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Discuss the federalism challenges created or faced by a policy or legislation related to your major. For example, if you are a criminal justice major, consider how recent legalization of marijuana in some states affects federal, state, and local control; if you are an education major, examine how legislation like No Child Left Behind impacts different government levels; if a business major, analyze how the Affordable Care Act's insurance mandates influence businesses at various levels. Fully respond to all parts of the prompt, writing 200-250 words in your own words, and support your position with APA citations from at least two assigned resources.

Sample Paper For Above instruction

Federalism in the United States is a complex and often contentious structure, especially when it comes to implementing policies that span multiple levels of government. A significant example of this challenge can be seen in the legalization of marijuana, which highlights the tension between state and federal authority. As of today, several states have legalized recreational and medicinal marijuana, allowing local and state governments to regulate and oversee such activities within their borders. However, the federal government maintains that marijuana remains a Schedule I controlled substance under the Controlled Substances Act, which classifies it as having a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use (Drug Enforcement Administration [DEA], 2020). Consequently, this creates a conflicting scenario where states exercise authority to legalize and regulate marijuana, while federal law threatens to override these policies through enforcement actions, including potential federal drug prosecutions (Caulkins et al., 2019). This tension exemplifies the dilemma of federalism—balancing the Tenth Amendment's recognition of states' rights with federal authority over national drug policy. Moreover, this clash complicates law enforcement, business regulation, and individual rights, illustrating how federalism challenges can hinder cohesive policy implementation. The ongoing discord underscores the importance of clarifying constitutional limits on federal power while respecting states' rights to tailor policies that reflect their citizens' preferences (Rojek & Stephenson, 2021). Addressing this requires ongoing dialogue and legal clarification to ensure effective and consistent policymaking across all levels of government.

References

  • Caulkins, J. P., Kilmer, B., & Kleiman, M. A. R. (2019). Marijuana legalization: What everyone needs to know. Oxford University Press.
  • Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). (2020). Controlled Substances Act (CSA). U.S. Department of Justice. https://www.dea.gov
  • Rojek, J., & Stephenson, M. (2021). Federalism and drug policy: Navigating state-federal conflicts. Journal of Policy Analysis & Management, 40(2), 341-363.

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