Legalization of Marijuana in America - Research Paper Example

Legalization of Marijuana in America Outline 1.0 Introduction 2.0 Arguments against marijuana legalization 2.1 Leads to subsequent use of other illicit drugs 2.2 Increased crime rates 2.3 Increase marijuana usage 2.4 Adverse health effects 3.0 Counterargument 4.0 Possible solutions 5.0 Conclusion 6.0 References Introduction Marijuana is the most common illegal drug used by many individuals in the U.S (Morgan, 2011) as well as other parts of the world and the various forms of this substance are used for medicinal, social and aesthetic effects (Caulkins, Hawken, Kilmer and Kleiman, 2012). Marijuana legalization is one of the controversial issues in the United States and currently, majority of Americans favor legalization with the view that marijuana is generally harmless and less dangerous as compared to other illicit drugs such as alcohol. However, the current U.S policy is based on the view that drug leads to crime, corruption as well as various health complications thus prohibiting certain substances as dangerous drugs (Fish, 2013). Colorado and Washington are two states in the U.S that have decriminalized marijuana allowing citizens to have legal access to recreational marijuana (Reardon, MacKenzie and Griggs, 2012). As the proponents of medical marijuana continue presenting confusing information that marijuana is harmless, it is difficult to keep young adults and others abusing substance to remain drug free as well as helping those recovering from addiction to stay away from illicit drugs. Arguably, advocates for legalization of marijuana claim that decriminalizing marijuana will help the country save the money used to prosecute users, increase revenue by imposing tax on marijuana, significantly reduce the income of street gangs and organized crimes related to marijuana, and free a substantial amount of prison resources among others. On the other hand, opponents of marijuana legalization argue that legalizing marijuana will stimulate the abuse of dangerous illicit drugs, increase crime rates, and promote marijuana usage among others. This paper presents a strong argument against the legalization of marijuana in the United States covering how its decriminalization will affect individuals and the country as a whole. Arguments Against Marijuana should not be legalized in the United States or any other country because it facilitates subsequent use of other illicit drugs. Marijuana cause biochemical alterations in users’ brain forcing that to develop drug-taking behavior that will in turn push them into experimentation of other substances. For example, marijuana users are more likely to use other illicit drugs such as cocaine and heroin. These opponents believe that many cocaine users have used marijuana before; however, others who argue that most marijuana users never use cocaine have criticized this claim. Therefore, as the opponents of marijuana legalization claim that increased use of this substance leads to increased abuse of other illicit drugs, no evidence has been presented to provide proof concerning the correlation between marijuana use and the subsequent abuse of other illicit drugs. In addition, marijuana results in increased crime in the society, however, reports revealed that marijuana does not result in violent, aggressive or criminal behavior but it inhibit the expression of aggressive impulses by interfering with muscle coordination, and reducing psychomotor activities. Therefore, no link has been found between marijuana use and criminal behavior and that legalizing marijuana will help in reducing crime by shrinking the illicit market. Further, it has been argued that those using marijuana are more likely to try alcohol as compared to non-users, but researchers have not found an evidence to show that the two substances reinforce one another (Reardon, MacKenzie and Griggs, 2012). Moreover, decriminalizing marijuana will lead to increased use of this substance. Opponents of marijuana legalization claim that making marijuana will lead to increased use of marijuana and addiction as anyone including teenagers will be able to access this substance easily. Many teenagers in the U.S use marijuana with about 44 per cent 12th graders (Caulkins, Hawken, Kilmer and Kleiman, 2012). In some states where marijuana has been decriminalized, the marijuana use among the youths significantly increased and this therefore confirms that legalization of marijuana will increase usage among teenagers. Many medical experts are against this substance stating that it is addictive and harmful (Morgan, 2011). Long-term use of marijuana leads to addiction and this drug is addictive for teenagers since most of them stating marijuana as their primary substance of abuse. Therefore, as marijuana becomes legal in many places, medicinally or recreationally, it becomes more available and adolescents are the most vulnerable to the adverse effects of this drug. Marijuana is a dangerous drug as it affects individuals’ short-term memory, cognitive functions, and coordination and balance among others. These have a disastrous effect on driving leading to unnecessary deaths and injuries among users. Therefore, marijuana legalization and its availability and increased use in the society may increase cases of fatal accidents. Apart from its addictive nature in youths, marijuana is very harmful in developing