Is Legal Marijuana Good for Hawaii - Research Paper Example

Marijuana; Illegal or Legal? What Is Best For Hawaii? Background of marijuana Marijuana as an agent has been used toachieve euphoria dating back to 2737 B.C. as described in a medical compendium in traditional China. The use of marijuana then spread into India before being introduced to Europe through North Africa as early as A.D. 500. It became a major plantation crop as a source of fiber (hemp) in colonial North America where extensive cultivation picked up after the 2nd World War cut off Asian supplies (Joffe & Yancy 634). The plant was listed from 1850 to 1942 in the US Pharmacopeia, being prescribed for conditions like rheumatism, nausea, and labor pains. It was also commonly used as an intoxicant in this period. However, a campaign by the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs, portraying it as an addictive and powerful substance that acted as a gateway drug led to its illegalization. It became a symbol of authority rebellion for hippies and college students in the 60s. Along with LSD and heroin, marijuana was classified as a schedule 1 drug in 1970 through the Controlled Substances Act, which classed it as possessing high potential; for abuse with no accepted use in medicine. The Bush and Reagan “zero tolerance” era saw the passage of strict regulations and sentences for marijuana possession and increased surveillance of cross-border smuggling (Joffe & Yancy 637). This brought a shift to reliance on domestic marijuana cultivation in California and Hawaii. However, expanded crackdowns saw another shift towards indoor growing; leading to a decade of falling marijuana use. However, its use saw a revival in the 90s, which leveled off in the 2000s. Where We Are Today In Hawaii With Marijuana? On 8th March, 2011, the state senate passed five bills related to marijuana. Senate Bill 58 increased marijuana amounts that an individual could carry to allow them carry 5 ounces or grow 10 plants at any given time (Cooper & Daws 276). The bill was also meant to protect the confidentiality of patients and address issues concerning marijuana transport. Bill 113, in turn, provided for a marijuana research program of three years, which would be conducted in Hawaii involving local marijuana users and qualified researchers. Bill 175, should it be passed into law, would see a shift in authority of marijuana laws to the Health Department from the Public Safety Department. Bill 1458 aims to create three class levels for licensing purposes: the first is “compassion centers that will be responsible for the dispensation of marijuana, the second for cultivation centers, and the third for the sale of infused marijuana (Cooper & Daws 279). One of the most essential steps towards marijuana legalization is Bill 1460, which seeks to decriminalize any amount of marijuana that is less than one ounce. The bill also proposes that requirements that currently call for reporting of students in possession of marijuana be cancelled if they are caught in possession of less than an ounce of marijuana (Cooper & Daws 280). The five bills in the Senate are widely supported with two among them seeing unanimous approval with the other three facing a maximum of two no votes. These bills are expected to continue towards House approval. According to a number of senators, the economic conditions, money spent on arrests, drastic debts in the state, and the proven effects of medical marijuana make it high time to learn from the decriminalization in Colorado. In addition, if law enforcement and state government should put their efforts towards proper taxation, rather than prosecuting and prohibiting distributors, growers, and users so as to provide revenue that is required to improve the debt in the state (Cooper & Daws 281). The recent support given by senate is a sign that this is agreed on by a majority of the senators. Marijuana as a Legal Drug Uses of Marijuana There are various methods of marijuana administration, such as smoking of dried buds, vaporizing, taking capsules, and eating or drinking extracts (Khatapoush & Halfours 753). Synthetic cannabinoids are also available for prescription in various countries like Marinol in Canada and the United States, as well as Cesamet in the United Stets, the United Kingdom, Mexico, and Canada. Marijuana is used for improvement of appetite in individuals suffering from AIDS. Smoking weed seems to serve a stimulating purpose for patients with AIDS. Smoking marijuana cigarettes also leads to weight gain for patients with HIV who is also on nelfinavir and indinavir. Smoking marijuana also seems to stimulate a reduction of eye pressure in patients suffering from glaucoma, although it also seems to minimize the blooding flowing blood to the optic nerve. Marijuana, in addition, seems to be effective for treatment of shakiness and muscle tightness that are associated with Multiple Sclerosis (Khatapoush & Halfours 753). There is also evidence, although insufficient, that