Although the federal government has ruled that marijuana is illegal under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) (21 U.S.C. § 811), research suggests that marijuana can have many positive effects on people suffering from various diseases. The State of California has recognized the medical benefits of marijuana and in “2003, Senate Bill (SB) 420 (Chapter 875, Statutes of 2003) was passed as an extension and clarification of Proposition 215, the Compassionate Use Act of 1996.” (California Department of Public Health) This act allows citizens of the state of California to use medical marijuana when prescribed by a physician. The federal government tried to enforce federal regulations over the state of California and criminalize individuals who were distributing and using medical marijuana. However on August 20, 2008 a federal court deemed that "For the first time, a court has recognized that a calculated plan by the federal government to undercut state medical marijuana laws is patently unconstitutional. Today’s decision forecasts an end to any organized federal effort to sabotage state medical marijuana laws." (American Civil Liberties Union) With so much controversy surrounding the topic of marijuana and its uses for medical treatment, many people are misled about the effects and facts of marijuana. Marijuana should be legalized because it is not a dangerous drug and it can be used as treatment for people suffering from various illnesses.
The Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. § 811) ranks all illegal substances according to their potential for abuse and their medical value. Marijuana is considered a Schedule I drug, which means that it can be highly addictive, and it has no medicinal value according to the federal government. The federal government labels marijuana as being a dangerous drug; however many studies have found just the opposite. The Drug Policy Alliance Network offers research based information regarding some of the myths that people...