brains as it affects learning and memory and this in turn affects individuals’ ability to function effectively in school, work or performing family activities. Its effects on education, memory and attention of users negatively affect the academic performances of teenage users. In addition, marijuana also affects its users emotionally, that is, it increases the risk of depression and anxiety. Sometimes, regular users of marijuana may experience some respiratory problems such as lung infections. Furthermore, when under influence of marijuana, users especially teenagers usually make wrong decisions that poor choices that may result in unwanted pregnancies and diseases cause by irresponsible sexual behaviors, dropping out of school and accidents among others. Counterargument On the contrary, proponents of marijuana legalization argue that this substance is less harmful as compared to other legal substances such as alcohol. Therefore, since they believe that marijuana is harmless, the money in keeping marijuana illegal by punishing the offenders should be used for other useful purposes (Morgan, 2011). In addition, decriminalizing marijuana will help in reducing the income of organized crime and street gangs, however, these cartels will still make money from other illicit drugs such as heroin and cocaine among others (Will, 2012). Pro-legalization individuals argue that marijuana sales and trafficking support violent criminal gang and so according to them, legalizing this substance will allow the state to regulate its cultivation and sale. According to them, decriminalization of marijuana would help in replacing black market production and distribution of the substance (Caulkins, Hawken, Kilmer and Kleiman, 2012).This will significantly reduce the financial gains earned by street gangs who engage in marijuana sales and trafficking in the black market. More so, these individuals claim that decriminalizing marijuana will help in generative more tax revenue as its sale would be taxed just like any other legal business (Morgan, 2011). They argue further that legalization of marijuana will help reduce subsequent abuse of other illicit drugs and they claim that individuals may use other illicit drugs because of marijuana prohibition in that, individuals are exposed to other drugs when they purchase marijuana in the black market and this increases the opportunity to purchase and try other illicit drugs. Possible solutions Decriminalization of marijuana in the United States is a heating debate and so there is need to come up with possible solutions to end the debate that is a major concern for many Americans. The best way to deal with the illegal market is coming up with a legal one, for instance, legalizing alcohol led to significant fall of crime rates, corruption and related diseases (Fish, 2013). Legalization of marijuana will not help because first, war on drugs did not succeed and that the cost of prohibiting marijuana possess huge burden on taxpayers and governments. The law enforcement should make use of the available resources more efficiently, this way, legalization will not affect Americans in terms of taxes. Controlling the use of marijuana through the criminal justice system is necessary but for sure, this is not the only solution to address this issue. Prevention is important and appropriate programs in schools and colleges and communities are seriously lacking but this is very important. Therefore, creating and implementing better prevention programs in schools in necessary as an effective way to reduce substance abuse especially among teenagers. More so, there is need to implement these programs well and monitored for effectiveness. Conclusion Marijuana decriminalization has been a controversial issue for more than a century now since it is the most commonly used illicit drug in the United States and the other parts of the world. Today, the use and effects of marijuana would be worse if this substance were not legal. Anti-marijuana legalization individuals claim that decriminalizing marijuana will lead to increased crime rates, subsequent use of other illicit drugs and increased cannabis use among others and so according to them, this drug is harmful and should never be legalized in America. On the contrary, pro-legalization individuals claim that marijuana is less harmless as compared to other legal substances such as alcohol and should therefore be legalized. They also argue that legalizing marijuana will generate more tax revenue, reduce subsequent use of other illicit drugs among others. Overall, federal government, schools and colleges, and communities should create and implement better programs and monitor their effectiveness in addressing substance abuse among teenagers and other societal members. References Burnham, A. (2011). Benefits of Legalizing Marijuana. Munich: GRIN Verlag GmbH. Caulkins, J. P., Hawken, A., Kilmer, B., & Kleiman, M. (2012). Marijuana legalization: What everyone needs to know. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Fish, J. M. (2013). Rethinking Drug Policy Assumptions. Humanist, 73(2), 12. Morgan, K. (2011). Legalizing marijuana. Edina, MN: ABDO Pub. Co. Reardon, S., MacKenzie, D., and Griggs, J. (2012). Pot vote launches living laboratory. New Scientist, 216(2891), 6-7. Will, G. F. (2012, April 12). Should the U.S. legalize hard drugs? The Washington Post. Retrieved from Read More