Advantages of Legalizing Marijuana

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Statistics show that over 70 million Americans have tried Marijuana and more that 20 million smoked it last year. So it is safe to assume that although marijuana use may decrease in the years to come, as did Heroin and LSD, it is here to stay. Eight states, Colorado, Nevada, Alaska, California, Hawaii, Maine, Oregon & Washington have already passed laws allowing the use of medical Marijuana. "In the fall of 1996, California voters approved the medical marijuana initiative (proposition 215) by a vote of 56 to 44 percent. The act is entitled The Compassionate Use Act of 1996 and it's purpose is to give Californians the right to possess and cultivate marijuana for medical purposes, "where the medical use is deemed appropriate and has been recommended by a physician who has determined the person's health would benefit from the use of marijuana in the treatment of Cancer, anorexia, AIDS, chronic pain, spasticity, glaucoma, arthritis, migraine, or any other illness for which marijuana provides relief" (Schaler 121) Nothing in the act permits persons using marijuana for medical purposes to engage in conduct that endangers others (such as driving under the influence), condones "the diversion of marijuana for non medical purposes" or permits the buying or selling of marijuana" Dennis Peron, the man who launched proposition 215 subsequently started the cannabis buyers club in San Francisco...