Individuals consider using marijuana for recreational purposes, and they believe that it does not pose any serious complications like other controlled substances such as crack and heroin. Marijuana is illegal in most nations in the world; however, 24 states and DC have implemented the laws to legalize marijuana. The legalization of marijuana is a controversial topic that raises questions concerning health, well-being and lives of people living in any country or state. Doctors have tested and proved that marijuana has a positive effect on the health of an individual and the society; therefore, the Supreme Court should consider the interest of the drug dealers and user before making any decision. The lawsuit case that entailed Nebraska and the Oklahoma States v. Colorado State caught the attention of many people (Nelson, 2016). The arguments of the case made people have varied opinions when analyzing the outcome of the court’s decision. To understand the verdict of the case, it is important to examine the case and decide whether the decision was justified or ambiguous.

The state of Colorado has legalized marijuana, and they argue that they regulate the sale of this drug for medicinal and recreational use (Nelson, 2016). The fact that Colorado State uses marijuana for medicinal purposes is a positive move by the state since it has resulted in no side effects when used that way. Marijuana provides a medical necessity by stimulating appetite and relieving nausea in patients suffering from cancer and AIDS. Marijuana is different from alcohol, sleep aid, and cigarettes because it is not addictive and from the research from the various scientist, it has proved to have no drawbacks. The State of Colorado has never recorded any death cases caused by an overdose on marijuana. Similarly, Colorado’s economy benefits from growing, processing and retailing marijuana to states and nations all over the world (Nelson, 2016).

Nebraska and the Oklahoma States are neighbors to Colorado, and they argued that the recreational marijuana stores opened in Colorado in 2014 increased the cross-border crime (Nelson, 2016). Besides, their argument was based on the fact that the move by Colorado to regulate marijuana stores was an illegal act under the federal law. Colorado has done nothing to prevent the flow of marijuana to Oklahoma and Nebraska, and this directly violates the federal and state laws. Crime cases have increased in Nebraska and Oklahoma because of the frequent flow of marijuana across the border (Nelson, 2016). It has led to more problems such as drug trafficking, violence, poverty and drug use among children. The recreational stores in Colorado sell marijuana to people over the age of 21 years, and this has a greater influence on the peer groups who are under aged. The neighboring states argue that the Supreme Court should have used the Constitution and the Controlled Substance Act to make a decision in their favor.

The US Supreme Court ruled in favor of Colorado and refused to consider the lawsuit filed by Nebraska and Oklahoma. The Supreme Court declined to hear the challenge tabled by the two states against Colorado’s marijuana laws based on the following argument. According to the Supreme Court’s judges, the two states used a rare approach to attack the State of Colorado. They did not consider challenging the law’s decriminalization of marijuana possession and use, but they based their argument on some parts of the Colorado law that were at odds with the federal law. Moreover, Nebraska and Oklahoma stated that Colorado’s marijuana law had spillover effects, taxed the criminal justice systems of the neighboring states and affect the health of their residence.

In conclusion, marijuana as a recreational and medicinal drug has caused more good than harm. Marijuana should be legalized, and people deserve the right to use marijuana if it has a positive effect on their health. Also, the state or federal government should only limit or regulate the use of marijuana if they think that its use endangers someone else. According to the Supreme Court, marijuana does not pose a threat to other people; therefore, the drug is useful as a recreational and medicinal substance. The recreational use of marijuana has benefited the State of Colorado by boosting its economy. On the other hand, Colorado’s marijuana laws affect the neighboring states by increasing criminal activities in the border. However, Nebraska and Oklahoma failed to use the spillover effects of marijuana to support their argument before the Supreme Court.

Reference

Nelson, S. (2016, March 21). Supreme Court kills anti-pot legalization lawsuit. Retrieved April 20, 2016, from http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2016-03-21/supreme-court-kills-anti-pot-legalization-lawsuit

 
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