On the Spot: Legalization of Medicinal Marijuana

For this issue, we asked students whether they would vote for or against having medicinal marijuana legally approved in Ohio.

Ramona Brown:
"Yes. If marijuana is medically approved it may lower crime rates and possibly arrest rates. If you don't know history, you'll repeat history. After the passing of the 18th Amendment, crime and arrest rates went down, due to people selling alcohol illegally and not getting caught. So if you make marijuana legal, crime and arrest rates will continue to drop."

Keona Brown:
"Yes, because marijuana is an herb, and most medicine came from herbs. It's not harmful to people, unlike alcohol and many other drugs. They sell more harmful drugs on store shelves."

Dashia Early:
"Yes. Marijuana is far less dangerous than some drugs that are legal, such as tobacco and alcohol. Also making weed legal might just save the government a lot of money. Another reason is that people choose to do things at their own free will. Marijuana is far less harmful and sometimes is a medical cure for people who need it."

Jesika Goodwin:
"Yes, so that it can be used for prescriptions. If they legalize it, marijuana could create jobs for people that really need them. Many people need jobs to support their family, and this might be a way to do that. Also it could be sold in drug stores just like cigarettes come in a pack. You could probably get marijuana in a pack. Having marijuana legal would just help do a lot in today's world."