Drugs: Legalization of Marijuana - Research Paper Example

 Drugs: Legalization of Marijuana Legalization of Marijuana in the United States The topic about drugs is one of the major political issues in the United States today. This has been particularly in relation to marijuana use; whether to illegalize or legalize the use of marijuana in the country. Of course, in this critical debate there exist both the supporters and opponents of the legalization courses of the drug. As demonstrated by the Pew Research Center, research findings indicate that the 53% support while 44% oppose the legalization efforts. This demonstrates a significant shift with regards to legalization as in the year 2006, 60% were opposed to legalization while 32% supported the move. There also exists varying demographic support for the drugs. Demographics based on age indicates that the youths, particularly those aged between 18-34, overwhelmingly support legalization; with the age group between 70-87 being the strongest opponents of legalization of Marijuana. There also exist huge shifts in opinions regarding the substance use over the years. The latest Pew Research indicates that among 1,500 adult participants, there is a higher likelihood of the supporters of the legalization move to say that they have changed their mind on the subject as compared to the opponents. Overall among the public, 30% maintain that they have always supported the legalization of marijuana with 21% indicating that they changed their mind from thinking the use of the drug should be illegal. 35% indicated that they have forever maintained their stance on opposing marijuana with 7% indicating that at one point they supported the drug use but later on changed their stance (Pew Research Center, 2014). Differing perspectives on the legalization of marijuana extends to the political arena with the political parties having differing opinions regarding the subject. Among the Democrats, 59% support legalization and among the Independents, 55% are for legalization. With a significant contrast are the Republicans with only 39% supporting legalization. There also exist ideological divisions between the parties with regards to the subject. Among the conservative Republicans, for instance, 65% oppose legalization with 32% supporting the move. The liberal and moderate Republicans have 49% of its members in support and 50% opposing legalization. 75% of the Democrat liberals support marijuana legalization as with the 50% of moderate and conservative Democrats (Pew Research Center, 2015). The differing perspectives are not only limited to the political parties but are also largely inherent amongst the races and ethnicities as well as genders. For instance, 58% of the Blacks and 55% of the Whites are for the legalization of marijuana use. This is in comparison with 40% of the Hispanics. In terms of gender, 57% of men favor legalization as compared with the 49% of women who support legalization. The supporters and opponents of legalization give differing perspectives on the reason for their stance. Largely, the supporters of the need to legalize marijuana use cite its perceived health benefits and its insignificant associated risks compared to other drugs. The opponents to legalization, on the other hand, emphasize the dangerous impacts on the drugs both on individuals and society at large. The medical benefits of marijuana are often the most cited reasons to support legalization with 41% of the supporters citing it. 36% cite the insignificance of its associated risks compared to alcohol and cigarettes. 73% of Americans indicate that they support their states to legalize the sale and use of the drug within the scope of medical use. 23% of Americans are, however, totally opposed to the idea (Pew Research Center, 2015). In fact, four states (Colorado, Washington DC, Alaska and Oregon) have already legalized the use of marijuana. 27% of the supporters argue that such a move by the states would lead to improve marijuana regulation coupled with increased tax revenues. Approximately one out of 10 supporters indicates the high cost expenses often used in enforcing the laws against marijuana use. 9% of the supporters emphasize the need for people to be allowed to freely use the substance. According to the Pew Research Center’s The Voices of Supporters, the sampled supporters’ arguments are that marijuana is not as harmful as alcohol; taxing and regulating alcohol as with the cigarettes and alcohol by the federal agency would see a more controlled use of marijuana. The drug has a lot of significance to medical use being a natural alternative to pharmaceuticals (Pew Research Center, 2010). One supporter, aged 46, mentions that marijuana has helped manage the seizures of her epileptic diagnosed grandson. Legalization of marijuana would deprive the drug dealers of illegal business; thus, lowering crime rates. Other arguments are that people should have independent and absolute control over their bodies and the government intervention is wholly wrong (Pew Research Center, 2015). The supporters of the legalization courses also argue that the American Law Enforcement on Marijuana is wholly racist (Sidlow & Henschem, 2013: p. 102). Taking Marijuana arrests, Sidlow & Henschem states that African Americans are four times more likely to be arrested for the possessing marijuana than whites, even though research findings indicate that both African Americans and Whites use the drugs at the same rate. African Americans only make up 12% of the total drug users’ population. However, they make up 40% of the total drug related arrests and 60% of those imprisoned for drug related offenses (Sidlow & Henschem, 2013: p. 102). 