Marijuana- illegal or legal What is best for Hawaii Research Paper

Marijuana- illegal or legal What is best for Hawaii - Research Paper Example It was also commonly used as an intoxicant in this period. However, a campaign by the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs, portraying it as an addictive and powerful substance that acted as a gateway drug led to its illegalization. It became a symbol of authority rebellion for hippies and college students in the 60s. Along with LSD and heroin, marijuana was classified as a schedule 1 drug in 1970 through the Controlled Substances Act, which classed it as possessing high potential; for abuse with no accepted use in medicine. The Bush and Reagan â€Å"zero tolerance† era saw the passage of strict regulations and sentences for marijuana possession and increased surveillance of cross-border smuggling (Joffe & Yancy 637). This brought a shift to reliance on domestic marijuana cultivation in California and Hawaii. However, expanded crackdowns saw another shift towards indoor growing; leading to a decade of falling marijuana use. However, its use saw a revival in the 90s, which l eveled off in the 2000s. Where We Are Today In Hawaii With Marijuana? On 8th March, 2011, the state senate passed five bills related to marijuana. Senate Bill 58 increased marijuana amounts that an individual could carry to allow them carry 5 ounces or grow 10 plants at any given time (Cooper & Daws 276). The bill was also meant to protect the confidentiality of patients and address issues concerning marijuana transport. Bill 113, in turn, provided for a marijuana research program of three years, which would be conducted in Hawaii involving local marijuana users and qualified researchers. Bill 175, should it be passed into law, would see a shift in authority of marijuana laws to the Health Department from the Public Safety Department. Bill 1458 aims to create three class levels for licensing purposes: the first is â€Å"compassion centers that will be responsible for the dispensation of marijuana, the second for cultivation centers, and the third for the sale of infused marijuana ( Cooper & Daws 279). One of the most essential steps towards marijuana legalization is Bill 1460, which seeks to decriminalize any amount of marijuana that is less than one ounce. The bill also proposes that requirements that currently call for reporting of students in possession of marijuana be cancelled if they are caught in possession of less than an ounce of marijuana (Cooper & Daws 280). The five bills in the Senate are widely supported with two among them seeing unanimous approval with the other three facing a maximum of two no votes. These bills are expected to continue towards House approval. According to a number of senators, the economic conditions, money spent on arrests, drastic debts in the state, and the proven effects of medical marijuana make it high time to learn from the decriminalization in Colorado. In addition, if law enforcement and state government should put their efforts towards proper taxation, rather than prosecuting and prohibiting distributors, growers, a nd users so as to provide revenue that is required to improve the debt in the state (Cooper & Daws 281). The recent support given by senate is a sign that this is agreed on by a majority of the senators. Marijuana as a Legal Drug Uses of Marijuana There are various methods of marijuana administration, such as smoking of dried buds, vaporizing, taking capsules, and eating or drinking extracts