Introduction.
The attempts to make marijuana legal began in the early 1970’s with a push on political, economic and social factors (Gupta, 2013). There has been incongruence between the public’s understanding of the drug and scientific knowledge. Most users and non-users refer to their experiences with the drug rather than its scientific and economic implication. Just like any other drug, some marijuana users stop after trying it once or twice while others become addicted (Ford, 1997). Statistics from NACADA indicate that at least two out of ten people who try marijuana become addicted, and develop dependence that produces cravings. Marijuana is also linked to socio-economic status, learning outcomes, and frustrations in life while some percentage use it for fun. The question as to whether the drug should be legalized remains a puzzle in the US with many providing counter-arguments on its benefits and disadvantages. Some states like Washington and Colorado have already legalized marijuana while some still perceive the idea as against the economy’s policies of drug eviction (Archibold, 2013).
This paper provides an analysis of responses provided by respondents in different regions on the case for and against legalization of marijuana. In coming up with the conclusions, the information was collected on a face-to-face interview with randomly selected respondents. The following questions acted as a guide for data collection.
- What do you think are effects of Marijuana?
- Do you think that legalization of marijuana would interfere with personal freedom and liberty?
- In your own perspective, how would you relate legalization of marijuana to economical growth?
- Do you believe on the relationships between Medics and marijuana?
- If Marijuana is taken out of the equation, what would be left of the total illicit drug use in America?
- Do you think that legalization of marijuana would impact on values, beliefs and religion?
- Does the debate on marijuana legalization affect national security, law enforcement and relationships with other economies?
- Despite the initiatives taken against the drug, consumption is still at an increasing edge. How would you rate the current prohibitions, successes and failures of marijuana?
- What are the effects of Marijuana?.
Most respondents were in consensus that marijuana users do it for the relaxation, happiness, increased enjoyment, appreciation, forgetting their worries, and increased excitement. Some argue that, under marijuana’s influence, they become creative, and gain better imagination and visualization. However, marijuana also has its negative effects, which include; over sleeping, loss of memory, difficulties in concentration, and dizziness and loss of balance (Morgan, 2011). Additionally, the drug leads to nausea, neglect of duties, and problems in performing tasks. Legalizing the drugs would mean increasing on its positive and negative elements. Legalizing the drug would imply increased levels of creativity and innovation, which are basic elements that the economy requires for development. Making it illegal would lead to loss of such creativity, and render some resources underutilized.
- Does legalization of marijuana interfere with personal freedom and liberty?
Those opposing legalization of marijuana ask ‘why should marijuana be illegal’ while those in support of the motion ask ‘why should marijuana be legal’. Most respondents argued that individuals have the right to make decisions as and when they attain the age required by law. This means that they have the right to control their lives and make decisions (Ford, 1997). Individuals who choose to use marijuana do it on their own will, and therefore, their decisions should be respected. The government is only obligated to intervene in limiting these choices if the individual behavior endangers the society. The idea is that individuals should have the freedom to make their own decisions while the government should act in protection of society (Messerli, 2011). The law should be referred to in cases of insecurity and risks to human life and societal well being.
- Does Marijuana use have any effect on the country’s economics and costs?
The argument revolved around the point that legalization of marijuana would imply a cost reduction to the substance, and this would mean increased consumption (Gupta, 2013). This would lead to increased tax revenues, which would be used to offset the social costs that result from its increased use (Ford, 1997). Besides adding to economic growth, legalizing marijuana would create jobs, partly solving the issue of unemployment in the country.
Contrary opinions argued that legalizing marijuana would diminish the black market. Some well established dealers have every incentive to remain underground meaning that it would be close to impossible to get them and tax their revenues. The existing underground tobacco market would be a significant example of how well established dealers would remain unknown (Morgan, 2011). A consideration of criminal justice costs in the case for and against marijuana also complicates the issue.
The question as to whether such costs should go down or rise if marijuana is legalized remains an issue of debate. The case of alcohol may provide an illuminating example of criminal justice costs. Legalizing alcohol has led to increased consumption and increased cases of drunken driving. This has increased the criminal justice costs as a result of the increased number of arrests. Legalizing marijuana, on the other hand, would imply increased consumption, and increased crime rates related to its intake (Joshua and Jesse, 2011). Behavior would deteriorate creating increased cases of insecurity, crime, rape, chances of the drug falling into the hands of minors, and also as a stepping stone for intake of other hard drugs like cocaine and heroin. The results would be increased public expenditure, which would reduce economic growth.
- What are the relationships between Medics and marijuana?
There was overwhelming evidence that marijuana has medicinal effects that reduces pain, calms nerves, reduces nausea, and assists in relaxing muscles. Marijuana puffs boost oxygen intake in the body by accelerating the speed of blood to the brain and other body parts (Joshua and Jesse, 2011). The substance has also been credited on increasing appetite to cancer patients, and this boosts their recovery (Abu-Jaber, 2013). According to Shereen and Denise (2004), marijuana has a medicinal value and therefore legalizing it would be an incentive to the medical background. This would assist in treatment and saving of lives.
Contrary, some respondents provided that legalizing the drug would imply attempts to use it for other purposes. Some doctors might attempt to provide it in the black market for purposes of individual interests. Additionally, he health effects of the drug will increase. With legalization comes with increased availability, and increased consumption which would lead to chemical imbalances of the regulatory systems of the users. Such would affect memory, IQ, and ability to learn, among the users. In addition, increased consumption would increase cancer cases in the medical sector. Cervical and prostate cancer and adult-onset glioma are some of risks that develop from prolonged intake of marijuana, and, therefore, legalizing it would increase such ailments (Gupta, 2013). Increased consumption would also lead to abuse of the substance, which is related to increased anxiety, aggressiveness, violent outbursts, and anger, which still adds on the medical effects list.