43% of the opponents to legalization of marijuana emphasize that the substance has bad effects on individuals and hurts the society. 30% of the opponents contradict the perspective of the supporters that marijuana is less risky compared to alcohol. They particularly emphasize the addiction and abuse risk possibilities associated with marijuana. One in every five opponents stated that marijuana is often a gateway to the uses of even harder drugs like cocaine and thus should be illegal and policed to the highest possible levels. However, 7% of the opponents were less rigid; indicating that while they remain opposed to the recreational use of marijuana, legalizing the medical use of the drug may be essential. Therefore, generally and in accordance with Per Research Center’s Voice of the Opponents, marijuana has considerably adverse side effects and thus should never be used recreationally, but rather medically. The drug is also deemed as interfering with the individual judgment and affects the motor skills as well rendering people lazy and ‘stupid’. The opponents also fear that the legalization of the drugs will lead to an increase in the amount of the substance available on the streets, which will increase the number of its users. Finally, the opponents also associate the use of marijuana health and brains especially of the youths (Pew Research Center, 2015). Conclusion The fight against drugs, particularly marijuana, is a very controversial issue in politics in the United States. It represents a very interesting debate on whether or not the use of the substance is dangerous or not. As discussed above, the legalization of the use of marijuana is indeed perceived as one of the most effective measures to fight the negative impacts associated with marijuana in the society. Considering the facts and figures discussed above, I am certain that legalizing marijuana is the right course having various benefits and would offer a variety of solutions to the problem of substance abuse in the United States (Pew Research Center, 2015). More specifically, legalization of the drugs with respect to its medical use only is very essential. Marijuana has several medicinal values and is one of the major pharmaceutical ingredients. This means that the natural use of the herb will not only be more effective in terms of use but in terms of costs as well. Moreover, legalization would mean that much control and regulations are put in place to ensure that the amounts, prices, and impacts are regulated. This would ensure that the cases of addiction and abuse of the substance would be significantly reduced. Most essentially, the crimes associated with marijuana use would be gradually and successfully eliminated. The illegality of marijuana use has been correctly criticized for contributing to high prices of the substance and the continuous growth of lucrative black market. This has also led to the increase of power of the drug lords who use their influences to control the political arena and indulge in other criminal activities. Legality, thus, would see a fall in prices and the decline of the black market as well as its various stakeholders (Pew Research Center, 2015). Legalization of marijuana would also result in the adoption of necessary measures to help the currently existing users who are addicted to the substance. This will entail construction of more rehabilitation centers with sufficient facilities and resources to aid the individuals. The legalization of marijuana is thus necessary, a fact that is supported by the 67% of Americans who argue that the government should shift focus from illegalizing the marijuana, to providing treatment to the users of illegal drugs, including cocaine and heroin. Only 26% of Americans are of the thought that the government should focus more on prosecuting the users (Pew Research Center, 2015). References Bottom of FormPew Research Center, (2015). In debate over legalization of marijuana, disagreements over drug’s dangers. Retrieved from Pew Research Center, (2014). American’s new drugs policy landscape. Retrieved from Pew Research, (2010). Public support for legalizing medical marijuana. Retrieved from Pew Research, (2015). Broad opposition to fed enforcement of marijuana laws in states where legal. Retrieved from Sidlow, E., & Henschem, B. (2013). Govt 6. New York: Cengage Learning. Print. Read More