Introduction
Controversial yet popular, marijuana, also known as cannabis, has existed since time immemorial. In Nepal and India, for instance, it has always been used in the religious rituals. Besides, medical practitioners have had the drug in use since the early nineteenth century (Eric, 2013). Even then, marijuana had never been fully legalized until recently when Uruguay broke the ranks to decriminalize the drug. In what came as an eye opener, Uruguay completely changed the way the world views marijuana. As a result, various nations throughout the globe, and the states in the US are currently reconsidering their stand on cannabis. The following discussion seeks to examine the motives behind the legalization of marijuana. Also, I will scrutinize the controversies surrounding decriminalization and some of its effects.
Motives behind the legalization of Marijuana