Abstract
There is a need to legalize marijuana and allow people an alternative source of health care to that which is provided by the pharmaceutical industry.  Big Pharma is responsible for the opioid epidemic devastating lives today.  Marijuana is a naturally occurring plant that people have used responsibly for thousands of years.  It is time to take back control of the lives of people and legalize marijuana.  This proposal explains why that would be beneficial and how the government can take action now.

Introduction (Purpose and Problem)

Marijuana has been legalized by many different states in recent years.  However, it still remains a schedule 1 narcotic according to the federal government, which means under federal law it is considered a substance as dangerous as heroin and cocaine (DEA).  The history of marijuana usage in the U.S. shows that the plant was always legal up until the era of Prohibition and that from that time onward, it never again regained status as a plant with health values or with recreational positives (Deitch).  Today, however, many researchers and advocates are out to show that marijuana has medicinal benefits and is socially acceptable.  The problem remains that the federal government so far refuses to budge on the issue of marijuana.  This is a problem that needs to be addressed because as several states show, legalizing marijuana can increase tax revenues and decrease the amount of black market crime.  Marijuana should be legalized nationwide and this proposal will explain why and how it can be.

Discussion

Analysis of Problem

Marijuana is a drug with medicinal attributes that can help people to relax and relieve pain (Advanced Holistic Health).  However, it is still illegal under federal law and many people have been incarcerated for growing, selling and even possessing marijuana.  Additionally, the federal government needs to increase tax revenue to offset the tax cuts under the Trump Administration.  As the national debt grows, something needs to be done to get the government’s revenue back up to where it needs to be.

Details of Proposal

This proposal aims to fully legalize marijuana nationwide.  This would require an amendment to the Constitution similar to the 21st Amendment, which repealed Prohibition of alcohol.  Once fully legalized it would no longer require a medical card to purchase marijuana as is the case in states like Ohio and Florida.  It would be fully legal as a recreational drug, though states...…recreational purposes.  Throughout all of human history marijuana has been recognized for its healing powers and it was a staple crop among the Founding Fathers.  It was only outlawed so as to allow the pharmaceutical industry to push its highly addictive and deadly products onto the population.  Now the population is suffering from an opioid epidemic.  Legalizing marijuana would help to curb the opioid addiction and would save lives.  It would also increase tax revenues for the government.  All it would require is a bill to be passed in both chambers with a simple majority vote and a signing into law by the president.  This could be achieved by year’s end in time for the 2020 election and could be a true bi-partisan bill that both parties could take credit for.

Works Cited

Advanced Holistic Health.  10,000 year history of marijuana in the world.  

http://www.advancedholistichealth.org/history.html

Chappel, Carmin.  Cory Booker introduces bill to legalize marijuana nationwide, with 

support from fellow 2020 candidates.  CNBC, 2019.  https://www.cnbc.com/2019/02/28/cory-booker-introduces-bill-to-legalize-marijuana-nationwide.html

DEA.  Drug scheduling. DEA, 2018.  https://www.dea.gov/drug-scheduling

Deitch, R. (2003). Hemp: American History Revisited: The Plant with a Divided History. 

New York, NY:  Algora Publishing.

Smith, Aaron.  Colorado passes a milestone for pot revenue.  CNN Money, 2017.…