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Persuasive Essay On Legalizing Marijuana

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The war on drugs has resulted in more problems than benefits. In 1970, Congress established the Controlled Substances Act which placed several plants, drugs, and chemicals into one of five schedules related to the substance’s medical use, potential for abuse, and safety or dependence liability. Marijuana was placed as a schedule I drug, which is a substance considered to have no accepted medical uses, high potential for abuse, and are deemed not safe to use. Marijuana should not be classified as a schedule I drug because there are proven medical uses, and needless arrests has led to population growth in prisons. As of 2018, medical marijuana has become legal for medical use in 29 states and Washington D.C., and more states allow for the use …show more content…

Prosecutors will also examine about 4,940 felony convictions and consider reducing these convictions to a misdemeanor, and they are doing so without effort necessary from the convicted (Doubek). California is not the only state that has been doing this as nine other states are reducing or clearing past marijuana related convictions. Although this doesn’t give those who were convicted the time they wasted in prison back, this is truly a step in the right direction as these nonviolent “felons” can have their civil liberties restored to them. Convicted felons can find it difficult to find employment and lose their ability to vote. In order for marijuana to be reclassified to another schedule or removed from the controlled substances list, the rulemaking process can be started by the DEA, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, or by petition from an interested party (“Marijuana”). Congress is also capable of reclassifying a substance through legislation, but they have no intent on doing so. Unfortunately, people have fought to remove marijuana as a schedule I substance since the Controlled Substances Act was formulated, and petitions related to the rescheduling of marijuana have remained

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