This is not only a dangerous message we are sending to young people, but to people in general. Without marijuana being federally legalized, proper medical testing cannot be conducted. This is a dangerous thread the medical community is weaving. Doctors in twenty-three states are now able to medically prescribe a drug that they know very little about. The risks and benefits need to be studied extensively to insure safe use. The federal government has two options at this point, one is to stand down and legalize it, or start conducting extensive research that without a doubt proves that marijuana has absolutely no medical benefits and only negative health risks. By continuing to do nothing on the matter, we are creating a generation of individuals that see the federal government as nothing other than an old fashion governing body that is …show more content…
The country became obsessed with anti-drug and alcohol campaigns and imaginative journalism flourished. News articles were published in the 20’s painting a horrible picture of marijuana, linked to low class immigrants committing crimes. In the 1930’s Harry J. Anslinger became head of the Narcotics Bureau for the U.S. Treasury Department and marijuana took another hit. Competing with other federal departments during the depression was no easy task. Anslinger needed a truly horrific villain to rally the government into assuring his budget was a federal priority. Aiding in the fight against marijuana was the release of the movie Reefer Madness in the late 30’s. As new bills were brought to Congress, many members knew nothing of the drug, making it that much easier for Anslinger to claim marijuana was incredibly