Cannabis Legalization and Criminalization in Australia - Essay Example

Abstracts Cannabis is a plant that has gained wide publicity of it use. It has been indicated that it is useful and harmful as well. As such it has been an economically active plant to some people especially because of the anti cannabis campaign that has gained wide publicity and show down everywhere in the world. In fight against use of drugs in many countries has been to no avail because they are still very accessible to the people and various detrimental effects have been observed with regard to the use of cannabis sativa. However, its use has been indicated to have started long time ago by both humans and animals. Medical research has also come up with its own view about the use of cannabis, while the sociologists argue from a very different school of though. Economist and planners on the other hand see it as a good resource for the country as for revenue. All this has brought about antagonism and protagonist, just about the legality and criminology of cannabis sativa. It is therefore the purpose of this discussion to lay bear the fact and notions about the use of sativa as to the scenario of Australia. Key words Endocannabinoids, Scientific research, Social research, cardiovascular, endocrinology, Psychologists and Policies Introduction Cannabis legalization and criminalization has become one of the major topics under discussion in all the continents of the worlds. It is a contest that will at the end of the day carry out the judgement of whether it will be used legally or criminalised for the rest of the world. In some places in other parts of the world, it has been some source of very good money to some cartels that seem to be growing very rich beyond common understanding. However, it will be relative for this paper to explore the advantages and the disadvantages of legalizing and criminalizing the use of marijuana. The history of cannabis dates back from the most ancient times and literature has shown evidence of both humans and animals internalizing cannabis and using internally produced cannabis like products commonly referred to as endo cannadinoids. Cannabis has been rated the third most used drug in the world following tobacco and also closely to alcohol. It is the focus of this paper to address much of the influence of marijuana also referred to as cannabis. Other countries have decriminalized Marijuana such as Holland. It is the arguments that harm reduction should follow with legalization of marijuana. But the overall basis and line of thought in this paper is to find out the legality and the criminality of Marijuana. Discussion As far as this discussion will point out. It is imperative to weigh the advantages and the disadvantages of both the legalization and criminalization. Before the disadvantages of both can be pursued and later recommendations basing on the strength of the responses be determined. ‘Marijuana (cannabis) has had supporting views and it will be important that we focus on both the biological and social aspect of the influence it generates’ (Dennis & White, 1999, pp. 679). It is this discussion that is going to determine the advantages and the disadvantages in our discussion. Protagonist of cannabis has focussed on the negative effects of the plant to social and health while the antagonists have focussed on their best effects in health and also social aspects. Australia should legalise marijuana. Yes, this is in view of a wide aspect propositions that should be addressed with the focus of the freedom of individuals and against the paternalistic element. ‘The essence of harm is also another factor which and should not only address the quantity of harm but also the quantitative element as to establish the safety and efficacy in the legalization process’ (Ferguson & Horwood 2000, pp. 515). How can crime be handled if not by legalization? Crime is the most serious threat to the security of the state and the people. Security is of the essence in this discussion. Acts have been developed to take control of the use of cannabis but have been to no use. ‘A study conducted established that tax act and the numerous amendments made on the policies only led to the decriminalisation of the drug citing possession, the use, and sale, demanding a low priority offence act, (Gerber, 2004, pp. 7). It is of the essence that more insight about the legalization of marijuana be established. Legalization of marijuana will have several merits. First, health status of marijuana users will be of priority in contesting any issue of marijuana. Tangible evidence from john Hopkins University indicate that there has not been established any cognitive difference in the heavy, light and non users. ‘It extents further to add to it that it is more harmful than tobacco and alcohol that is widely legalised and abused even when legalised’ (Hall, 1998, pp. 441). Nicotine seems to be more addictive at very high rates than the cannabis with more rates of death than the latter. Psychiatrist on the other hand defends the fact that cannabis has a beneficial mind altering effect when used in right proportions. Legalisation means it has to screen and publicise by making it available in screened packages as this will reduce the abuse. It remodels people’s perception of reality to a unique and limited point of view. In