- If Marijuana is taken out of the equation, what would be left of the total illicit drug use in America?
A high percentage of the respondents were of the opinion that due to the illegalization of the drug, the price at which it sells is high compared to other drugs. Most people would then opt to go for the cheaper drugs, which are more harmful, dangerous to health, and addictive as compared to marijuana. In return, legalizing marijuana would act as a counter measure in reducing the intake of other hard drugs. It would act as an incentive in the war against drugs as its effects are not as many as compared to use of crystal meth, heroin or cocaine.
The question, however, remains on the control of the substance intake. Legalizing it would mean cheap accessibility to adults, and young generation. It would lead to increased consumption from curiosity and peer pressure leading to increased rates of its health, social and economic elements. Additionally, such curiosity may trigger the urge for harder drugs, which would complicate the issue of drug use rather than solving the problem. Additionally, legalizing it would trigger other drug users to campaign on the legalization of criminalized drugs (Morgan, 2011). This would increase the government’s expenditure as of arrest cases as indicated above, and also lead to lose of focus on the war against drugs.
- Does legalization of marijuana affect values, beliefs and religion?
The state was put under a challenge in its obligation to consider religion, believes and values. Respondents from the Hinduism, Buddhists, Rastafarians, who value marijuana as part of their religious and spiritual obligation argued for the case. These people deserve their right to practice their beliefs. On the contrary, respondents from Christianity and Judaism believe disregarded the use of marijuana as against their moral values.
The First Amendment to the US constitution indicates that the government has no right of prohibition to free exercise of marijuana, and so marijuana should be legalized. However, the percentage of those for the motion is lower than that of Christians. This has remained a battle of religious values with the dilemma on which values should prevail. In consideration to the number of the users and the value that they add to the economy, the use of marijuana should be illegal. As much as this creates a battle of religions, allowing the users may lead to disregard of other beliefs and increase the consumption. It may lead to peer pressure, disregard of traditions and culture, and rise of a new generation with no ethics and values.
- How does the debate affects national security, law enforcement and relationships with country’s for and those against?
Some respondents believed that marijuana while legalizing marijuana may reduce drug trafficking in economies where it is currently illegal, it would impact on the producer and consumer chains (Yarrusso, 2012). In place of relatively small growing areas, massive factory farms would emerge so as to streamline production, and many people currently involved in growing marijuana will be forced out of the market (Ford, 1997). The result would be a gap development between manufacturers and consumers, and feelings of responsibility will decrease with motives of making money. Use of pesticides would probably increase for fast production, and this would drive up the price of well treated marijuana.
Much like in the health and food industry, there will be a creation of a class divide between those who can afford the well treated substance, and those who cannot afford. This will impact on economic homogeneity, and create social classes, which impact on national resource distribution (Joshua and Jesse, 2011). The market might even grow larger than the level it is currently warranting the development of genetically modified marijuana to increase on productivity, and pest resistance, introducing another source of potential ethical problem. On the other hand, international integration will increase to those economies in support of its legalization. This will boost trade and investment, and add up to economic growth.
Contrary opinions provided that the move might impact on relations with those economies that are not in support. This will impact on globalization as such economies will tend to withdraw from integrating with America. This will impact on trade, investment, tourism, and other sectors that are crucial towards the economy’s growth.
- Despite the initiatives taken against the drug, consumption is still at an increasing edge. How would you rate the current prohibitions, successes and failures of marijuana?
Currently, marijuana is significantly popular in most American high schools. This is despite the many prohibition and restrictions against the substance use and distribution among students. In Canada, for instance, it is easier for high school students to access marijuana as they go unnoticed, than it is for adults (Macqueen, 2013). Most respondents lacked evidence that the current policies and measures decrease marijuana use, and most of all to youths who are underage. Contrary to expectations, respondents from California, argued that the drug has gained more popularity and increased use than when the current measures had not been introduced (Shereen & Denise, 2004).
Ironically, one does not have to have attained the required age (21 years) to buy marijuana; dealers do not care the age as long as money is available. What does that mean? It means that prohibiting is not the solution in solving the problem. Ironically, the more prohibitions there are, the more the consumption. The success behind marijuana and restrictions for use does not lie on legalization or legalization of the drug. It lies on programs aimed at educating the users on its implications (Abu-Jaber, 2013). If the goal remains as drug reduction, then focus should be on opening programs for youth education, regulations to keep off drugs to kids, and treatment and rehabilitation for people with drug problems.
Conclusion.
While the positive effects of marijuana can be seen both in recreational and medical perspective, there are significant negative implications that out do the benefits. Some of the negative effects for marijuana result from under age use, abuse and its illicit nature. In most countries, marijuana is considered illegal, and the problem does not lie on the people involved in growing and selling the substance, but to users who are ignorant of the compounds in marijuana. Majority of harmful effects of marijuana result from its abuse. Once users become tolerant to the substance, they slowly and unknowingly increase their dosage and increase the likelihood of addiction. The state of tolerance and increased dosage brings about the negative effects of marijuana (Tracy, par9). While considering whether to legalize the substance or not, the government should consider the positive and negative sides of the substance. The policies should be observant of its value towards societal and economical development as well as to the drawbacks.
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