So called soft drugs such as cannabis should be legalised. Discuss - Essay Example

The recent public debates on the consumption of marijuana emanate from the fact that marijuana drives serious health effects and there are fundamental differences between Federal and state laws concerning cannabis (Office of National Drug Control Policy 2014, p. 1). Indeed, while certain states and individuals have been calling for the legalization of marijuana, others are calling for strict laws forbidding its use in America. There have been numerous debates on the legalization of marijuana with some states in America like Colorado having legalized marijuana.

The legalization of marijuana derives significant economic, health, and social benefits. Nevertheless, the legalization of marijuana will lead to certain demerits. Most people and states in America are advocating for the legalization of marijuana. The media, political drives supporting the legalization of Marijuana, and the advocates of medical marijuana claim that marijuana is harmless (Office of National Drug Control Policy 2014, p. 1). Notably, the Marijuana Tax Act introduced in 1937 that required all marijuana vendors to obtain government licenses have been facing legal and social opposition since its inception.

While opposing the Act, different people argue that the federal government should legalize marijuana and regulate its consumption just like tobacco and alcohol. Indeed, various organizations like the Drug Policy Alliance support the legalization of marijuana through a well-regulated market for marijuana production and distribution (Drug Policy Alliance 2014, p. 1). Notably, 20 states have already legalized medical marijuana (ProCon.org 2014, p. 1) and according to the Marijuana Policy Project, 12 states and the District of Columbia are contemplating legalizing marijuana (Lyman 2014, p. 1). Various states have been adhering to this call where 15 states in America have pending legislation or ballot measures to legalize medical