Explaining US Marijuana Policy


  1. 37 states allow legal access to marijuana, which is the majority of the population.
  2. Colorado and Washington were the first states to legalize.
  3. Some states do not allow recreational use of marijuana, instead only allowing it for medical purposes. Others do not have marijuana fully legalized, but it is decriminalized, which means possession or usage would not be technically illegal. Vermont and DC do not allow sales, but people can grow their own.
  4. Decriminalization means offenses are treated more like a traffic violation than a felony. Jail time or prison time would be eliminated, but minor penalties would still apply. Legalization removes all government-enforced penalty for possession and usage.
  5. They said arrests relating to something as common and victimless as marijuana usage causes loss of resources, money, and credibility. Arresting people for marijuana usage could cause resentment against cops because smokers do not harm anyone.
  6. They fear that the market would target aggressive drug users, driving them towards addiction. This, like alcohol companies, allows people to make a profit from something that could potentially ruin lives.
  7. It has significantly increased with more and more people seeing the benefits of decriminalizing and legalizing marijuana.
  8. It is classified as a schedule 1 drug, meaning they say it has no medical value and is highly addictive.
  9. They have both taken a relaxed approach, allowing them to do as they wish as long as they meet certain standards, like not allowing minors to use. While Trump may have wanted to take a tougher approach, current Attorney General William Barr seems to favor Obama's stance.
  10. Since marijuana is technically illegal at a federal level, banks are not too eager to handle the money that comes with marijuana business.

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