What is the legal status of marijuana in the United States?

The legalization of marijuana in 11 states does make it hard for marijuana addicts to justify accessing treatment. However, family intervention is an effective approach to take and does convince marijuana addicts they need help. The first step with organizing an intervention is hiring a family interventionist, and this process helps the family regain control. Certified interventionists are qualified and trained to counsel families to perform interventions. Most addictions involving marijuana are part of a larger drug problem, but there are countless marijuana users whose primary drug of choice is marijuana. Family intervention works because it helps the addict understand the importance of treatment. When the family contacts the interventionist, the first day is spent educating the family.

During that time, the interventionist helps the family determine who will be there and when and where the intervention would take place. All aspects of the intervention are organized, such as the treatment center, transportation, and whoit is escorting the addict to treatment. Usually, the interventionist should escort the drug user to the treatment program because they know what to expect during the transit. After the family education,the next day is the intervention, and this should take place in a location where the addict is comfortable. The purpose of the intervention is to be supportive and not place blame or point the finger.

Like alcohol, marijuana is widely accepted, which makes it difficult to convince people they need help. The purpose of the intervention is to help the addict understand how their addiction affects them and the people around them. The process works, but the family and friends should be prepared to follow through with consequences if the person saysno to treatment. The family must remain confident in their ability to help their loved ones. Like any other addiction, marijuana addiction becomes progressively worse, especially when other drugs are involved. The treatment process for marijuana addiction involves detox and inpatient or outpatient rehabilitation.

Short-term and outpatient drug rehab programs are the most common options accessed by marijuana addicts. However, family intervention is successful in convincing an addict to attend a long-term treatment program. A common barrier is overcoming the legal status of marijuana, especially if the intervention takes place in a state where marijuana is legal. However, the same approach is taken when someone is addicted to alcohol. The purpose of intervention and treatment is to get the person help immediately.

On a federal level within the United States, the use, possession, and trafficking of marijuana are illegal by way of the Controlled Substances Act. Under the Controlled Substance Act, marijuana is classified as a Schedule I substance, which is determined to have a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use. However, at the state level, policies regarding medical and recreational cannabis vary greatly, and many states conflict with federal law. The medical use of marijuana is legalized in 33 states, and four out five permanently inhabited American territories, and the District of Columbia. Fourteen states have laws that limit THC content to allow access to products that have cannabidiol in them. Despite cannabis being illegal at the federal level, the Rohrabacher – Farr amendment prohibits federal prosecution of people complying with state medical marijuana laws.

The recreational use of cannabis is currently legal in 11 states as of 2019. These states are Alaska, California, Colorado, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington, and the District of Columbia, the Northern Mariana Islands, and Guam. There are another 15 states and the American Virgin Islands that have decriminalized marijuana. The commercial distribution of marijuana is allowed in all jurisdictions where cannabis is legal for recreational use. However, the state of Vermont and the District of Columbia do not permit the legal distribution of cannabis. The Food and Drug Administration has also approved derivative compounds for prescription use, despite marijuana being illegal at the federal level.

Each year more states are considering bills for the legalization of marijuana. For example, in 2018, 21 states considered bills that would legalize adult use of marijuana. Many of the bills before state legislatures in 2018 addressed the federal role in marijuana policies. There were 26 states and the District of Columbia that have decriminalized small amounts of marijuana. Generally, this means small personal consumption amounts are a civil or local infraction and not a state crime. Some states have reduced criminal penalties for marijuana convictions and in the last five years’ legislation in at least 16 states have amended marijuana penalties. Also, in the past four years, at least fifteen states have passed laws addressing the expungement of certain marijuana convictions.

Marijuana laws are always changing throughout the United States on a state level. Along with this, millions of Americans are using marijuana recreationally and for medical reasons. Chronic marijuana use does create problems in life, such as social, financial, and even psychological issues. The long-term use of marijuana does cause drug dependency and tolerance to the effects of marijuana. There are also millions of Americans struggling with a substance use disorder where cannabis is cited as being one of the many drugs of choice. If you are struggling with an addiction to marijuana, many different treatment programs across the nation will help. Marijuana addiction is effectively treated through either inpatient or outpatient drug rehab.

Works Cited
http://www.ncsl.org/research/civil-and-criminal-justice/marijuana-overview.aspx

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