Legalizing Marijuana in Canada - Essay Example

 Legalizing marijuana in Canada Issue The issue of legalizing marijuana has been contentious for a long time. Contentious issues involved in its legalization include health, socioeconomic and political issues. Background It is apparent that with the issue of legalizing marijuana having been contentious in many countries, legalizing it has taken a 180% turn where most people are advocating for its legalization. In Canada, the center for addiction and mental health (CAMH) has been in the frontline in the push for legalizing marijuana. The argument by CAMH has been that legalizing marijuana will enable the weed to be sold just like alcohol and tobacco. Strict rules around its consumption will include age restrictions of persons legally accepted to consume marijuana. Although marijuana is not completely safe, its legalization is proposed to have the same rules like those of alcohol and tobacco.1 Perhaps, with the examples of Washington and Colorado, Canada is aspiring to generate income just like in these states. The other argument is that the war against drugs has not been successful and the cost of the war has been high with little success. The criminal culture involved in the process of fighting against drugs has evolved and developed with time. In 2013, the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police pointed out that legalizing marijuana will help in regulating its sales whereby regulated dispensaries will be mandated for its sales. This will help in reducing organized crimes that profit from illegal sale and trafficking of marijuana. Just like legal regulation of alcohol, it is proposed that legal regulation of marijuana will attract taxes. Although recent polls show that most Canadians are in support of legalizing marijuana, they do not see it as a pressing issue. A survey by Angus Reid Global documented that 6 out of 10 Canadians support legalization of marijuana. As a way of ensuring that legalizing of marijuana does not bring about more crimes, most people are in support of implementation of tougher penalties against violent crimes, which are believed to be as a result of the misuse of marijuana. In another dimension, it is apparent that although many people are in support of legalizing marijuana, health complications related with the use of the drug has been a focal point to many. Studies have documented that smoking marijuana has effects in regard to contribution of most chronic illnesses.2 In situations where people become addicts, the issue of socioeconomic factors comes in. The process of rehabilitating such people becomes hectic.3 Many families would not be in a position to have resources enough to take their affected family members to hospitals or rehabilitation centers. In another dimension, the same problem faces the government when it comes to maintaining rehabilitation centers for taking care of the affected individuals. This translates to use of more resources and personnel to take care of the rising number of cases of marijuana. Analysis: Rationale for legalizing marijuana One of the bodies that have been vocal on the issue of the use of marijuana in Canada is The Center for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). The body earlier this year introduced a new evidence based report for marijuana policy framework with recommendations of strict regulations on controlling the harm associated with the use of marijuana. In 1960s, the laws against marijuana were tough with where an offender found to possess small amounts of marijuana was to be sentenced for six months or a $1000 fine. However, in the recent past, pressure on the parliament to legalize marijuana has amounted with the House of Commons special committee on non-medical drugs releasing a report suggesting the reform of laws on marijuana possession and supply. Even as the issue of whether to legalize marijuana or not is debatable, legal access has been granted to people with HIV/AIDS and other individuals with serious illnesses. This has been under the Medical Marihuana Access Regulations. With these deliberations on the policies that has been stipulating on the control and use of marijuana in Canada, the focal point that has been echoed by different stakeholders articulates on the viability, and applicability of legalizing the drug. Factors to be considered when deciding on whether to legalize it or not are depicted below. Positive impact Evans and Berent (1992) argued that legalizing marijuana would lead to more jobs creation.4 This would go a long way in growing the economy of the country. In addition, the government will be in a position to earn revenue from the taxes collected from the marijuana business. Although there have not been a substantial research on the medicinal benefits of marijuana, it is prospected that legalizing marijuana will have a positive contribution to the medical sector. It is also argued that legalizing marijuana would help in reducing the costs involved in the whole criminal justice system that deals with drug related crimes. Negative impact of legalizing marijuana It is apparent that marijuana has adverse effects on the health of users. Respiratory diseases such as lung cancer have been cited to be highly connected by smoking of marijuana. It is also documented that there are several other health complications that emanate as a result of the use of marijuana. This includes impaired judgment of individuals that use marijuana. In fact, according to Douglas (2002), most deaths are reported as a result of the use of marijuana through road accidents.5 Mental health problems have also been reported on individuals that use marijuana. In some extreme cases, such individuals develop some antisocial behaviors which could lead to depression and other serious mental illnesses. Due to the addiction associated with the use of marijuana, many people struggle to get money to buy the drug. If the addicted individual is not employed or has little income, they look for other means of acquiring the money to buy the drug. This includes involving in criminal activities.6 A study conducted by Grant et al (2003) on the correlation of crime and the use of drugs indicated that there is a direct correlation of the use of drugs and high rates of crime.7 In addition, due to addiction behavior of marijuana, addicted individuals become lazy and rarely participate in development agendas. This leads to the increased levels of poverty in affected areas. It has also been found that there is high prevalent of children from areas with high levels of drug abuse to drop out of school. This is attributable to lack of education as a result of poverty and involvement of children in drug abuse. Although people would get employed in the marijuana business, the negative effects attached to its use lenders to poor states of living as families of the affected individuals undergo difficult times as they try to help one of their members from the addiction. This is also witnessed by the government in the process of rehabilitating individuals affected by the use of marijuana. Although the government would get revenue from the taxes collected from the sale of marijuana, the same tax collected would be channeled towards setting up rehabilitation centers. Thus, the whole idea of legalizing marijuana does not add up in such situations. In a different dimension, since the laws regulating the sale of marijuana would require that the drug be sold by regulated dispensaries and other stores, there are higher chances of people venturing into illegal business. When the demand of restricted products is high, people tend to engage into illegal business through trafficking and other illegal means.8 This is what would happen if people with high demand of marijuana have no easy access to the drug. Thus, the level of crime would still be high in the effort to make the drug easily available to the market. Recommendations With many deliberations on the facts surrounding legalization of marijuana, it is evident there are both positive and negative things that will emanate if the drug is legalized. However, it is imperative to involve all the stakeholders in deciding the measures to be put in place if the drug is to be legalized. Suggested more strict rules denoting regulation of the sale and the use of the drug should be implemented to avoid the drug falling into wrong hands. Bibliography: Gilman, Jodi. Et al. Cannabis Use is Quantitatively Associated with Nucleus Accumbens and Amygdala Abnormalities in Young Adult Recreational Users. The Journal of Neuroscience, 34. 16 (2014):5529 –5538. Igor, Grant. Et al. Non-acute (residual) neurocognitive effects of cannabis use: A meta-analytic study. Journal of the international neuropsychological society 9. (2003): 679-689. Caulkins, Jonathan, et al. Marijuana Legalization: What Everyone Needs to Know. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2012. Morgan, Kayla. Legalizing Marijuana. Minneapolis: ABDO, 2010. Gottfried, Ted. Should drugs be legalized? Brookfield, Conn.: Twenty-First Century Books, 2000. Evans, Rod and Berent, Irwin. Drug legalization: for and against. La Salle, Ill.: Open Court, 1992. Husak, Douglas and Marneffe, Peter. The legalization of drugs. Cambridge; New York: Cambridge University Press, 2005. Husak, Douglas. Legalize this!: the case for decriminalizing drugs. London: Verso 2002. Read More