Legalization of Marijuana - Essay Example

Legalization of Marijuana Name Course Instructor’s name Date The debate regarding whether or not marijuana should be legalized has been a long standing one, with arguments from both sides presenting a clue that a significant solution for this debate will not be reached at in the near future. The government in its efforts to stop the production, distribution and use of this substance, has gone forward to introduce harsh penalties and sanctions that would ensure that substance production and use are stopped. However, the users of marijuana on the other side have continued to fight for its legalization, disqualifying the facts that have been brought forward supporting the prohibition of marijuana. However, form the arguments brought forward, it is apparent that most of the claims for the prohibition of marijuana are outdated with no sound scientific support. Indeed, most of the claims cannot be proved and therefore, I see no legal reason as to why marijuana should be illegalized. Besides, there are numerous values attached to the use of this substance, as elaborated in this report. Therefore, I support the fact that marijuana should be legalized. Numerous arguments have been put forward seeking the government to legalize the production, distribution and use of marijuana. The users of marijuana are determined to fight for the legalization of the substance, not considering the time or costs they will incur in trying to fight for this policy. Threats of arrests and other harsh punishments and sanctions have been issued to the users of marijuana, but there has been a persistent quest for the legalization for over a generation now. Some people have even been jailed and faced brutal measures associated with the production, distribution and use of this substance, but then this has proved fruitless since people still use it and its users have not given up on their fight for the legalization of this drug. In fact, they consider this as one of the essential values of the society, since the available research is not convincing with regard to the negative claims this substance is associated with. To stop this fight and the numerous controversies that have arisen with regard to the use of marijuana, it is important that the government accepts the fact that this substance should be legalized. It is evident that the society is unhappy with the current efforts to stop illegal drug smuggling, supply and use, while most people remain unaware of the way forward. Owing to the augmented drug use and drug connected crimes, and the inability of government to bring to an end the illegal drug use, the majority of persons argue that, in order to lessen certain immoral behaviours and improve positive outcomes, drug use should be legalized and controlled. In this case, the legalization of marijuana in the United States and other countries around the world would considerably minimize crimes in the cities and besides, form a community that is more industrious through its positive usage (Klein par.3). It is true that, many crimes are linked to the use of drugs including financial and physical crimes. As a result, crimes that would result from legalizing marijuana would be less destructive and minimal in the community, as compared to murder, violence, mayhem and theft, which are the daily bread especially in the United State and other nations presently. In addition, most people support the fact that marijuana should be legalized due to the amplified government spending on the drugs war (Rowe, 2006, p. 32). They believe that, the cost of maintaining marijuana is extremely expensive. For instance, in the United States, the federal, state and local governments recently use billions of dollars every year to fight against the use of marijuana. In 1980, the federal government used one billion dollar, while the local and state government used four and three billion dollars correspondingly on marijuana, and this means that, currently, they may be using roughly, ten billion dollars on marijuana. Another benefit of legalizing the drug is that, it would be a source of revenue to the government through taxation (Messerli par. 6). In essence, legalization would give the government an augmented control over the influence and purity of marijuana, and this may be attained by regulating the global drug trade more efficiently. The proponents of legalization of marijuana also put forward that, persons should be given freedom to make their own choices including the usage of marijuana (Klein par. 2). Study verifies that, marijuana is not an addictive drug as other drugs like alcohol and tobacco which are legal in the most countries (Klein par. 1). Statistics also reveal that, since its existence to today, marijuana has not led to any incident of death. For that reason, the government ought to concentrate on fighting other harmful legal drugs that have jeopardized persons’ lives and the entire society and give individuals liberty to decide their choices. It is also evident from the existing illegalization policies that it is hard to attain the desired objective of stopping the use of a drug. Prohibition of alcohol has not in any way worked since people are still taking alcohol regardless of how dangerous this substance is to our health. Therefore, there is no logical basis to argue out that prohibition of marijuana will be a better idea in controlling the use of this drug especially among the college students. In fact, illegalizing marijuana has not stopped people from taking it since the estimates highlight that over 25 million people use marijuana annually in the United States (Rudolf, 2004, pp. 105-121). It would even be a better idea if the government allowed the legalization of marijuana, instead introduce heavy taxes to the users such that it becomes difficult for them to access, and afford it. There are also medical benefits associated with the use of marijuana. In its natural form, marijuana is considered as one of the harmless therapeutically active drugs available to man. It can be used safely following a strictly supervised schedule of a medical care. Furthermore, medical practitioners have proved that excessive intake of marijuana contain no adverse effects other than the mere sleeping. The only proved negative effect of marijuana comes as a result of its smoke that contains more carbon dioxide compared to tobacco (Rudolph, 2004, p.77). It is proven that marijuana relieves nausea, especially among the cancer patients undertaking powerful chemotherapy. Patients suffering from AIDS and multiple sclerosis can also use it. In addition, marijuana is proved an effective treatment of glaucoma due to its ability to lower the eye