Debate Surrounding the Legalization of Marijuana - Research Paper Example

Debate Surrounding the Legalization of Marijuana Introduction Marijuana also known as cannabis in medical terms is mostly considered illegal in many parts of the world. Furthermore, the legality and illegality of the drug varies between countries in terms of possession. States which have prohibited marijuana-use have strict regulations pertaining its usage, while opposing States consider it hazardous in nature. The paper seeks to evaluate the benefits and dangers of legalizing marijuana-use in the country. Contextualization Based on Jonathan, Hawken, Kilmer and Kleiman 5 cannabis-use can be dated from India where it was primarily used for religious rituals. The drug was essentially sold as tincture which was a medicinal tea and was quickly adapted by the English cultures. The Indian government regulated the circulation of the drug where it required the importing nations to use it for medicinal and scientific purposes only. Today, marijuana can be consumed through different forms which include smoking, as a vaporizer, cannabis tea or as edibles. Benefits of marijuana Cannabis can be termed as hemp; if it is an annual herb used for non drug purposes (Jonathan, Hawken, Kilmer and Kleiman 4). The product is used for industrial purposes which are licensed by the government. The industrial hemp produces fiber which is used as fuel as a by-product. The hemp seeds can further be consumed as food by human beings. The use of marijuana has the benefit of improving the economy of the States. The benefit can be realized through taxation which generates income to the legalized States and the nation as a whole. The income realized can be used to fund government projects and promote educational campaigns across institutions (Burnham 23). According to Burnham Para 44 marijuana legalization promotes the creation of jobs. The marijuana industry is exponentially growing which can directly and indirectly promote the creation of jobs. The industry employs numerous people, who are engaged in the cultivation, manufacturing, distribution, consumption and advertising of the drug. Decriminalization of marijuana necessitates the reduction of crime. The sale and distribution of the drug can be regulated so as to prohibit illegal trading which can be upheld by educational campaigns so as to reduce marijuana related offenses (Burnham 76). The offenders can further be educated on the effective measures to curb frustrations and their illegal motives. Burnham 102 confirms marijuana contains active components of cannabinoids which have medical benefits in the human life. The cannabinoids have potential elements which modulate pain, increase appetite, reduce anxiety, seizures, cancer, epilepsy and other chronic health problems, which can be prevented by the use of the drug. Marijuana also has the benefit of reducing pain for HIV patients which Opiates like morphine cannot concur. Marijuana has spiritual benefits for religious users. Marijuana promotes mental processes and improves consciousness. In the East, marijuana is used for meditation purposes which facilitate self knowledge (Burnham 122). The drug helps in the uncovering if inner-confusion so as to achieve insight leading to increase in freedom. Due to the awareness, the conscious mind becomes comfortable and free from internal conflicts. Marijuana necessitates the physical well being of people as opposed to tobacco and alcohol. The drug facilitates more and cleaner blood into the brain leading to broader thinking capabilities (Morgan 56).The brain is able to function at fast paced range promoting competitiveness, strength, alertness and cooperative balance within the system. Dangers of marijuana consumption Morgan 99 argues consumption of marijuana leads to severe hereditary effects. Pregnant mothers who use the drug may face the problem of premature birth leading to underweight and undersized infants. The children from marijuana users have been noted to have less concentration abilities as well as focus in persuasion of their life goals. The prenatal usage of the drug among the pregnant women can cause mental abnormalities, leukemia and birth defects among the children. Marijuana use has occasionally been linked to social evils within the society. Some of the crime offenders who have been caught have been reported to be under the influence of marijuana. The drug suppresses anxiety and other emotional feelings which offer confidence, making the offenders to commit the crimes without delay judgment. In case of the transport users, the drug blurs the drivers’ concentration which can leads to accidents. Majority of educational scholars drop out of the educational facilities due to marijuana related incidences. This is because marijuana has an addiction affinity which hinders the educational scholars from adhering to the educational institutions. The ‘stoned’ effect prohibits the scholars’ from feeling anxious due to school drop outs and examination failures (Joffe and Yancy 632). Noble 201 outlines marijuana abuse leads to health complications due to addiction. Cannabis has the effect of causing memory lapse, increase in appetite, eyes reddening, motor impairment among other effects. Heavy consumption of the drug causes behavioral, mental, physical and social consequences to the users. The users acquire mood and perception changes which can lead to short temperament. The mental and psychological effects causes the brain to function slowly, leading to inconsistencies in brain and body functioning. Analysis Over the past decades, public opinions pertaining to legalization of marijuana has shifted with a dramatic margin. 