Factors for Legalization of Marijuana - Essay Example

For Gottfried, the beneficiaries of the medical and therapeutic use of marijuana include people from various economic levels, ethnicity, and age such as AIDS victims, people suffering from depression, cancer and chemotherapy patients, glaucoma patients, and patients who suffer from muscular sclerosis (Gottfried, 2000, p. 73). In the same way, the supporters of the legalization of marijuana also hold that marijuana is neither a narcotics nor lead to addiction like alcohol or tobacco.

Rosenthal, Kubby, and Newhart (2003, p. 25), in this respect, observe that marijuana resources have the potential to build a multi-billion industry once marijuana use is legalized; the authors observe that the cost of prohibition of marijuana is “billions of dollars in missed opportunities: in taxes, profits, and wages.” Millions of people employed in the commercial marijuana industry and others who plant marijuana for personal uses can make up for the economic instability of the state once legalization of marijuana use is implemented.

On the other hand, the opponents of the legalization of marijuana offer a number of reasons why marijuana should not be legalized. Goddard (1969), in this respect, warns people of the psychological dependency on marijuana through continuous use and argues that adolescents are most vulnerable to be victims of marijuana abuse. Goddard purports that “although the use of marijuana is a private act, it has the potential to cause harm to society” and that once marijuana has been made easily available it will be “widely used by adolescents who have not learned to cope up with the problems of daily life” (Goddard, 1969, p. 34). Similarly, there have been many studies on the psychological effects of marijuana among users.

Studies have shown that marijuana consumption “can affect mood, sensitivity to external stimuli, and perception of time and space” whereas “high doses can lead to panic reactions, anxiety, and paranoia” (Goldberg, 2009, p. 252). Similarly, long-term use of marijuana can adversely affect the respiratory system. Marijuana causes psychological addiction in the user and constant users are likely to find much difficulty in the thinking process and many tend to have difficulty in their capacity of problem-solving too.

To conclude, it can be stated that the adverse effects of marijuana outweigh its merits. Any attempt to legalize the recreational and personal use or cultivation of marijuana will be disastrous. Studies have also shown that even the medical use of marijuana and marijuana prescription by doctors should be undertaken with utmost care. Regulations and legislation with regard to marijuana use should ensure that the drug never becomes easily available to the common public for recreational use. While marijuana use has its own benefits and advantages, attempts to legalize marijuana use have more adverse effects than positives.

Thus, it can be concluded that while the legalization of marijuana for medical use sounds sensible, its use for recreational or personal purposes is quite dangerous.