Legalization of marijuana in Washington and Colorado, approved by voters in those states on Election Day, is a major change in drug policy and provides fertile ground for a battle between the state and federal government.

Marijuana’s benefits are up for debate, and its full legalization at the state level is quite an extreme step despite the fact that most people seem to know at least one person who uses the drug recreationally.

It’s a unique drug for which acceptance has only grown in recent years, with 18 states now allowing its use for medical purposes. Many people feel that marijuana, or at least its active component, THC, has important medicinal qualities, and those with conditions such as glaucoma or who are undergoing cancer treatment swear by its effectiveness.

Like any drug, marijuana has its drawbacks, however. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, along with all the negative effects that any smoking can have, such as heart and lung damage, marijuana itself has also been shown to have a negative effect on critical thinking and memory, which can last days or weeks after use. Studies have shown a link between chronic marijuana use and increased rates of anxiety, depression and schizophrenia, the NIDA website states, and chronic use can be a marker of risk for mental illness. The risk factors are particularly marked for young people whose brains are still developing.

All drugs have side effects, however, and even prescription pills are being abused. So there’s certainly something to be said for legalizing it for adult use.

According to the Associated Press report, Colorado’s Amendment 64 will allow adults over 21 to possess up to an ounce of marijuana for private use, and would let them legally grow up to six marijuana plants in a private, secure area. Washington will set up a system of state-licensed marijuana growers, processors and stores, where adults can buy up to an ounce; and establishes a standard blood test limit for driving under the influence.

These approaches seem reasonable and will address some of the problems with having such a widely-used, relatively benign drug labeled as illegal. First off, the drug will be regulated and sales will be brought into the mainstream, increasing safety for users. Secondly, by allowing people to legally grow their own, marijuana users would not be supporting drug wars in other countries that seek to supply us. Tax revenue will also be realized from the sale and regulation of the drug.

Correlations are often made between recreational use of marijuana and alcohol, and while both cause impairment, violence is uncommon for those who are under the influence of marijuana, whereas many domestic violence problems involve alcohol abuse ”“ and people are often sickened or die from overindulging. Surely, adults should have the choice of another legal alternative to liquor, wine and beer if they seek intoxication ”“ with the same safety caveats of avoiding driving, for example.

As well, it seems that it’s easier for young people to get illegal marijuana than it is to get alcohol because the latter is well regulated by merchants, with campaigns reminding adults not to buy for youth.

Washington and Colorado will provide important test cases going forward to see if marijuana can be effectively regulated in the same way as alcohol and cigarettes. It’s impossible to keep all youth from getting these items, but it’s a lot easier when they’re legal. It’s mostly unheard-of to have someone dealing vodka in a back alley nowadays.

But while it may be for the best that these two states have legalized it, marijuana is still illegal in the eyes of the federal government, so they have every right to come into the state and shut down any marijuana operation or prosecute anyone who has it or is growing it. So far, the Department of Justice  has not said what its intentions are as far as dealing with these dueling laws, and they haven’t been cracking down on states that allow medical marijuana. But we’d suggest that anyone who is thinking of embracing the new state laws should do so with caution just the same.

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Today’s editorial was written by Managing Editor Kristen Schulze Muszynski on behalf of the Journal Tribune Editorial Board. Questions? Comments? Contact Kristen by calling 282-1535, Ext. 322, or via email at kristenm@journaltribune.com.