53% of the American citizens support the legalization of the drug as opposed to 44% of the opposing citizens. Recently in 2006, 32% of the Americans supported the liberalization of marijuana while 60% of them opposed its legalization. At the present time, the millennials especially between the ages of 18 and 34 have been the game-changes contributing to 68%; for marijuana legalization. Furthermore, the silent generation (70-87) has increased their support rapidly, due to the benefit of back-pains and memory-loss control by the drug (PewResearch Para 1). Based on Pew Research Center conducted on March 25th to 29th this year, indicated that out of 1500 adults, majority of the marijuana legalization supporters are higher than the opponents; and are unlikely to change their decisions regarding the issue (PewResearch Para 2). Further from the response, 30% of them still support their decision regarding the legalization, while 21% of them have thought of changing their decision to criminalize its usage. Contrary, 35% of the opposers refute the legalization of marijuana while 7% of them, have at some point thought of changing their opinion to propose its legalization Based on PewResearch Para 4 the proposers and opponents of the regulation offer different reasons for their decisions. The common perspective was that marijuana-use has hazardous effects. A majority of the supporters perceived it for health importance and no major effects than the other drugs, while the opponents argued as hazardous which damaged people and the society as a whole. From the stated reasons by the supporters, 41% was linked to medical benefits of the drug while 36% of them perceive marijuana not so harmful than cigarettes and alcohol. From the four States namely Colorado, Washington, Alaska and Oregon which have legalized personal use of marijuana; 27% of the supporters mentioned that proper regulation of the marijuana would lead to improvement of taxes. Approximately 12% of them believe that enforcing marijuana policies leads to social problems and leads to increase in administrative costs. 43% of the opponents’ common views was that, marijuana affected the society and it affected the users as well. As opposed to the supporters who stated marijuana had minimal harmful effects, 30% of the opponents refuted the claim. They expressed the danger of addiction as well as abuse of the drug (RockyMountain 241). From the opponents’ views: 19% believe marijuana is illegal and should be regulated; 11% of them mentioned that it provided a passage to the use of harder drugs while 8% depicted that it was hazardous to the young generation (PewResearch Para 6). However, 7% of the opponents proposed that medical marijuana should be legalized. Based on PewResearch Para 7 58% of the supporters were blacks, followed by 55% by the Whites and 40% by the Hispanics. In terms of gender supporters, men accounted for 57% while women accounted to 49%. From the political ideology, 59% of the Democrats support the legalization followed closely by 58% of the independents. The Republican supporters account to 39% from the general supporters. The Conservative Republicans oppose the legalization of the drug by 50% while Democrats support its regulation by 75%. Even though most of the supporters agree with the legalization of marijuana, there are issues regarding the public usage of the substance. 62% mentioned that they would be bothered by the public use of the drug; while a minimal of 33% confirmed that they would not be bothered by the public usage of marijuana. In regards to marijuana businesses opening close to their neighborhoods, 57% of the supporters confirmed that they would not be bothered if operated legally while 41% of them would be affected by the move. Furthermore, 82% of the supporters would not be affected if the neighbors used it at own homes while 15% would definitely be bothered. 85% of the opposing respondents depicted that if legalized, they would be offended if the users consumed it publicly and 65% of them would not be bothered if the users used it at their homes (PewResearch Para 8). From the population it was further noted that 49% of them have used marijuana during their lifetime while 51% of them have never used it. From the response, 52% of those who have used it before were whites, 50% were blacks while for the Hispanics 36% had tried it before but majority 63% of them, had never used it before (PewResearch Para 8). From the generations, 59% of the Baby Boomers had used it before, 47% by the Generation Xers and 52% by the Millennials. However, the Silent generation accounted to 23% of those who had tried it before. 77% of the respondents confirmed that marijuana had medical value as opposed to 16% by the opponents. The report was also confirmed by a research conducted by the ABC News survey which highlighted that 58% of people regarded marijuana as a medical substance while was refuted by 34% of the respondents. In reference to political classes, there are minimal differences pertaining to its medical value. 82% of the independents support the perception, 76% of the Democrats also support the opinion while 72% of the Republicans further support the medical benefit of marijuana usage. Age differences also offer differentiated opinions in terms of medical benefit of marijuana. Even the opposing people from the age of 65 years and above, contrarily agree that marijuana has a legitimate medical value (PewResearch Para 10). Conclusion I highly agree marijuana has numerous benefits and should be legalized in all parts of the country. Every drug has its side effects if wrongly used. However, medical marijuana promotes medical benefits which some of the medical drugs like Opium cannot compare. It cures chronic pains and diseases like cancer and epilepsy beyond reasonable doubt. The drug should be legalized but monitored too in order to prevent social evils, illegal trading and enhance health quality. Works cited PewResearch. Majority Now Supports Legalizing Marijuana.2013. Web 5th May 2015 Rocky mountain,2013. The legalization of marijuana in Colorado. 1,1-4. Joffe, Anthony and WS Yancy. Legalization of Marijuana: Potential Impact on Youth. 6 (2004): 632-638. Print. Monte, Andrew .The Implications of Marijuana Legalization in Colorado. 313 (2015):241-242. Print. Noble, Zach. The Legalization of Marijuana Is Debated at CPAC: Here’s How It Went Down. 2015. Web 05th May 2015 Caulkins, Jonathan P, Angela Hawken, Beau Kilmer, and Mark Kleiman. Marijuana Legalization: What Everyone Needs to Know. New York : Oxford University Press,2012. Print. Burnham, Alex. Benefits of Legalizing Marijuana. Munich: GRIN Verlag GmbH, 2011. Print. Morgan, Kayla. Legalizing Marijuana. Edina, MN: ABDO Pub. Co, 2011. Print. Read More