This map shows the states that have decriminalized, or legalized the medical use of marijuana.  A number of states have legalized medical marijuana. 8 states have decriminalized medical marijuana.  A few of the medical marijuana states have also decriminalized marijuana.  Also, there are currently still no states that have fully legalized marijuana, although there are states that are proposing legalization legislation.

Research Memo

Survey Questions

1. What is your gender?   Male   Female

2.The decision to legalize the use of marijuana for medical purposes should be a (choose one) 

State Issue  /  Federal Issue

3. Do you believe marijuana is addictive?

Yes  /  No

4.  Marijuana is a 'gateway drug', or leads to the use of other drugs

True  /  False

5. Adults should be allowed to legally use marijuana for medical purposes if a physician recommends it?

  Strongly Agree  /  Agree  /  Somewhat Agree  /  Somewhat Disagree  /  Disagree  /  Strongly Disagree

6.  Marijuana has medical benefit.

True  /  False

7.  All marijuana use should be legalized

Agree /  Disagree

8.  On a scale of 1 – 10, with 1 being not important at all and 10 being really important, how serious is the problem of marijuana usage in the United States? 

1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9  10 

9.  Marijuana is a dangerous drug.

True /  False

10.  If medical marijuana was legalized federally, would you support or oppose the taxation of marijuana sales?       Support   /   Oppose

Essential Questions

1.How would the legalization of medical marijuana benefit the United States of America?



2.Who is currently trying to persuade and push the federal government to legalize medical marijuana?



3.How does medical marijuana effect the user and what are some of the diseases that it treats?



4.How does the consumption of medical marijuana beneficially effect the patient?



5.How does the consumption of medical marijuana negatively effect the patient?



6.How does the use of marijuana as a medicine compare to the use and side effects of prescription drugs?



7.Why should marijuana be a medical option?



8.What are the states that have decriminalized and/or legalized medical marijuana and how are these states trying to persuade the federal government to legalize marijuana as a medical option?



9. Should the United States legalize marijuana as a source of medicinal use?



10.What if the US legalized marijuana, how would this decision impact the nation?

Story Behind my Topic

Marijuana has been seen throughout history in many past civilizations as a source of medicinal value.  However, in 1972, the U.S. Congress placed marijuana in Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, which is the ranking reserved for the most dangerous drugs, because they considered it to have no accepted medical value. Since then, 16 of the 50 US states and the District of Columbia have legalized the medical use of marijuana.  Even though state law may permit medical marijuana, federal law overrules the states laws and can sometimes prosecute patients who have a state medical marijuana card, which is given to a patient after a thorough health exam and a physicians reference.  People who are Pro-legalization argue that it can be a safe and effective treatment for the symptoms of cancer, HIV/AIDS, multiple sclerosis, chronic pain, glaucoma, epilepsy, and many other conditions. I chose this topic because, I believe, marijuana is misjudged by many people and it does have medical value.  The reason I believe this is because I heard of a story in California where a 7 year old boy was hyperactive and aggressive, and had been diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder, and impulsive control disorder.  He had seen sixteen physicians who prescribed him over 19 medications. He had often been over medicated, to the point of slobbering, slurring his words, and being unable to walk.  The physicians at a psychiatric hospital believed that JJ appeared better when the medications were stopped.  JJ's mother did not support medical marijuana but after talking with caseworkers, team members, and several physicians, started to consider the option of marijuana. He was taken off all of the psychiatric medications.  He started ingesting the marijuana in the form of a muffin, one half of the muffin in the morning, and the other half in the afternoon.  His social worker and teachers reported that his behavior had positively changed and he became very polie and interacted enthusiastically with other people.  The most noticeable reported change was JJ's use of words.  During his use of marijuana, when he became frustrated he explained what the problem was instead of acting out.When he became frustrated, after using marijuana, he explained what the problem was instead of acting out.