Changes

The media downplays or even conceals the role of marijuana in murders that result from extreme paranoia. There were many media reports about the brutal random murder of the 22-year-old rookie police officer Natalie Corona in Davis, [[California]] in January 2019, by Kevin Douglas Limbaugh, a white man aged 48.  The toxicology report on Limbaugh showed that he had THC in his blood, which demonstrates his marijuana use.<ref>https://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/story/opinion/2019/04/17/dont-ignore-mental-illness-ties-marijuana/3491146002/</ref>  Yet media reports about the murderer's marijuana use are very hard to find.

The media downplays or even conceals the role of marijuana in murders that result from extreme paranoia. There were many media reports about the brutal random murder of the 22-year-old rookie police officer Natalie Corona in Davis, [[California]] in January 2019, by Kevin Douglas Limbaugh, a white man aged 48.  The toxicology report on Limbaugh showed that he had THC in his blood, which demonstrates his marijuana use.<ref>https://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/story/opinion/2019/04/17/dont-ignore-mental-illness-ties-marijuana/3491146002/</ref>  Yet media reports about the murderer's marijuana use are very hard to find.

A study from New Zealand conducted in part by researchers at Duke University showed that people who started smoking marijuana heavily in their teens and had an ongoing marijuana use disorder lost an average of 8 IQ points between ages 13 and 38. The lost mental abilities didn't fully return in those who quit marijuana as adults. Those who started smoking marijuana as adults didn't show notable IQ declines. <ref>https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/marijuana</ref> This type of permanent brain damage and hindrance is common among teenagers who use drugs for prolonged periods of development.  

A study from New Zealand conducted in part by researchers at Duke University showed that people who started smoking marijuana heavily in their teens and had an ongoing marijuana use disorder lost an average of 8 IQ points between ages 13 and 38. The lost mental abilities didn't fully return in those who quit marijuana as adults. Those who started smoking marijuana as adults didn't show notable IQ declines.<ref>https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/marijuana</ref> This type of permanent brain damage and hindrance is common among teenagers who use drugs for prolonged periods of development.  

[[Liberal denial]] conceals that "the water demand for growing cannabis typically exceeds that of commodity crops by nearly double."<ref>https://mjbizdaily.com/cannabis-requires-more-water-than-commodity-crops-researchers-say/#:~:text=On%20average%2C%20the%20researchers%20found,long%20from%20June%20through%20October.</ref>

[[Liberal denial]] conceals that "the water demand for growing cannabis typically exceeds that of commodity crops by nearly double."<ref>https://mjbizdaily.com/cannabis-requires-more-water-than-commodity-crops-researchers-say/#:~:text=On%20average%2C%20the%20researchers%20found,long%20from%20June%20through%20October.</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.

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.

The [[H.R. 3884|Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act]] was passed through the U.S. House of Representatives on December 4th, 2020.  Passage in the Senate is very unlikely.

The [[H.R. 3884|Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act]] was passed through the U.S. House of Representatives on December 4, 2020.  Passage in the Senate is very unlikely.

===Overseas===

===Overseas===

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. In 2013, the government of the Netherlands enacted a new toleration rule regarding the use of marijuana in order to combat drug tourism, essentially restricting access of marijuana to citizens<ref>https://www.government.nl/topics/drugs/toleration-policy-regarding-soft-drugs-and-coffee-shops</ref>. Crime has since leveled out, leaving the Netherlands with one of the lowest crime rates in Europe until recently<ref>https://www.osac.gov/Country/Netherlands/Content/Detail/Report/5854ae95-5573-449f-a294-1865caaef8ae</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. In 2013, the government of the Netherlands enacted a new toleration rule regarding the use of marijuana in order to combat drug tourism, essentially restricting access of marijuana to citizens.<ref>https://www.government.nl/topics/drugs/toleration-policy-regarding-soft-drugs-and-coffee-shops</ref>  Crime has since leveled out, leaving the Netherlands with one of the lowest crime rates in Europe until recently.<ref>https://www.osac.gov/Country/Netherlands/Content/Detail/Report/5854ae95-5573-449f-a294-1865caaef8ae</ref>  

In several countries, particularly in [[Western Europe]], cannabis use 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 several countries, particularly in [[Western Europe]], cannabis use 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 2013, Uruguay initiated nationwide legalization of recreational 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> Canada legalized recreational cannabis in October 2018, allowing "pot shops" that sold marijuana under the ruse of "medicinal" purposes to drop the pretense and begin selling marijuana openly for recreational purposes.

In 2013, Uruguay initiated nationwide legalization of recreational 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> Canada legalized recreational cannabis in October 2018, allowing "pot shops" that sold marijuana under the ruse of "medicinal" purposes to drop the pretense and begin selling marijuana openly for recreational purposes.

In December 2020, the United Nations voted to reclassify marijuana from the most restrictive Schedule IV classification (equivalent to the US Schedule I) to the less restrictive U.N. Schedule I, indicating that marijuana has a valid medicinal value, while still being highly addictive<ref>https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/02/world/europe/cannabis-united-nations-drug-policy.html</ref>. Should liberals have their way, this opens the window for the U.S. to classify marijuana as Schedule II without violating the Single Convention.

In December 2020, the United Nations voted to reclassify marijuana from the most restrictive Schedule IV classification (equivalent to the US Schedule I) to the less restrictive U.N. Schedule I, indicating that marijuana has a valid medicinal value, while still being highly addictive.<ref>https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/02/world/europe/cannabis-united-nations-drug-policy.html</ref>  Should liberals have their way, this opens the window for the U.S. to classify marijuana as Schedule II without violating the Single Convention.

==Adverse effects==

==Adverse effects==