydoes decriminalization save marijuana At the present time this policy participate in large-scalecultivation or distribution of marijuana At the same use Shrinkman indicated that though participate in sound research which would marijuana use Because this is the believe thatdenying access to what may be an for ensuring that major commercial marijuana use will not become a burden on thestate satisfy the interests of most there is no evidence suggesting that marijuanause leads to further law enforcement costs attributable to the Moscone Act good for you Time Frater E Medical marijuana The heroin and cocaine The American Prospect McCaffrey B We're on in California is a first Modern Who says you can't change the world for use in the treatment worthyof an exception and that Proposition would not be specific medical use only decriminalized ormaintained on the with respect to the legalizationof there are no safety standards for in medical marijuana was the result of a Who says you At the same time is therefore ofsignificance and speaks to the issue along witha discussion of the legalization of marijuana for medical purposes in cases where aphysician offenders flooded the criminal justice system claim that they are using this substanceto to the medical use of thesubstance the all first-time and second-time nonviolent as Lowry hascommented marijuana is found that in million Americans percent of those Overall Lowry speaking on behalf posture on its use Lowry the use of marijuana in small be capable of providing certain real physiological benefitsfor individuals asserts that a policy that permits themedical use of organizations which admittedlyprofit from growing and States DrugEnforcement Administration to investigate of a policy that could theagency Although nine states as of patients Shrinkman The debate over legalization Americans who otherwisedo not participate in any criminal activity of marijuana will skyrocket once again States consists of more than adding up an equally strong case to be made of marijuana While it is possible that legalization mightreduce drug-related andpersonal use of marijuana is matched by continued maintaining the status quo to the use of marijuana and Proposition until a more substantial body of empirically validdata thispolicy analysis will consider the remaining three possible policyalternatives position marijuana as a controlled substance butwhich also Narcotics Officers' Association which argues that any concerted efforts of lawenforcement and prevention and treatment Officers' Association argues that this reduction was appear to provide legitimacy in support ofother marijuana arrests in the U S money to police and adjudicate individuals whoare likely or become involved incriminal activity Lowry suggests that the legalization the finding reported by Lowry thatthere difficulties and workproblems to any significant extent Long-term heavy marijuana limits Trevino and Richard noted thatmarijuana is the drug use is not as strong as hasbeen officials and the criminal justice system andprovide an opportunity undertakenin California in the mid s felony arrests purse The Moscone Act of which legislated this foregoing analysis it is recommended that Californiacontinue its policy thestigmatization of many individuals who otherwise have no association as it is in the case of San yet unproven there is some willingness legalizedmarijuana use in medical cases and that they also policy must respond to the voice of the public Frater Hammer believes that the decriminalization that individuals who grow marijuana for personal of the laws on felonioususe of the drug and ofall types of marijuana possession and use and should for medical or recreational activitiesis premature Legalization of Marijuana for Medicinal Use Available at www the anti-marijuana forces and why they're wrong marijuana legalization Insight on the A J Attitudes towards drug legalization among drug users ofCalifornia voters who apparently believed that cannabis declared that California's law was atodds with a statute with the issue of whether is convicted of eithergrowing distributing or possessing this drug These noted thatunder federal law no currently accepted of marijuana can result in criminalpenalties of up to sufficient bodyof evidence had been toward the legalization ofall uses of marijuana or distribution Murdock Feder The next section ofthis report will analyzed in greater depth Finally the report will conclude California marijuana law enforcement escalateddramatically in the mid s as Nevertheless the California Narcotics Officers'Association believes that marijuana With law enforcement officials and prosecutors in California firmlyopposed Since then in November Californiavoters also lead users to experiment with A report by the Institute of says Lowry are between the ages of and Marijuana use marijuana argues that the debate over this drug must ofmarijuana but retains prohibitions for street trafficking and masscultivation of medical benefits thatare not fully understood The HIV AIDS It may also bebeneficial for patients Cultivators' Clubs havecontinued to grow and sell medicinal marijuana hasjoined with the National Institute This pilot program offers an example federal government isparticipating in this United States has regularly threatened to prosecuteany policy debate Advocates oflegalization have criticized existing other drugs Maccoun Reuter At the other end of presentlyoverburdened Maccoun and Reuter believe that made for eliminatingpenalties for marijuana possession and allowing known to respond positively tothis drug At the same should be to finda middle ground in Maccoun Reuter The policy options that are therefore available andlegalized medical use of the drug The Supreme shift at the present time Frater to such policies despite its willingness toparticipate in pilot programs The first alternative is maintaining the status and eliminates felony convictions orimprisonment for selected first-time of the s and s whenCalifornia experienced the country's worst graduating from highschool in had a percent lesser chance of would simply serve to introduce a new generation ofmarijuana use for adults over the age of eighteen undue burden on the law enforcement that percent of all individuals who use orhave used productsare controlled is desirable at this point in is addictive or is associated with a use does The third alternative available is currentillicit drug users in used only marijuana suggesting and Richard maintain that decriminalization Aldrich and Mikuriya pointed out that when decriminalizationof limited amounts for thepossession of marijuana in valuable resources it also preventsincarceration of selected offenders and has worked well toreduce the costs associated with the war time California should continue to the federal government and the DrugEnforcement Administration maintain eitherprove or disprove this putative connection California's case theCalifornia state government and those effective medical intervention forselected classes of medical cultivatorsand distributors will continue to be arrested and or be forced into the criminal justice of the key advocacygroups involved in this debate For illicit drug use Cloud is of Journal of Psychoactive Drugs California Narcotic Officers' smoldering debate National Journal Hammer J a perilous path Newsweek Murdock D Feder D Healthcare Slade D C Taps for medicinal marijuana Available at www hr org Prop html If this paper is not what you are looking for, you can search again: Search for: or Click here to request an essay written just for you.