In keeping with scientific and historical evidence, we hereby declare that "marihuana" (marijuana, cannabis) is to be removed from the Controlled Substances Act's Schedule I listing, and a regulatory scheme for mass cultivation and distribution be created to establish a legal and regulated market as a replacement for the illicit black market.

Cannabis sativa (marijuana) is the most popular illicit drug in the United States. Its prohibition has caused innumerable harm to society. Its re-legalization and regulation would bring a number of advantages. It is currently, fraudulently, listed as a Schedule I narcotic under the Controlled Substances Act, which claims it has no medical value (disproved by the Institute of Medicine's 1996 "Marijuana as Medicine" report, as well as the 17 states in the US which have passed laws establishing its medical value, and other countries such as Israel which have nation-wide medical marijuana programs) and high potential for abuse. Marijuana, however, is a non-toxic, non-addictive substance (aside from slight dependence issues, no worse than a caffeine habit) upon which it is impossible to overdose.

The prohibition of marijuana has failed to achieve its goals, so the only recourse is to end the prohibition and allow a legal and regulated market. This has the added benefit of making marijuana available for medical purposes (in flower, concentrate, or other options that patients would want to have), for medical research, and for the industrial use of its non-psychoactive variety known as hemp. As well, it would lift a large burden off of our criminal justice system, saving untold billions of tax dollars that could be used for more useful purposes (or given back to the people).

Numerous people in my own family would significantly benefit from having legal access to marijuana (for medical purposes). My father, who has Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (a condition which causes unbearable, random pain, burning sensations, intense and random sweating, and other unsavory symptoms); my grandmother who has severe arthritis; my cousin who has Crohn's disease; my mothers best friend who has bone marrow cancer... the list goes on.

Regulated marijuana is better than illicit marijuana, because either way, marijuana is here to stay.