Marijuana since the year 1961 has been termed as an illegal commodity in the United States. In the 2012 election however majority of the Washington and Colorado electorate supported its legalization. Marijuana or Cannabis Sativa has been around for centuries . This small green flowering plant is grown in various locations globally. Marijuana is made from the top flowering part of the Cannabis Sativa plant. This plant contains a chemical known as Tetrahydrocannabinol or THC, which once used brings about the mind-altering effects to many of its users. This chemical is said to vary in potency in different species of the Cannabis Sativa plant. It is prudent to note that Marijuana use can be dated to the year 600BC in China as food. During the Napoleonic age it was used predominantly for its sedative effects and pain relief (Goldstein, 17).
Marijuana is also used because of its psychoactive effects. It has been used, for instance, to induce changes in consciousness and mood as well as to relax and calm down . Marijuana has been christened as the “recreational drug” by many of its advocates due to the number of users that enjoy its psychoactive effects. Various researchers cite that the use of Marijuana can have effects both in the long run and the short run to an individual’s overall health. The short-term effects comprise of inability to concentrate and distorted sense. The long-term effects are detrimental as they touch on the respiratory system, low sperm count and testosterone levels in money, impact on the premenstrual and ovulation cycles of women. It also brings about fatigue, decreased libido, fertility impairment and changes in body composition (more fat mass and decreased muscle mass).
Numerous studies have been carried out indicating that Marijuana use helps reduce symptoms of certain medical conditions. The drug can help glaucoma, cancer, and multiple Sclerosis patients as per the major findings. However, there have been other consequent studies that dispute those claims. Some studies have shown that using marijuana reduces nausea and vomiting of cancer patients undergoing Chemotherapy. It is notable that while more than 18 states have successfully legalized marijuana for medicinal use until recently recreational marijuana was illegal.
The marijuana legalization debate has generated a lot of sentiments and opinions from various quarters. Supporters of the drug argue that its prohibition has brought about the ineffective curbing of marijuana. They justify their argument by citing that through legalization the drug trafficking and costs associated with marijuana will be brought down significantly. This will impact negatively on illegal drug dealers’ profits forcing them out of the trade (Goldstein, 37). Legalization would lower prices and open competition which would see many drug cartels lose a lot of their business.
The advocates of the legalization point that Marijuana compared Tobacco have less long-term negative effect or impact. To back this up the advocates purport a recent study conducted on Marijuana indicates that the drug has no long-term negative effect particularly on an individual’s cognition abilities (Rosenthal et al., 26).
The Marijuana legalization is also said to be advantageous to the exchequer. It will raise the much-needed revenue in form of tax for the states in America. Marijuana through legalization would join the number of substances that are other subjected to sin tax. The analysts forecast through such a measure that over $60 million can be generated by the year 2017. This revenue can be injected into the state economies to fund projects and initiatives that will impact on the greater citizenry as a whole. The legalization further, advocates argue that it will decrease the cost used by law enforcers in carrying out arrests and enforcement of the prohibition in various localities. Many law enforcers would be freed up to focus on more serious crimes such as terrorism, rape, theft, murder et cetera. In addition, the court docket load would be reduced thus enhancing its efficiency in serving the greater public’s deserving cases.
The measure advocates also cite personal freedom as a reason why marijuana should be legalized. It is within the individual’s rights and freedoms to choose what harms him or her. The advocates argue that the government cannot inhibit a victimless crime where it’s only the marijuana user who is being harmed. Limiting the use of Marijuana is tantamount to trying to legislate on morality. They argue that the government cannot legislate on morality while people disagree on the true definition of what is moral and what is not (Rosenthal et al., 39).
The critics on the other hand argue that through legalization many costs will arise. The costs will manifest themselves in form of funds for drug education, rehabilitation centers, and marijuana treatment programs. Their claims are supported by studies that cite that 9 % of Marijuana users end up as addicts that are in dire need of clinical help. A fact that will see the authorities use much of their facilities and resources once the drug is legalized and creates more addicts among the American populace (Caulkins et al., 38). The critics of this measure further solidify their argument by citing that Marijuana even though it might be not harmful as tobacco causes intoxication. The intoxication can generate to other faces that may be detrimental to the drug users and their immediate neighbors. They argue that intoxication will make cases of traffic accidents and crime rates soar within the neighborhoods or vicinities that the drug abusers find themselves in.
The physical damage brought about by the use of marijuana is another factor that the critics base their argument against its legalization. According to pundits, marijuana has been tied to brain and lung damage, depression, cancer, death and amotivational syndrome. The brain damage has been said to be the main cause of memory loss and reduced cognitive abilities. Through prohibition of marijuana, it is the authorities way of protecting the citizenry from such dangerous substances . The argument against the Marijuana legalization is further emboldened by the fact that many moral codes and religions prohibit use of intoxicating elements or substances. The legalization appeal would violate many of these popularly held beliefs by the greater American public.
The critics also use the case study of gambling that even after its legalization there has been no substantial decline in the gambling rate in America. Gambling as a vice has brought down many homes to their knees due to diversion of vital resources to gambling premises such as casinos. The drug thus creates secondary victims and in the end impacts on the society as a whole. The critics through studies argue Marijuana has often than not acted as a stepping stone to other hard drugs such as Heroin, Cocaine et cetera. In other words, many individuals experiment with this “harmless” drug and after getting used to it will source for more intoxicating drugs to meet their desires (Caulkins, et al., 47). Marijuana acts to embolden drug users into experimenting with harder drugs.
The opponents of the marijuana legalization also fear that many minors may fall into the marijuana use trap. They cite that even unhealthy legal products such as alcohol and cigarettes are prohibited from being sold minors. The minors’ bodies are not well developed to handle the intake of such substances. Well, this problem is even worse for the cannabis sativa use. Developing minor bodies and brains can be affected a great deal by the use of marijuana. Through legalization of this drug, so does its accessibility to minors rise (Rosenthal et al., 57). Regularly minors get their hands on cigarettes or alcohol, these critics argue, should not be the case for marijuana.
In recap, there are always two sides to an issue. The legalization of marijuana can be said to be supported by its advocates as its benefits outweigh the costs. The critics on the other hand oppose the argument, as through legalization the harmful impact to the society and citizenry will outweigh the perceived benefits. This debate will continue to riddle many due to the different scientific research that keep on disputing one another on the real effects of Marijuana as a drug. There has not been any conclusive study in existence that can see the end to this argument once and for all. There is a clash of freedoms with morality, studies versus studies, realists versus idealists on this debate making it a never-ending debacle.
Works Cited
Caulkins, Jonathan P, Angela Hawken, Beau Kilmer, and Mark Kleiman. Marijuana Legalization: What Everyone Needs to Know. N.p., 2012. Print.
Goldstein, Margaret J. Legalizing Drugs: Crime Stopper or Social Risk?Minneapolis, MN: Twenty-First Century Books, 2010. Internet resource.
Rosenthal, Ed, Steve Kubby, and S. Newhart. Why Marijuana Should Be Legal. New York: Thunder's Mouth Press, 2003. Print.