marijuana treats hemorrhoids, dandruff, obesity, UTIs, asthma, leprosy, nerve pain, and prevention of organ rejection following transplants. Case Study of California While laws in California governing medical marijuana and simple possession are some of the most progressive in the United States, arrests of responsible adults are still commonplace. These adults are also cited in ever-increasing rates for possession of marijuana (Khatapoush & Halfours 754). A ballot measure, proposition 19, that sought to end draconian arresting and prosecution of adults who use marijuana by the removal of criminal penalties for offenses related to marijuana, as well as allowing various localities to regulate and tax the distribution and taxation of marijuana was defeated narrowly by 545 to 46% in 2010. While it was defeated, the percentage for was the highest that any measure for marijuana legalization has ever received in the ballot. In 2010, Arnold Schwarzenegger, as Governor for California, signed into law a bill that downgraded classification for possessing an ounce of marijuana to infraction from a misdemeanor with the penalty remaining at $100 (Khatapoush & Halfours 757). While marijuana laws in California are not draconian, to the level of other states, California legislators are still looking for ways to end the waste of precious resources on the arrest, citing, and prosecution of offenders, which ensure that marijuana profits go to criminals, rather than state treasury and responsible businesses. Case Study of Holland While common thought is that marijuana is legal in Holland, it is actually not. Substances that are viewed commonly in Holland as illegal drugs are divided into two by law; list I that are hard drugs, and list II that are soft drugs (Khatapoush & Halfours 759). Marijuana is considered a soft drug in Holland and there is no active prosecution targeting individual soft drug users, although marijuana remains an illegal drug. Holland came up with an official tolerance policy, which makes it difficult to distribute marijuana, although in street terms, the policy is referred to as “closing of the eyes”. However, this policy of tolerance does possess some limits. Individuals are not allowed to be in possession of over 5 grams of marijuana in public places or more than 30 grams in private places. Cultivation of marijuana should also not exceed five plants. Exceeding these limits leads to the end of the tolerance policy with legal charges the next step if one is caught. However, current laws are against marijuana tourism whereby non-citizens are not allowed to possess any amount of marijuana. The Dutch government in December 2010 announced that coffee shops that sell marijuana would only be the Dutch through the so-called weed-passes (Khatapoush & Halfours 759). This is expected to have a huge impact on Amsterdam and the so-called marijuana tourism. However, this is still in the planning stage and is expected to be very difficult to implement. Health Effects Marijuana use has various effects on the health of its users. The use of marijuana impairs the short-term memory as it makes it hard for one to learn and keep learnt information, especially in complex tasks (Joffe & Yancy 638). Marijuana use also impairs motor coordination and slows reaction time. This leads decreased athletic performance, increased injury risks, and impairment of driving skills. It also leads to altered decision-making and judgment with experts saying that this contributes to increased high-risk sexual behavior. In addition, marijuana causes an increase in heart rate that can jump to 100% from 20% that could lead to an increased risk of heart attack in individuals who are vulnerable to the condition (Joffe & Yancy 638). Long term use of marijuana leads to long term cognitive impairment, risk of psychosis, respiratory problems like bronchitis and common coughs, poor outcomes in education, and addiction. Why Keep Marijuana Illegal? The reason marijuana should be kept illegal in Hawaii is that it is not right that someone should get high from another person smoking pot. When someone smokes marijuana around other people, others will receive a contact buzz even if they do not wish to do so. In addition, it is not right for Hawaii road drivers to be maimed or killed by someone who is driving while under the influence of marijuana (Cohen 284). This is because, different from alcohol, regulating marijuana limits is almost impossible, if not impossible. This translates from the fact that everyone has a different reaction to different degrees of marijuana and the potency of different strains of marijuana grown in Hawaii varies. Other factors that we cannot afford to overlook exist. In the last number of decades, it has been reported that almost everyone who is now involved in using hard drugs like cocaine and LSD began through experimenting with marijuana. With Hawaii having a problem with hard drugs at the present time, legalizing marijuana would be a major misstep. In