[420 Girl]

Marijuana laws have been the subject of much debate and controversy since the very first law was established in Utah in 1910 by the Mormon state leaders. Marijuana became illegal on a federal level thanks to the smear campaign headed by Harry J. Anslinger and the creation of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics starting in 1930. Although many of the laws against marijuana were based on false claims, racism against Mexican immigrants and Black Americans (even though the majority of marijuana users since the 1960s have been Caucasian males), and Anslinger's desire for economic and political gain, they are still in place today.

Thanks to a new medical marijuana policy, however, this may start to change in the next few years. In the thirteen states where medical marijuana is legal (including Maryland), the Justice Department has announced that it will "no longer seek to prosecute people using, prescribing, or distributing [marijuana] for medical purposes" according to an article on CNN health.

This is a step in a positive direction. The cannabis plant was used for many years for many different uses, such as food, herbal medication, rope, and cloth. In fact, cannabis is so useful that in 1619 all Jamestown farmers were ordered by law to grow hemp. When marijuana became illegal, many of hemp's natural benefits were lost as well. Today hemp is again legal: its effects were proven extremely useful during World War II as rope and fibrous materials were no longer being imported from Japan.

The effects of marijuana and its medical benefits are still mostly unknown. This is because most studies on the plant have been extremely biased in either proving its positive or negative effects. Now that the Justice Department is no longer prosecuting users or distributors of medical marijuana in states or counties that have already legalized its use, more states may decide to allow their citizens to use marijuana as an alternative treatment for many medical issues. Also, scientists will be able to study cannabis without as much bias and with less restriction, which could lead to the discovery of many more positive uses for the plant.

Hopefully, with this new federal policy change, more states will decide to legalize medical marijuana. The benefits of its use greatly outweigh the negatives, and many people find comfort and relief in the use of the drug during chemotherapy and cancer treatment. Marijuana is also being considered as a treatment for many anxiety disorders, which could help many people with mental disabilities to relax. This is a step in the right direction, and one can only hope that the trend continues.


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