Changes

*[[Barack Hussein Obama|Barack Obama]] has admitted to use of marijuana. Former President [[Bill Clinton]] has also admitted to smoking marijuana, but claims that he "did not inhale". Former President [[George W. Bush]] privately admitted to smoking marijuana, but stated he wouldn't state it publicly "'Cause I don't want some little kid doing what I tried."

*[[Barack Hussein Obama|Barack Obama]] has admitted to use of marijuana. Former President [[Bill Clinton]] has also admitted to smoking marijuana, but claims that he "did not inhale". Former President [[George W. Bush]] privately admitted to smoking marijuana, but stated he wouldn't state it publicly "'Cause I don't want some little kid doing what I tried."

==Legal Status==

==Legal History==

 

Marijuana is a [[Schedule I]] [[Controlled Substance]] in the United States of America, meaning that it is illegal under federal law of the United States,  and considered to have no redeemable medical value. According to the FBI, in 2012, there were 658,000 arrests for marijuana possession compared with 256,000 for cocaine, heroin and their derivatives.<ref name=nyt>{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/07/27/opinion/sunday/high-time-marijuana-legalization.html?_r=0|title=Repeal Prohibition, Again|work=New York Times|date=July 26, 2014|accessdate=July 27, 2014}}</ref>  In several countries, particularly in [[Western Europe]], it is has been decriminalized. However, in many other countries, particularly those in the Middle East and Asia, possession of even small amounts of cannabis can be punishable by death. In 2012, the states of [[Washington]] and [[Colorado]] adopted voter referenda to legalize the recreational use of marijuana.  At the same time, [[Oregon]] voters rejected a similar proposition. Federal officials said that they would contest state laws that would legalize marijuana.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/08/us-usa-marijuana-votes-idUSBRE8A705E20121108|title=Marijuana legalization victories could be short-lived|first=Alex|last=Dobuzinskis|date=Nov 7, 2012|accessdate=November 8, 2012}}</ref>

Marijuana is a [[Schedule I]] [[Controlled Substance]] in the United States of America, meaning that it is illegal under federal law of the United States,  and considered to have no redeemable medical value. According to the FBI, in 2012, there were 658,000 arrests for marijuana possession compared with 256,000 for cocaine, heroin and their derivatives.<ref name=nyt>{{cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2014/07/27/opinion/sunday/high-time-marijuana-legalization.html?_r=0|title=Repeal Prohibition, Again|work=New York Times|date=July 26, 2014|accessdate=July 27, 2014}}</ref>  In several countries, particularly in [[Western Europe]], it is has been decriminalized. However, in many other countries, particularly those in the Middle East and Asia, possession of even small amounts of cannabis can be punishable by death. In 2012, the states of [[Washington]] and [[Colorado]] adopted voter referenda to legalize the recreational use of marijuana.  At the same time, [[Oregon]] voters rejected a similar proposition. Federal officials said that they would contest state laws that would legalize marijuana.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/08/us-usa-marijuana-votes-idUSBRE8A705E20121108|title=Marijuana legalization victories could be short-lived|first=Alex|last=Dobuzinskis|date=Nov 7, 2012|accessdate=November 8, 2012}}</ref>

The [[Netherlands]] decriminalized the use of marijuana in 1976. As a result, marijuana use among the 18-25 age group doubled, however, despite its availability, marijuana use in the Netherlands is lower than the European average. The Netherlands also saw an influx of "drug tourists" and other undesirables, as well as an increase in crime. This has since levelled out, leaving the Netherlands with one of the lowest crime rates in Europe. In 2013, Uruguay initiated nationwide legalization of marijuana, becoming the first developed nation to do so in the modern era.<ref name="FijnautRuyver2015">{{cite book|author1=Cyrille J.C.F. Fijnaut|author2=Brice de Ruyver|title=The Third Way: A Plea for a Balanced Cannabis Policy|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bCdACgAAQBAJ&pg=PA57|date=24 July 2015|publisher=BRILL|isbn=978-90-04-29319-9|pages=57–}}</ref>

