A hot topic in the news with some people and some state legislatures is the legalization of marijuana. Beginning in 1970, with the passage of the Controlled Substances Act, the federal government officially classified marijuana as a Schedule 1 drug with no real accepted medicinal use at the time (History of Marijuana). As the capabilities of science have progressed over time, more and more scientific challenges have bombarded this decision so that more tangible research can be obtained from this plant. The first known mention of marijuana as a recreational drug dates back to the writings of Chinese Emperor Shen Nung in 2737 BC (History of Marijuana). Although the Chinese were aware of the psychoactive properties the plant could induce in consumers, more important to them was its benefit as a medicinal agent (History of Marijuana). There are other cultures that did not have the same view of the plant as the Chinese. In India the drug was used explicitly for recreational purposes, in the Muslim world it was also used for recreational purposes because alcohol is prohibited in Muslim regions (History of Marijuana). Taking a brief look at the history of marijuana it is obvious that there are conflicting ideas regarding its use. With the advancement of science comes not only a look at the plant's possible benefits, but a more detailed look at the possible harm it could potentially do. The current strongest argument for legalizing marijuana concerns the medicinal benefits it may provide to some patients and the alleviation of severe symptoms (Pros of Legalizing Marijuana). Chemotherapy as a cancer eradication treatment can have very negative side effects for the patient receiving these treatments. Chemo...... middle of paper ......of-marijuana-4653.html>."History of Marijuana." Drug rehabilitation. Narconon International and Web. March 12, 2012. “Paul's Position on Marijuana.” Republican Candidates 2012. np and nd Web. March 18, 2012. "Pros of Marijuana Legalization." Marijuana today. Marijuana Today, n.d. Web. March 17, 2012. "Romney's Position on Marijuana." Republican Candidates 2012. np and nd Web. March 18, 2012. .Scott Raynor. “New Types of Synthetic Marijuana Prompt Iowa Lawmakers to Act.”MarionPatch. np, 24 February 2012. Web. 18 March. 2012. .