Arguments for Legalization of Marijuana - Essay Example

?Arguments for legalization of marijuana The society makes moral and legal rules for regulating behavior and interactions towards people’s well being. The rules establishes obligations and rights that people should honor for peaceful coexistence. Such a scope suggest that the rules are established based on their net benefits to the society or may be changed for improving possible benefits to people. This has been the basis of the debate on legalization of Marijuana. The drug remains illegal in spite of vast benefits that people attribute to it. Even though the current laws that make it illegal identify its harms, existence of benefits warrants exploration for better rules and this paper seeks to argue that marijuana should be made legal. Opponents of marijuana use have offered diversified arguments to support the current laws that limit application of the drug. One of the arguments identifies the intoxicating effect of the drug and notes that legalizing it will have adverse effects on physical activities. Using the work environment as an example, the opponents explain that when people get stoned after using the drug, they are not able to concentrate on their work. Inefficiency at work and mistakes that can lead to accidents will therefore be on the rise with adverse effects on the economy at both macro and microeconomic levels. Loss of focus is also feared among drivers should they drive under significant influence of marijuana because this is likely to increase incidences of road accidents. This is because marijuana affects people’s rationale and reduces ability to make instantaneous responses. It is also argued that smoking marijuana is immoral because of its effect on the society. Legalizing the drug is likely to increase its exposure and young people will be more vulnerable to using it. At the same time, the drug has adverse effects such as damaging users’ bodies and mind. Significance of these effects has been used to support current laws (Steve 48). Habits develop gradually and this offers another argument against legalization of marijuana. The proponents of the status quo on illegality of marijuana argue that marijuana will act as a stepping-stone to consumption of stronger drugs. Making marijuana legal will expose many people to use and dependence on drugs and the victims, after a period of consumption, will seek drugs that can offer greater stimulating effects. Disadvantages of the hard drugs such as adverse effects on people’s bodies develop fears that legalization of marijuana will have serious secondary effects. Effects of smoking on other people are another offered reason for opposing legalization of marijuana. While a smoker has intentions to expose self to smoke and chemicals in marijuana, such smoking exposes other people to the factors. This only favors smokers and it endangers their lives at no benefit at all. The government however has the responsibility for protecting the public through such arms and formulation of policies that limits such usage and strict implementation of the policies ensures that people do not suffer because of effects of secondary smoking. It is also believed that legalization of marijuana could set a bad precedent towards calls for an eventual legalization of harder drugs. This will however be detrimental to the society because of the more adverse effects of the hard drugs such as cocaine and heroin (Balanced Politics 1). Analysis of these opponent arguments however exposes a number of weaknesses because the fears can be managed or may not be real. Considering the proposed adverse effects of marijuana legalization on safety on roads or at workplaces, legalizing the drug may increase its accessibility but that does not mean that the other drugs are safe. Alcohol, for example, is legal and have similar effects as the proposed effects of marijuana. Developed measures such as laws that regulate driving while intoxicated and work environment’s codes of conduct have regulated alcohol consumption and can be used to regulate consumption of marijuana at places of work or by people while driving. The argument is also not very sound because marijuana is not going to be the first stimulant drug to be legalized and if the proposed effects are significant to warrant a continued ban on marijuana, then the other drugs such as beer, spirits and wines should be made illegal. The general rule of equity therefore undermines this argument. The basic definition of a stimulant drug, at least under reasonable level of consumption, includes alertness among users. This is an advantage that the opponents of legalization should appreciate instead having a biased opinion. The opinion that legalization of marijuana will lead to higher cases of harder drugs utilization is also not valid. While behavior develops gradually and greater exposure to marijuana may be a risk factor usage of harder drugs, legal stimulant drugs could as well serve this purpose. Fronting no similar campaigns for illegalization of the other drugs suggest that the argument against legalization of marijuana is not strongly on exposure to utilization of harder drugs (Steve 48; Balanced Politics 1). Effects of marijuana on users’ physical and mental health and effects on non-users are other reasons that have been used to support legalization. Regulated use of the drugs such as limitation of the quantity that a person can purchase within duration and establishing legal penalties for excess marijuana related content in the body could solve this problem. This would ensure that people who need marijuana for medicinal application gain access to it and those who use it for recreational purposes do not suffer because of excessive consumption. Exposure to marijuana related chemicals because of second hand smocking is a public health concern but can be resolved through policies. Restricting smocking of marijuana to private places and specially designated areas is an example of strategies that can reduce exposure to second hand smoking. The approach will ensure that smokers meet their desire in consuming marijuana and that non-smokers are kept safe. This perspective is also moral because it ensures benefits to all members of the society instead of the current situation. Banning marijuana on ground of exposure to second hand smoking is also irrational when cigarettes expose people to the same risks and yet cigarette smoking is legal (Steve 48; Balanced Politics 1). Strong reasons have however been established to support legalization of marijuana. Marijuana is for example less harmful to people’s health as compared to other drugs such as alcohol that are legal. Even though adverse effects may result from excessive consumption, such are rare and are experienced with other drugs such as tobacco. Moderate application of marijuana is however healthy and should be promoted by making the drug legal. This will not only facilitate access but will also improve responsibility in consumption because people will not be under pressure of legal liability. Marijuana is also a naturally occurring substance and limiting its access and usage, as the current laws provide, infringes people’s rights and freedom to exploiting nature and its resources. The constitution also provides for people’s autonomy and this means that every individual has a right to make independent decisions on factors around their lives. a decision on whether to use marijuana or not should, according to the definition of autonomy, be left to individuals and not to law enforcement officers. This perspective also identifies inconsistency in law and calls for amendments either to rescind the autonomy doctrine or to legalize marijuana. Legalizing marijuana is however the easier alternative because the autonomy doctrine touches on many other rights, including fundamental rights, and this means that it cannot be rescinded from the current laws. Trade in marijuana has also been associated with theft and violence and high prices. Its legalization that will increase availability will however resolve these issues and ensure transparency in supply of the drug. Prices are also likely to reduce and this will have significant economic impact on people’s lives. Money that people will be able to save will help to increase propensity to save and spend and this will improve aggregate demand in the economy towards economic growth (Steve 48). Legalizing marijuana will also expand sources of revenue for the government. As a legal trade, the product will be taxed and the generated income can help the government to reduce its level of debt and to pay for its expenses in offers services to the public. Besides the government revenues, legalizing marijuana and its trade will offer job opportunities to different stakeholders such as farmers, harvesters, processors, and traders. This will help the economy to reduce its unemployment rate and to improve people’s living standards. Law enforcement officers and the courts also receive burden from marijuana related cases and this reduces their efficiency in responding to and dealing with more serious crimes. Making marijuana legal will relieve this burden and facilitate justice through efficient services by the police and the courts. The illegal trade in marijuana also affects the commodity’s quality and making it legal and outlining standards for its trade will ensure better “quality, safety, purity, and potency” (Steve 49). The arguments for legalization of marijuana identifies valid and rational bases for better economic and social position in the society while offered reasons against legalization of marijuana can be managed. This paper therefore concludes that marijuana should be legalized to allow the society reap its benefits. Works cited Balanced Politics. “Should marijuana be legalized under any circumstances?” Balanced Politics. N.d. Web. December 15, 2013. < http://www.balancedpolitics.org/marijuana_legalization.htm >. Steve, Elliot. The little black book of marijuana: The essential guide to the world of cannabis. New York, NY: Peter Pauper Press, Inc., 2011. Print. Read More