Matthew McconaugHemp 
Many people have a misconception about what is marijuana legalization and regulation. Often they assume that because marijuana has been legalized in some form across the United States, it must be illegal in others. While there is some truth to this notion, marijuana is a fairly harmless substance, and the laws against it should not interfere with the personal freedom of individuals. This article will clarify what is marijuana regulation, and why it is important to have this discussion in our country.
The differences between medical marijuana regulation and legalization have to do with the actual plant and how it is grown. Legalization is simply the act of removing a temporary legal restriction against something that is not yet illegal. For example, in Colorado, recreational marijuana use is not illegal, but the state has placed strict limitations on the production and distribution of marijuana. Medical marijuana is regulated differently, because it is approved by the state for specific illnesses.
Some supporters of marijuana legalization have pushed for the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes, as an alternative to prescription drugs. However, this argument is not based in fact, but is a cynical attempt to get voters to re-elect politicians who are seen as pro-medical marijuana. The argument is that the drug war is a failure, and that citizens do not want the government interfering with what doctors prescribe. Therefore, they would vote for a candidate who wants to remove the constraints that the government has placed on doctors.
On the other hand, there is an argument that the United States is a rich country with plenty of resources, and that we should allow those resources to be used to improve our nation rather than create more illegal substances. The argument for legalization also claims that there is substantial evidence that marijuana is not harmful, and that the current criminal justice policies concerning marijuana are not effective. This is based on the general assumption that marijuana is not very dangerous, and that the current laws surrounding the drug are really not effective.
As far as criminal justice policies go, there is some concern that marijuana legalization could lead to increased drug use, crime, and violence. Some law enforcement officials have worried that marijuana legalization would make it easier for criminals to get marijuana, while driving cars. Other officials have pointed to examples of criminals getting large quantities of marijuana from Mexican or Colombian suppliers. These officials worry that if marijuana is legalized in the United States, it could lead to increased trafficking, more marijuana users, and the introduction of more drugs into the black market. In short, the argument for marijuana legalization is not based on scientific evidence, but on fear.
There is no real evidence to support the claim that marijuana use is dangerous, and most experts agree that it is not. On the other hand, there is a significant amount of anecdotal evidence that marijuana legalization may reduce the racial and economic gaps between blacks and whites. These claims have not been carefully examined, but many people believe they may be related to legalization.
If marijuana is legalized, will anyone grow it? Currently, marijuana is only grown in the three states that currently allow adult marijuana use: Colorado, Washington, and Alaska. The marijuana plant cannot be grown inside of these states, so it would be a waste of time and money to try to grow it indoors. Some experts think it would be better if the plant was legalized nationwide, because the crop would eventually end up on the black market.
As you can see, there is a lot of conflicting information about whether marijuana is really dangerous. Most authorities agree that marijuana is not harmful for the vast majority of its users, and that it should not be made illegal. Many representatives in Congress, however, want to make marijuana illegal for anyone to purchase, because they fear it will increase crime rates and ill patients will become addicted to it. Regardless of what your position is on marijuana legalization, there is a good chance that legislation will pass soon and more research needs to be done on the subject before making a final determination.
