Marijuana Should Be Legalized - Essay Example

Marijuana Should Be Legalized Recently, public health professionals have been locked in an ongoing controversial debate regarding the use of marijuana or cannabis. The key issue of contention has been whether or not to legalize the use of marijuana. The main argument among pro-marijuana legalization groups has been that while acknowledging that cannabis is a mind altering substance, there are other legal substances that have mind altering effect. The legal substance frequently quoted in this argument is alcohol (Schlosser 9). Accordingly, this paper seeks to contribute to this controversial debate by arguing that marijuana should be legalized primarily because it is similar to alcohol in its effects. Moreover, this paper will show that marijuana has less severe negative impacts as compared to alcohol. How Marijuana Is Similar To Alcohol The first and most automatic similarity between marijuana and alcohol is the fact that both substances are consumed as social or recreational drug. Specifically, many adults consume marijuana during social gatherings with friends such as parties, concerts or even during romantic events among couples. The main objective of such use of marijuana is to enhance the mood of the whole recreational experience. Moreover, others use marijuana for main purpose of escaping from the realities and stress of life and subsequently, consume the substance in secluded or individual settings (Schlosser 32). This use is similar to the use of alcohol whereby adults consume alcohol at social events, during dinner parties and in romantic events. Likewise, the consumption of alcohol is mainly to enhance the feel good moments of the events. Additionally, adults also consumes alcohol independently or individually as a means of escape and as a recreational activity. The scientific explanation for this pattern of consumption among the two substances is that their recreational use generates euphoric mood feelings that subsequently lead to decline anxiety, tension and depression. Additionally, both drugs induce feelings of increased sociability especially when consumed in friendly or social settings (Schlosser 26). The second similarity linking marijuana and alcohol, according to scientific studies that have compared these substances is that both impair psychomotor and cognitive performance. Both marijuana and alcohol produce similar effects on cognitive and psychomotor performance such as slowed reaction time, defects in sort-term memory, and problems in concentration, motor incoordination and specific challenges or deficiencies in the execution of complex tasks that required elevated level of concentration, such as driving and piloting. Further, these effects in both marijuana and alcohol are dependent on individual factors such as the level of consumption, and dosage (Schlosser 34). Lastly, another similarity among marijuana and alcohol is in their long-term effects. Considerable evidence shows that independently, both drugs when consumed heavily and for a long time, may result in tolerance, withdrawal and dependence effects. Specifically, both substances induce withdrawal syndromes characterized by symptoms such as insomnia, restlessness, anxiety, anorexia, increased aggression, muscle tremors and some autonomic effects (Schlosser 22). For both substances, the development of tolerance results in escalated dosages among users and the onset of withdrawal syndrome facilitates continued use of the substance. Further, both alcohol and marijuana can cause cardiovascular toxicity if abused for prolonged periods of time. Some of the toxicity symptoms associated with long term abuse of marijuana and alcohol include arrhythmias, cardiac systolic dysfunction, and hypertension. Marijuana Has Lesser Negative Social Impacts While it is evident that alcohol and marijuana are similar in many ways in their effects, extensive research shows that the two substances are different especially it the negative effects in the society. First, the effects of alcohol are more lethal or fatal that those of marijuana. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), alcohol results in more than 37000 deaths annually in America. This figure does not take into account the fatalities arising from alcohol related accidental deaths. Conversely, the CDC does not have a record of any specific deaths directly associated with the use of marijuana. Moreover, according to the American Scientist, a Scientific Research Society, alcohol is a leading toxic drug and consuming amounts equivalent to 10 time more the individual tolerance levels may result to death. The research body lists marijuana as the least toxic substance that would require levels amounting to a thousand times of the individual tolerance levels, to result in death. Notably, there has never been a recorded case of death associated with marijuana overdose. Contrastingly, the CDC reports hundreds of deaths in the US that are directly related to alcohol overdose annually (Schlosser 18). The second most controversial difference between alcohol and marijuana is the fact that alcohol is attributed to more brain damage as compared to marijuana. According to neuroscientists, alcohol consumption is specifically harmful to the hippocampus region of the brain that has a crucial function in memory and learning (Schlosser 12). Primarily, binge alcohol consumption decreases the neurogenesis cell process by almost fifty percent, resulting in difficulties in the formation of new memories. Such changes predispose the adolescents to later life neurodegeneration. In contrast, other studies have shown that the marijuana neurotransmitter system in the brain has an opposite effect. Particularly, the stimulation of marijuana brain receptors increase the process of neurogenesis in the