Argumentation-Persusasion ( Legalize Marijuana) - Essay Example

Marijuana Marijuana is a drug derived from a plant Cannabis sativa which has several chemicals as its constituents. Marijuana is categorized amongst the most abused and illegal drugs available in the United States of America (Turnlund 2011). The legitimacy of marijuana is a debatable topic in the United States and questions have been raised against the laws which restrict the usage and availability of this drug. Disputes emerge about the severity of the laws, their application and the cost-effectiveness of these laws.

The supporters of marijuana legalization put forward a vast range of economic, medical and social benefits of this legalization. Moreover, the other two most popular drugs in US, tobacco and alcohol, are legal and they protest that marijuana should also be made legal (Morgan 2011). The arguments on the legalization of marijuana are quite vast and diverse and cover various aspects encompassing medical, economic, legal and social aspects. In 1937, the Marijuana Tax Act was first signed by President Roosevelt as a federal law and became effective in October.

According to the federal state laws, any person in possession of marijuana for the first time has to pay a fine of amount $1,000 along with imprisonment of one year. Possession for another time can cost the offender being sent to prison for up to three years. The cultivation or business in marijuana sale can lead to severe punishments which include life-time imprisonment and a very huge amount of fine (Morgan 2011). The supporters of marijuana legalization put forward the US budget crisis to support their arguments.

Marijuana legislation will save 41.3 billion dollars spent on arrests and jail imprisonment every year. This economic aspect is significant as estimates of 750,000 people are arrested each year because of possession or sale of marijuana. Other savings will include the payments to judges, court trials, juries and other legal formalities. With the current debt of thirteen trillion dollars, US can benefit from the legalization of Marijuana (Turnlund 2011). Another point highlighted is, the tax on the sale of marijuana sale, which can produce billions of money in the yearly revenue.

With this money, the government can spend this amount on improving other more significant areas (Morgan 2011).The opponents of marijuana resist the legalization of marijuana by claiming that if marijuana is legalized, it would lead to emergence of new users who had up till now resisted the temptation because of the law enforcements. Another issue is that marijuana encourages the users to experience and go for other drugs that are comparatively more potent and harmful. The supporters also agree on the fact that marijuana usage is harmful but they elaborate that if the law legalizes the drug, national laws can be formulated to keep a check on its dangerous and limitless usage.

Some dealers sell marijuana in very high potency and dangerous chemical forms, but if it was legalized, the national laws will prohibit them to do so. Alcohol and tobacco usage has been legalized and guidelines have been provided in a similar fashion (Morgan 2011). The medical harms of marijuana are a very significant part of this debate. Its usage comes with various physical as well as psychological harmful outcomes which include bronchitis, emphysema, asthma, hormone imbalance, abortions and congenital abnormalities.

Mental state of users is also affected and it can also delay puberty in both males and females. However, the general perception about marijuana affects and consequences is sometimes also based on misconceptions and lack of genuine knowledge. For instance, marijuana is not carcinogenic unless it is smoked with other drugs in combination (Turnlund 2011). Some of the very compelling uses of marijuana include the treatment therapies for AIDS, arthritis, cancer, chronic pain, depression, mood disorders, epilepsy, glaucoma, menstrual pains and cramps.

With its pain alleviating action and control of nausea and vomiting, it has been proved as a very powerful medical drug (Rosenthal et al 2003). The newly discovered and emerging benefits of marijuana have divided the public into two different schools of thoughts. With its diverse medical, economic and social consequences it brings into light both the benefits and negative outcomes. This multiplicity has made the legalization of marijuana a debatable and controversial issue. The benefits of its legalization outweigh the disadvantages and thus it would be beneficial for the United States if the drug is made legal.

Works CitedMorgan, Kayla. Legalizing Marijuana. Edina, MN: ABDO Pub. Co, 2011. Print.Top of FormRosenthal, Ed, Steve Kubby, and S Newhart. Why Marijuana Should Be Legal. New York: Thunders Mouth Press, 2003. Print. Bottom of FormTurnlund, E. Benefits of Legalizing Marijuana. GRIN Verlag. 2011. Print