The 2 Sides of the Marijuana Legalization Debate

There are two sides to every story, including the debate surrounding marijuana legalization. For that reason, we will be considering what the supporters and critics have to say, beginning with the supporters.

What the Supporters Have to Say: Supporters of marijuana legalization purport the numerous health benefits of cannabis. According to an article by Jennifer Welsh and Kevin Loria on BusinessInsider.com , there are at least 23 health benefits of marijuana taken in various forms. These benefits include the following:

Anyone who has gone through any of these health problems and diseases, or knows of someone who has, understands the need to find relief. Most of the above conditions and diseases are debilitating, painful and even deadly. Marijuana seems to be a viable option to help people dealing with such horrible conditions. As a result, the supporters of marijuana legalization are extremely passionate about their cause.

North Carolina’s Stand on Marijuana Legalization

In 2015, a Pew Research Report was conducted on the issue of marijuana legalization, comparing supporters and critics. The report found that there is a “dramatic long-term shift” among public opinion regarding marijuana’s legalization: 53% support legalization and 44% oppose it. This is a 21% increase in support since 2006. Millennials, those aged 18-34 years, are the biggest supporters, but there is an overall increase in support across all age groups.

How does North Carolina rate? Currently, medical marijuana is legal, but even in this situation the use of cannabis is limited. To many, it seems only logical to legalize the drug because of its numerous benefits. However, marijuana legalization has many opponents and these people are just as passionate about their cause as those who support legalization. What do the critics have to say about the issue? We will discuss their arguments in our next post.

The post 2 Sides to Every Story—the Marijuana Legalization Debate: Part I appeared first on Law Office of John C. Fitzpatrick | Durham Attorneys | DWI, Criminal Defense, Car Accidents.