As the times change we have seen an evolution in the moral and personal views behind marijuana and those who use it. While some find the use of marijuana helpful for medical reasons, the average person may partake for recreational purposes.
In a nation where marijuana use has been shunned and looked down upon since the early 1930’s, mostly due to propaganda tactics such as the movie Reefer Madness, it is shocking to some to see the widely spread acceptance of the “drug”. Weed is classified by the DEA as a schedule 1 substance, which is the same category that heroin, ecstacy and LCD is placed in.
Though federal laws still restrict the use of marijuana, 20 states in the U.S. has legalized marijuana for medicinal and recreational use. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has decided to launch a pilot program allowing 20 hospitals to prescribe medicinal marijuana to their patients. After a recent poll, 49% of New York voters agreed with the legalization of marijuana.
While opposing sides may be against the use of marijuana they may not be as reluctant after seeing the financial benefits of legalizing weed. In Colorado, marijuana dispensaries  sales were reportedly over $1 million in the very first day of operation. After viewing the success of marijuana sales in other states such as California and Colorado it is easy to see how this new form of reefer madness has begun to spread across the country.
Will all 50 states eventually legalize the medicinal and recreational use of marijuana?
-Tennelle Swan