addition to the addictive nature of marijuana, those proponents of marijuana who believe that it is okay to be law breakers and put others in danger through the effects of marijuana do not see any difference between marijuana, cigarettes, and other substances like heroin and meth (Cohen 286). This is dangerous in itself. Secondly, although it is not yet proven infallibly enough, research studies have shown that use of marijuana by young people leads to a degree of chromosomal damage that, even many years afterwards, can lead to significant increase in chances of their offspring developing leukemia in childhood (Cohen 286). While this has not been proven, this risk is too severe to ignore. In this specific locale, established and well-respected doctors encourage mothers who are pregnant to smoke marijuana to ease morning sickness symptoms. This is horrifying as the professionals need to consider the effects that emanate from marijuana, both unknown and known, on the unborn baby instead of encouraging parents to risk their infants for convenience sake. Overall, there is no sufficient reason for marijuana legalization (Cohen 287). Recommendations The State of Hawaii should seek to reduce the consumption of marijuana because legalizing it would lead to a drastic intake. Presently, Hawaiian’s, as with other Americans, use marijuana at least three times more than other users globally (Cohen 288). Marijuana legalization will bring in corporate marketing, which is estimated to lead to a three-fold increase in marijuana intake. Increased ease of access and social acceptance could also result in more intake. When Holland legalized marijuana, they saw a drastic increase in drug use numbers from 15% recorded in 1984 to 44% in the year 1996. The State also needs to check the increased health risks that would come from any sort of legalization. While most studies that deal with the various benefits of marijuana on the treatment of various disorders, prolonged use of the drug has negative side effects (Cohen 288). With marijuana legalization, comes increased consumption and mass availability that could lead to a chemical imbalance in the brain’s regulatory system that, in turn, could affect memory and learning ability. It could also lead to reduction of testosterone levels, as well as impact heavily on the sperm count. Abuse of marijuana after legalization could also lead increased anger issues, irritability, anxiety, and violent outbursts. It could also trigger an increased risk of cervical cancer, adult onset glioma, and prostate cancer. If, in fact, marijuana is legalized, the effect of marijuana as a gateway drug should be checked. Compared to hard drugs like meth, heroin, and cocaine, marijuana is considered as a hard drug that can act as a highway to other hard drugs (Cohen 289). If it is kept illegal, it makes it increasingly difficult for people to become addicted to marijuana and be tempted to attempt other stronger and hard drugs. While this theory has been dismissed often by some studies, it is a recommendation that it is looked into. A 12-year study by the APA showed that there was a correlation between marijuana using adolescents and there was a probability of them being addicted other drugs. Conclusion Most of the proponents for the legalization of marijuana do so passionately because of the alleged perceptions of the failure of policies that seek to reduce the use of marijuana. However, those for legalization of marijuana, especially in Hawaii, rarely describe what plan they will use for its regulation and taxation as a legal drug. The reason for this is most likely that they do not have a credible plan for its legalization that would deliver on their claims that are exaggerated for their new policies and bills. The reduction of marijuana use is important to the improvement of the health of the state, its education sector, as well as productivity. New policies can improve greatly on the current performance of strategies aimed at prevention that, far from failing, has acted to protect the people of Hawaii from marijuana use and its adverse effects. Because marijuana legalization for general or medical use would increase use of marijuana instead of reducing it, leading to increased rates of marijuana addiction, its legalization is not a smart public safety or public health strategy for the State of Hawaii. Works Cited Khatapoush, Shereen. & Hallfors, Denise. "“Sending the Wrong Message”: Did Medical Marijuana Legalization in California Change Attitudes about and use of Marijuana?" Journal of Drug Issues (2012): 751-770. Print. Cohen, Sidney. "Marijuana Legalization: Solution or Dissolution." The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse (2011): 283-289. Print. Cooper, George. & Daws, Gavan. Land and power in Hawaii : the Democratic years. Honolulu : University of Hawaii Press, 2012. Print. Joffe, Alain. & Yancy, Samuel. "Legalization of Marijuana: Potential Impact on Youth." Pediatrics (2010): 632 -638. Print. Read More