The debate over marijuana prohibition has been going on for years, but with 16 states and DC now declaring medical marijuana legal, the tide is turning. Recently, California implemented a new law called The Regulate Marijuana Like Wine Act of 2012, which will be voted on during the upcoming election season. Marijuana reform has become a wide-ranging debate for many reasons, including individual liberties, medical benefits, and states' rights. The federal government has banned cannabis possession since 1937 after all states made the same decision, so marijuana was illegal nationwide. Since then, there has been a war on drugs, which has primarily focused on cannabis, hence the main conflict between states' rights and federal law. The main positions in favor of marijuana legalization are for or against; it barely varies between recreational use and medicinal use versus a total ban. The main reason people oppose marijuana legalization is because the issue doesn't affect them one way or the other and there is often no compromise. Among those in favor of legalization, it varies more broadly, some favor full legalization where adults can consume marijuana as they please, to legalization and regulation similar to wine regulation , until legalization for strictly medical use. For my purposes, we will only discuss regulating marijuana like wine, as the law proposes. The two articles on this specific issue come from Cannabis Culture: Marijuana Magazine and Newsreview.com. The first, Battle of the Marijuana Bills: Why 'Regulate' is Better Than 'Repeal', discusses the California law as opposed to another similar law, The Repeal Cannabis Prohibition Act of 2012 (RCP), and the differences... ... middle of paper......News and events. September 8, 2011. Web. October 5, 2011. “Legalize.org” History of cannabis prohibition. Legalize.org. 2005. Internet. October 5, 2011. .Malmö-Levine, David. "Marijuana bill battle: why 'regulate' is better than 'repeal' | Cannabis Culture Magazine." Cannabis Culture Magazine | Marijuana Magazine. September 29, 2011. The web. October 5, 2011. "Regulating Marijuana Like Wine | The Initiative." Regulate marijuana like wine | By REGULATING marijuana, the economy can support growth, improve safety, and support the development of the industry. Internet. October 5. 2011. .