hippocampus. Notably such characteristics may be beneficial in averting the dramatic decline in memory experienced among elderly patients. Simply put, marijuana smoking in old age may restore memory. Another difference in the effects of marijuana and alcohol is that alcohol use has been linked to cancer while marijuana has not been conclusively associated with cancer. Considerable literature has associated long term use of alcohol to various forms of cancer including stomach, esophageal, lung, colon, liver, pancreatic and prostrate. On the contrary, researchers have not conclusively found any carcinogenic effects in the use of marijuana. In fact, studies have shown that marijuana smoking does not cause head and neck cancer as previously argued by the government. Rather, an increasing body of research suggests possible preventative qualities of marijuana to these cancers (Schlosser 16). Further, other studies show that marijuana smoking does not result in an increased risk for lung cancer arguing that data collected showed lower incidences of cancer among marijuana smokers as compare to other non-consumers of the substance. Further, extensive research shows that alcohol consumption increases the risk of injury to the user as compared to marijuana. It is estimated that approximately twenty one percent of all injuries and about thirty six percent of the hospitalized attacks are attributable to the use of alcohol by the victim. The main premise behind this is that alcohol use tends to increase risk taking behavior in the user. On the other hand, long-term use of marijuana is rarely related to emergency department admissions. Additionally, numerous studies have shown a direct relationship between consumption of alcohol to the manifestation of aggressive and violent behavioral tendencies. For example, an earlier study by Hoaken and Stewart (2003) conclude that among all other drugs, alcohol has the most evidence supporting a direct intoxication-aggression relationship. Notably, the study argued that marijuana in fact reduces the probability of violence after consumption (Schlosser 32). Further, the US department of Justice notes that approximately 30% of the reported violent crimes in the US are associated with alcohol use, translating to five million annual alcohol associated crimes. Conversely, the government does not track violent incidences associated with marijuana use. Another difference is that alcohol use is more likely to contribute to domestic abuse and sexual violence while marijuana does not. Studies show that alcohol is a significant contributory factor in the frequency of sexual assault and domestic violence incidents. While this does not suggests that alcohol is a causal factor for these incidences, the consumption of alcohol make the user prone or vulnerable to such behavior. Another 2003 study also showed that among chronic partner abusers, alcohol was identified as a potential contributory factor for increased daily male to female violence though marijuana did not have such effect (Schlosser 14). Lastly, another key difference in the impacts of marijuana and alcohol is that the health related costs associated with alcohol use and abuse exceeds by far, those of marijuana consumption. Specifically, the health costs for alcohol users are approximately eight times more than those of marijuana users. Furthermore, the cost of consuming alcohol is approximately $165 per consumer annually in comparison to $20 for a marijuana user (Schlosser 8). Implications on the Legalization Debate From the foregoing discussion, it appears that the social costs related with the consumption of alcohol are evidently greater than those linked with the use of marijuana. Essentially, the dissimilarities seem to suggest that marijuana is by far safer in its effects as compared to alcohol. Moreover, the similarities in the effects of these substances provide evidence that the distinction between the two substances is not as huge as often posited by anti-marijuana legalization advocates. This supports the argument that legalization of marijuana for recreational purposes has positive impacts on public health (Schlosser 44). Notably, the major unknown in the legalization debate has been the relationship between marijuana and alcohol use. The similarities of effects discussed herein prove that both drugs can be used as substitutes for the other. This seems to coincide with the argument that legalization of marijuana may result in the replacement of alcohol with marijuana as a recreational drug of choice especially among younger populations. Subsequently, since the foregoing differences in effects show that marijuana is less hazardous, then the replacement of alcohol may have positive impacts on public and social health. Indeed, preliminary investigations among states that have implemented the Medical Marijuana Laws (MMLs) already show some improvement in public health outcomes related to substance use and abuse (Schlosser 23). Conclusion This paper has listed various similarities and dissimilarities of the impacts and effects of the use of marijuana and alcohol. Notably, the similarities discussed dhow that the drugs are not as distinctive in their effects as most anti-marijuana legalization groups argue. Moreover, the difference in effects shows that alcohol consumptions has a greater social cost as compared to marijuana (Schlosser 12). The main implication of these findings on the legalization debate is that legalization of marijuana has positive effects on public health. However, more research is required in the area particularly to investigate the causal relationship between both drugs. Works Cited Schlosser, Eric. Reefer Madness: Sex, Drugs, and Cheap Labor in the American Black Market. New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2004. Print. Read More