First I would like to start off this blog stating that I think that marijuana should be legalized in all 50 states of the U.S. but with that being said in the United States has a few different ways of legalizing. For marijuana to become legal it first has to be decriminalized or made (something that was previously illegal) permissible by law. which means it is now legal to posses or handle to a certain amount. What I mean by legal to posses up to a certain amount means that one is able to posses certain small amounts, for instance one gram up to two ounces (can vary by state), the reason that there are certain amounts you can carry is so that other people will not distribute the plant itself.
At the federal level, cannabis remains a prohibited substance by way of the Controlled Substance Act of 1970. Under the CSA, the Drug Enforcement Administration classifies cannabis as a Schedule I drug and is also determined to have a high potential for abuse, and no accepted medical use.
The second stage in the legalization process is that the state will recognize the medical benefits of cannabis and legalize it medically, so people with doctors written notes are able to obtain normally high grade cannabis for its medical uses. A few reasons to obtain a medical card include a bad back, insomnia, loss of appetite, and much more. A quick fun fact is that California was the first state to effectively legalize medical cannabis is 1966, when voters approved Proposition 215
The last stage in legalizing cannabis is for recreational use or relating to or denoting drugs taken on an occasional basis for enjoyment, especially when socializing. Cannabis is harmless and has zero scientifically found side effects, other than sitting on the couch and eating a whole bag of chips that is.
In the United States 26 different states have decriminalized marijuana, from Vermont to New Mexico, even to Alaska.
The legalization of medical use has spread to 33 of the 50 states. With that being said Hemp has been decriminalized in all 50 states, but hemp and hemp derived products are only allowed to contain up to .03% tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC.
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