Critical Thinking Assignment-Pros & Cons of Marijuana Legislation
In the US today 23 states and the District of Columbia, have approved some form of marijuana to be used in their state. Four of the 24 states have made marijuana legal for medical and recreational use. Another 15 states are in the legislative process of approval, meaning in the next ten years or sooner, most of the country will provide some type of legal marijuana.
In Florida's November 2014 election, approval of medicinal marijuana was on the ballot and required a 60% vote. It received a 57.58% vote. This means it is likely to pass in the next election in 2016.
Additionally, during the early part of the twentieth century, alcohol was illegal to make, sell, and consume in the United States. However, It seems that making alcohol consumption illegal did little to stop its consumption.
There are many drugs used today that are legal such as caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol.
Your paper should answer the following questions in bold print:
What is the economic impact on states that have approved marijuana consumption?
What is the difference between medicinal, legalization, decriminalization, and recreational marijuana/cannabis?
What does Florida's legislation propose regarding the use of marijuana/cannabis?
What does the scientific evidence state regarding marijuana consumption (increase or decrease) for adults in states that have approved the use of cannabis?
What does the scientific evidence state regarding car crashes related to marijuana?
What does the scientific evidence state regarding car crashes related to alcohol?
What does the scientific evidence state regarding overdose and death from marijuana?
What does the scientific evidence state regarding deaths from cigarette smoking?
What does the scientific evidence state regarding the effect of marijuana approval and crime?
Why are alcohol, nicotine, and caffeine legal drugs and marijuana an illegal drug?
If people use these legal forms of drugs and say they do not use drugs, are they hypocritical?
After answering the above questions with scientific evidence you may give your educated opinion to answer the following question.
Should marijuana be legalized or allowed for medicinal purposes? Should it be legalized for recreational purpose?
Helpful websites:
Medicalmarijuana.procon.org
Dr. Sanjay Guptas report titled "Weed" on CNN and You Tube
Drugabuse.gov
Cmcr.ucsd.edu
Ncjrs.gov
NORML.org
Unitedforcare.org is the website with information related to Florida