addition, a cocoon of individuals believes that marijuana has a mind expanding effect. This should be handled subjectively and be legalized. Legalization will also change the criminal ideology to healthy state of affair, though criminalized for its effect on health which is a short term look of the fact that it impairs the short term memory, addiction and the loss of energy. The long term effect holds more water and that warrants any reason to make it legal. ‘It is also non toxic, non addictive and can curb psychotic symptoms in schizophrenic individuals’ (Hall & Pacula, 2003, pp. 220). It has confirmed medical importance’s against specific medical conditions and has dosage levels already established. Rituals and religious practises have also exploited the importances of cannabis. Why should it be illegalised? Why? Individuals’ liberty cannot be sidelined when it comes to the debate on legalisation of cannabis. Individuals should be allowed to use cannabis willingly a long as it does not harm anyone else. People are allowed to enjoy to their detriment and so should be applied to cannabis. Individuals should not be allowed to interfere with the liberties of others. This will also target the individual’s experiences and one will decide whether to proceed taking it or stop completely. The high social costs that are associated with the responsibility of using the cannabis should also not be discriminated. ‘Illegalizing marijuana hence only sets double standards and discriminatory accusations which are not proper for the law and the integrity of a states constitution’ (Hall, 1997, pp. 1111). It does also not suffice to state that cannabis is very unhealthy and risky but the situation under which it is consumed that makes it abused. It calls for the use of common sense which can also not be regulated by the constitution. It merely a judgement on time of need but the authority to make independent choices should be left for individuals. The use of marijuana when criminalized has increased the incidences of crime. The cutting down of this criminal link will help reduce the levels of crime. This has also been associated with the social defiant traits. Marijuana users often do not comply with the laws and rules and this can be reduced by legalizing. The high cost has brainwashed the children and has been associated with richness and hardy traits. ‘It has encouraged the permissiveness in school and among the youths’ (Himmelstein, 1983, pp. 34). It is being misused as gateway drug, a good number of cannabis consumers are also cocaine users, they believe in hard substances. This majorly because of the black market ideology that handles all the other black substances. A study also conducted also indicated that alcohol is the major gateway drug than marijuana and cocaine. Judicial overloads will be best handled when marijuana is legalized. Most people who are arrested are marijuana users or related charges. This creates a massive strain in the courts and prisons. They are not only far reaching but also increases the rates of plea bargaining. Legalise marijuana to ease congestion and reduce the rate of crimes. Coming up with anti narcotics bill and special bodies only puts more pressure on the judicial process, they strain the system and at the expense of the tax payers. Criminalisation only increases these facts. ‘Therefore, with the hope of a new dawn at site, legalisation will only assist one see the light at the end of the tunnel’ (Strang, Witton & Hail, 2000,pp. 109). Marijuana prohibition will be a night mare and it is completely impossible to achieve, it is like prohibiting alcohol from consumption. And above all, it all reflects on the economy of the country, if marijuana can be taxed for the revenue gain, an estimate of between $20-$50 billion would be realised per year. This is very massive amount of money that currently has been vested on individuals who have authority because of the amount of money they handled. It only calls for legalisation and regulation just like other products but more especially tobacco, potency will also be regulated and that will be the best era in Australia. The government will have more money to run its programs, healthy people with less crime and medically fit generation in the long term to manage the country. The disadvantages of legalisation are that it will encourage the users who will spend more money to buy more cannabis that will eventually reduce their social aspect in life. ‘It will also impair their ability to make wise judgements, an everlasting damage of their bodies will also be made to their bodies and this will likely lead to death of this individuals’ (Lewis, 1978, pp. 56). ‘Unfortunately, ‘hard staff’ is never consumed as individuals but people prefer the mob psychological aspect of abuse’ (Sarre, 1990, pp. 300). It has to be made known that if destroys the long term memory, cognition and motivations in however potent states that are consumed. They are also has increased risks of psychosis to the brain functions, it is not only very demanding to the lungs but also to the endocrine glands where they have the ability to regulate the endocrine system. Your immune system will be compromised and that the country will have to spare extra costs in order to safeguard the countries health care system. It is more pervasive especially in