California Proposition 215 Medical Marijuana - 2045 Words

California Proposition 215 For many years in the past, marijuana has been made to look like a dangerous drug, linked to crime and addiction. In the early 1920s and ‘30s most people still did not know what marijuana was or had even heard of it yet. Those who had heard of it were largely uninformed. The drug rarely appeared in the media, but when it did it was linked to crime and even thought to be murder-inducing. A 1929 article in the Denver Post reported a Mexican-American man who murdered his stepdaughter was a marijuana addict (Baird 2011). Articles such as this began to form a long-standing link between marijuana and crime in the public’s mind. Soon, laws against marijuana began coming into place. In 1970, Congress classified†¦show more content†¦Last, I will discuss how interest groups such as Californians for Medical Rights and Californians for Compassionate Use affected the bill’s success. In 1996, California Proposition 215 passed with 55.6% votes in favor and 44.4% against it (Baird 2011). That is more California votes than Bush, Clinton, or most other elected presidents have received. Proposition 215 was the first statewide medical marijuana voter initiative adopted in the USA. This proposition was envisioned by San Francisco marijuana activist and owner of the San Francisco Cannabis Buyer’s Club, Dennis Peron, in memory of his partner, who smoked marijuana to help with symptoms of AIDS. Initially, California claimed its support for the legalization of medical marijuana by voting 80% in favor of Proposition P, the San Francisco medical marijuana initiative in 1991 (Baird 2011). Three California polls show a majority siding with Proposition 215, which would require only a doctor s recommendation for marijuana use by patients with AIDS, cancer, glaucoma or any other illness for which marijuana provides relief (Goldberg 1996). A Field Poll ending Oct. 9, 1996 showed that 56 percent of those surveyed would vote for the measure, a private poll in the same period by the campaign for Proposition 215 found 57 percent supporting it, and a Los Angeles Times poll found 58 percent in favor. The oppositionShow MoreRelatedCalifornia Proposition 215: Legalizing Medical Marijuana Essays2671 Words   |  11 PagesAlso known as California Proposition 215, the Compassionate Use Act of 1996 made headlines around the country as the first law ever to change the legality of medical marijuana for public consumption statewide. Originating in San Francisco, it was passed by 55.6% of California voters on November 5, 1996 (Human Rights and the Drug War). The ideology behind passing Prop. 215 is that marijuana contains a number of legitimate medical uses and should be made available to those who would benefit from itRead MoreThe Failure of Californias Proposition 19694 Words   |  3 PagesCannabis, also known as Marijuana, has been used by humans through out history for medical, recreational, as well as spiritual purposes. Its fiber, oil, and seed are also refined into products such as hemp oil, wax, rope, cloth, and paper (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 2013, para. 1). With 56% voters overwhelming supported for medical cannabis, California became the first state in the United States to pass Prop 215 in 1996 ensuring the patients and their primary caregivers to â€Å"have the right toRead MoreThe Policy Design For Recreational Cannabis Model769 Words   |  4 Pagesfor analytical purposes, the policy cycle will be divided in two major models: the legalization for recreational purposes (4 states) and legalization for medical purposes (in all of its forms) (33 cases). 3. Design stage 3.1 Policy design for recreational cannabis model The main goal pursued by the legalization policies is to convert marijuana in a tradable commodity, under similar conditions and treatment given to alcohol and tobacco. In this sense, the policy approach is mainly directed to marketRead MoreThe Marijuana Of The United States Government1280 Words   |  6 PagesThe history of marijuana in the United States government date back to the origins of the United States government itself. During the 16th century, the mass production of hemp was encouraged by the British government for its fibrous content, which was used for making fabric, ropes, cords, and other items (â€Å"Marijuana Timeline† 2014). By 1619, the Virginia assembly passed legislation requiring each household in the colony to cultivate hemp, praising its variety of beneficial uses. Even after theRead MoreThe Great Debate: Medical Marijuana, Is It Ethical?866 Words   |  4 PagesThe debate on Medical marijuana has been a controversial subject mainly because people have an abundance of opinions and very little scientific research to back up either side of the debate. The most important question here is â€Å"will medical marijuana be used for medical purposes or will it be used inappropriately?† Unlike a person who uses marijuana for medicine or entertainment, some people use marijuana as a means for income. Honestly marijuana sales is a very profitable business but the problemRead MorePersuasive Essay: Legalizing Marijuana965 Words   |  4 PagesPaper 3: Persuasive â€Å"Advantages of Legalizing Marijuana† Advantages of Legalizing Marijuana Marijuana use is on the rise, especially among teenagers and young adults. With the recent laws passed in eight states about legalizing medical marijuana , many stand divided when it comes to this never ending debate, but I firmly believe that this miracle working drug should be legalized throughout the United States. Marijuana is by far the most commonly used illegal drug.Read More Fighting For Our Love Ones Essay1664 Words   |  7 Pageslegalization of marijuana for medical use. Until marijuana is legalized for medical use, our love ones are forced to break the law. quot;†¦my gift to my husband, John Joseph who died last year. At the end of his life, my husband was wracked with pain from lung cancer. Marijuana was one medication that eased his intense pain, and nausea during chemotherapy. But, to get marijuana to help JJ, we had to break the law. †¦my husband’s ability to tolerate chemotherapy after a couple of puffs of marijuana extendedRead MoreMarijuana Should Not Be Legal Essay1212 Words   |  5 Pagesor drug paraphernalia. In fact, 63% of you stated in my survey that you had smoked marijuana in the past. That number is scary, since 81% of you are under 25 years of age and have your whole lives ahead of you. Some of you may be thinking quot;So Whatquot; Bill Clinton has admitted smoking marijuana, and he is President. Well, that surely is not a good attitude to have considering the damage that marijuana may cause to your body. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Sure, many of you may notRead MoreShould Marijuana Be Legal For Medical Purposes?2106 Words   |  9 Pagesit ganja, some call it pot, and some call it marijuana. Some smoke ganja to get high and fly , some smoke pot to be stoners, but then they are the people who smoke marijuana to medicate. Legalizing marijuana has been a big controversy for a while. But in 1996 and 2004 California took two steps forward for legalizing marijuana. The first was prop 215 making possessing and cultivating pot legal for medical purposes. The second was an extension on prop 215 which is SB 420 allowing dispensaries or collectivesRead MoreEssay about The Benefits of Legalizing Marijuana1144 Words   |  5 Pages  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Marijuana use is on the rise, especially among teenagers and young adults. With the recent laws passed in eight states, legalizing medical marijuana many stand divided when it comes to this never ending debate, but I firmly believe that this miracle w orking drug should be legalized throughout the United States. Marijuana is by far the most commonly used illegal drug. Statistics show that over 70 million Americans have tried Marijuana and more that 20 million smoked it last year. So it is