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Abstract
Legalizing marijuana for medicinal or recreational use is rapidly gaining favor among the American public, driven by demographic changes and shifting attitudes. Nearly 40 percent of Americans live in states where medical marijuana is legal, and 16 states have decriminalized possession of small amounts of the drug. Colorado and Washington just legalized the recreational use of marijuana, and legalization advocates around the country are collecting signatures to get marijuana legalization proposals on the ballot. But despite changing opinions and the flurry of legislative efforts, marijuana is still illegal under federal law, and the discrepancy between state and federal laws creates a murky legal area for states, marijuana dispensaries, patients and recreational users.