the cause of cancer, a number one killer disease. This will only strain the government’s economy while it will also reduce the thinking and sensitive population of people who can make plausible decisions for the running of the country in future generations to come. ‘As much as we also have a decrease of the population due to the programmed cell death of its citizens, there will be a decrease in the active population and the human resource since the youth are dying before they get to their old age’ ( Voth, 1996, pp. 637). ‘Individual liberty can be contested because some of the people are pressured to taking cannabis especially in slum dwellers and it will be unfair to individuals’ (MacCoun & Reuter, 2001, pp.513). This to a greater extend interferes with other peoples liberties especially when it gets to the extent of crime. Work place accidents and tragedies which reflects and magnifies to the whole society and the community. As a result, the very high cost that will be seen n the public health will be a direct violation of the tax payer’s liberties for their money to be misused. Socially, it is a drug for life losers. Jeopardises the public health concept of service delivery and inflicts heavily in the performances of children in schools. Legalisation means that the potency levels will have to be managed and that is will tend to increase the consumption because they are used to crude methods which are not regulated and have crude concentration of the active ingredients. Permissibility won’t be a major issue as it will be an over the counter product and very affordable. Marijuana consumers are never convinced and convicted of crimes and as a result it will only lead to increase judicial burdens especially as a result of organized crimes. Marijuana trafficking will never stop with legalization and neither will undermine crime. ‘Potency will never be a big issue because and regulation will not deter the potency levels completely’ (McGeorge & Aitken, 1997, pp. 790). This only means that legalisation will have its own share of the good side that will be valid but inconsideration of the con side of the same, it will be better for the legalisation of cannabis to take effect with immediate effect. Criminalisation is a state of making it illegal which indicates that it is not allowed, but what measure are there in place to curb all this practices? How does the judicial system collaborate to ensure total ban? In discussion of this context. It will be mandatory to handle the individualistic aspect and paternal aspect of the social elements while also special consideration will also be put on the medical aspects. Marijuana criminalisation and illegalisation all have the same consequences. Criminalisation has only been shown to increase harm directly to the people and it is costly and up to this day, it has not been shown that illegalization will increase use of other harmful drugs. Criminalisation will only increase the band wagon of trafficking to the local market that will also create it more permissive. Criminalisation will also help regulate the biological aspects of the cannabis that it has on people’s health. It means self administration strategies will have to be put in place as most often they will try to avoid publicity. Criminalisation will only make it worse for the users and finding a remedy for this will also cost the tax payers much money than it will be required to decriminalize and establish policy’s in place to monitor their control by regulating the consumption. Disadvantages of criminalisation is that no evidenced based explanation of their safety and efficacy has been established and criminalisation is much of political, racial and greed influence. It denies the government much of the revenues that will be generated when it is legalised and hence also taxable just like any other commodities in the market. This will decongest money generation from powerful individuals who benefit from the sale of marijuana from the black Market. Criminalization will also increase the chances of there being so many crimes that will increase the levels of insecurity which is a serious threat to the country. It also means that so much resource is wasted on these judicial mechanisms. Criminalisation also indicates that use of other hard drugs will increase since availability of cannabis will be highly monitored and they will also develop complex mechanisms that will also make it very difficult to detect. Conclusion It must be noted that legalisation is much better to the benefit of the country inform of monitoring and regulation. It starts from planting, use, processing and distribution. It will also generate more money for the country inform of revenue and legal cases that are related to marijuana cases will greatly ease congestion in the courts. This indicates that we shall have freedom in the country of security and individual responsibility will eventually take place and reduction in the use and abuse will be regulated and on the long term, it will be controlled. Criminalisation is the worse way of handling criminals. It can be related to facing criminals head on collision and that will be some signal of war. It is on this basis that I will support legalisation and decriminalisation basing on the weight of the advantages than the disadvantages illustrated in this paper. Read More