The Conflict between Federal and State Marijuana Laws Essay Example

Despite the extensive ban of marijuana by the federal laws, around 18 states have succeeded in enacting laws that permit the usage of marijuana for medical purposes for the last two decades. These states have legalized medicinal marijuana only for patients that abide by the law regarding registration, amounts and so forth. Also, state- level penalties apply to anyone who breaks the state laws on marijuana drug.

In the United States, marijuana is classified as a Schedule I substance in the federal Controlled Substances Act (CSA) which were established in 1970. Schedule I drugs are drugs with high abuse probable and addiction. They are regarded to have no medical value thus it is a federal crime to possess, use or even cultivate marijuana. The primary focus of the federal drug enforcement attention is the large-scale trafficking and cultivation