Many liberals have advocated for decriminalization, including National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, Marijuana Policy Project, and Law Enforcement Against Prohibition.<ref>[http://www.leap.cc Law Enforcement Against Prohibition]</ref><ref>http://www.lp.org/issues/lp-oss.shtml</ref> On July 26, 2014, the ''New York Times'' published an editorial calling for removing federal controls over marijuana for people 21 and older, leaving the question to individual states.<ref name=nyt/> Many [[American]] [[conservative]]s, especially social conservatives, oppose legalization of marijuana in any form due to its perceived harmful medical and psychological effects and its likelihood of harm to third parties due to drug-related crime and reckless driving. A few libertarian-leaning conservatives, most notably [[Ron Paul]], [[William F. Buckley]], and [[Larry Elder]], have advocated the decriminalization of this drug. Some [[liberal]]s support legalization, but most instead advocate for drug treatment and rehabilitation. [[Libertarian]]s are usually the biggest supporters of marijuana legalization. [[Gary Johnson]], a former Republican and 2012 Libertarian Party Presidential candidate for President, is the highest ranking US politician to advocate for marijuana legalization. He was a two-term Governor of [[New Mexico]].

Many liberals have advocated for decriminalization.<ref>[http://www.leap.cc Law Enforcement Against Prohibition]</ref><ref>http://www.lp.org/issues/lp-oss.shtml</ref> On July 26, 2014, the ''New York Times'' published an editorial calling for removing federal controls over marijuana for people 21 and older, leaving the question to individual states.<ref name=nyt/>

Legalization on a Federal level is virtually impossible, since the United States was a major leader in the international treaty known as the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs<ref>[url=https://www.unodc.org/pdf/convention_1961_en.pdf]</ref> of 1970.  Said treaty is defined by the Constitution as carrying equal weight to an Amendment to the Constitution; therefore, the only way marijuana could ever be legal on a Federal level is if we withdrew from a treaty of our own creation as a prerequisite to legalization.

Many [[American]] [[conservative]]s, especially social conservatives, oppose legalization of marijuana in any form due to its perceived harmful medical and psychological effects and its likelihood of harm to third parties due to drug-related crime and reckless driving. A few libertarian-leaning conservatives, most notably [[Ron Paul]], [[William F. Buckley]], and [[Larry Elder]], have advocated the decriminalization of this drug. Some [[liberal]]s support legalization, but most instead advocate for drug treatment and rehabilitation. [[Libertarian]]s are usually the biggest supporters of marijuana legalization. [[Gary Johnson]], a former Republican and 2012 Libertarian Party Presidential candidate for President, is the highest ranking US politician to advocate for marijuana legalization. He was a two-term Governor of [[New Mexico]].

 

The [[Netherlands]] decriminalized the use of marijuana in 1976. As a result, marijuana use among the 18-25 age group doubled, however, despite its availability, marijuana use in the Netherlands is lower than the European average. The Netherlands also saw an influx of "drug tourists" and other undesirables, as well as an increase in crime. This has since levelled out, leaving the Netherlands with one of the lowest crime rates in Europe. In 2013, Uruguay initiated nationwide legalization of marijuana, becoming the first developed nation to do so in the modern era.<ref name="FijnautRuyver2015">{{cite book|author1=Cyrille J.C.F. Fijnaut|author2=Brice de Ruyver|title=The Third Way: A Plea for a Balanced Cannabis Policy|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bCdACgAAQBAJ&pg=PA57|date=24 July 2015|publisher=BRILL|isbn=978-90-04-29319-9|pages=57–}}</ref>

Legalization on a Federal level is virtually impossible, since the United States was a major leader in the international treaty known as the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs<ref>[url=https://www.unodc.org/pdf/convention_1961_en.pdf]</ref> of 1970.  Said treaty is defined by the Constitution as carrying equal weight to an Amendment to the Constitution; therefore, the only way marijuana could ever be legal on a Federal level is if we withdrew from a treaty of our own creation as a prerequisite to legalization.

==References==

==References==