pressure. Furthermore, the legalization of marijuana would translate into the adoption of hemp as one of the agricultural crops. Marijuana is often obtained from hemp, which is known to contain essential values that would help in the reduction of carbon emission in the country. Some countries, such as Canada and other European countries have legalized the cultivation of hemp as a bio-fuel. However, such countries have refused to legalize the use of marijuana. Most governments are today embracing the development of bio-fuels as a way or cutting on the carbon emissions. Since it is considered that hemp is one of the most valuable agricultural commodities and therefore should be legalized (Jiang 420). To promote the cultivation of help without fear of any sanction or punishment, governments should introduce policies that support the production, distribution and use of marijuana. Furthermore, the use of hemp stalks as sources of fuel will help decrease the prices and demand of certain foods such as corn. Indeed, the legalization of marijuana will simplify the regulatory load with regard to the prospective cultivation of hemp. However, the illegalization of marijuana is based on scarce research that can indeed be considered to be outdated. This prohibition can as well be considered to be based on disinformation and lies. To justify the illegality of this substance requires extensive research and scientific records that illustrate the negative effects of this substance. Moreover, the proof that disqualifies the use of marijuana should not harm the credibility of scientists, law enforcement officials, as well as teachers, such that divergent views are held concerning the use of the substance (Jiang 416). In fact, some of the dangers attributed to the use of marijuana have been exaggerated, since the modern scientific studies do not support such claims. Most of these threats are based on the ancient scientific prejudices that originated at the period when science was considered to be uncertain in determining the characteristic effects produced by marijuana (Morral, et al. 2002, 556). For instance, cannabinoid was only discovered during the 1980s and thus the hysterical concerns regarding the side effects of marijuana have not yet to be proven by the modern research studies (Rowe, 2006, p.26). However, it is agreeable that marijuana, just like any other drug, such as alcohol or tobacco, should not be used by children, and therefore, such a simple and common rule should not be used to disqualify the use of marijuana. Nevertheless, most of the adult users of this substance have demonstrated that effective use of marijuana contains no significant harmful effects to the individual, as well as the society. It is also apparent that, proscription has failed in both controlling the usage and domestic production of the drug. For the past seventy five years, the government has attempted very hard to eliminate or reduce the use of marijuana but this has yielded no fruits (Leonard 103). This is evidenced by the fact that, currently, more than twenty five million people use marijuana annually. In addition, cannabis is presently the main cash crop grown in the United States, and marijuana is also grown in other nations all over the world. The arguments that the proscription of marijuana is an effective policy are preposterous and they are also not backed up by the facts. Furthermore, the notion that the drug will soon be eradicated from the united state of America and other nations is an outrageous fantasy. Moreover, a controlled, legal market in the drug would help reduce the sales and use of marijuana among teenagers and also lessen their exposure to the drug as well as other illegal drugs in the market. The indiscretion of marijuana makes the drug even more precious than if the drug was legalized. This has provided opportunities to the youth by making it easy for them to make quick money through selling the drug to their friends. If the excessive gains from the sales of marijuana were brought to an end through legalization of the drug then there would be a less amount of incentive for the young people to trade it amongst themselves. The use of alcohol and tobacco among the youth cause serious harm to public health though these drugs are lawfully acceptable to the adults. However, the accessibility of these drugs is not made prevalent by providing the young people with economic support to trade it to their peers. Supporters of the legalization policies also propose that legalizing marijuana would help trim down the flow of cash from the American financial system to worldwide criminal gang (Leonard 28). The illegality of marijuana has made foreign cultivation as well as smuggling to America extremely profitable hence sending a lot of dollars overseas through an underground economy as well as diverting a lot of funds for a dynamic economic development. Besides, documented research studies have shown that most persons who use marijuana are against the use of harder drugs such as cocaine and heroine. It is true from these studies that most alcohol addicts turn out to be cocaine and heroine users in future. As a result, rather than the governments using a lot of funds to illegalize marijuana, they should channel these funds in reducing the use of other harmful and addictive drugs such alcohol and tobacco. In addition, some churches use marijuana. These are religious beliefs and the government does not have any right to go against the people culture and beliefs. Individuals should be given freedom of choice when it comes to choosing what they should or should not use religiously. Works Cited Ballot Question Committee (election committee). Legalization of Marijuana: Arguments Against, 2006. Available at http://www.elon.edu/eweb/students/civic_engagement/election_2006/legalizationofmarijuanaargumentsagainst.xhtml. Accessed July 12, 2011. Leonard, B. Creating Safe and Drug-Free Schools: An Action Guide. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1996. Jiang, H. "A new insight into Cannabis sativa (Cannabaceae) utilization from 2500-year old Yanghai tombs, Xinjiang, China". Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 2006, 108 (3): 414–22. Klein, J. Why Legalizing Marijuana Makes Sense, Time.com, April, 2009. Available at http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1889021,00.html Accessed on July 12, 2011 Messerli, J. Should Marijuana be legalized under any Circumstances? 2011. Available at http://www.balancedpolitics.org/marijuana_legalization.htm Accessed July 12, 2011. Morral, R. McCaffrey D, and Paddock, S, "Reassessing the marijuana gateway effect". Addiction, 2002, 97 (12) 1493–504. 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