Legalization of marijuana is a controversial subject, which creates a great debate across the globe. There exist a number of myths and misconceptions concerning the use of marijuana. For this reason, many countries the use of marijuana has been banned in most countries. However, some countries have legalized its use or permitted its usage for medicinal purposes. Proponents for its legalization argue that it is useful because of its monetary benefits and its medicinal use. On the other hand, the opponents for the legalization argue that marijuana is detrimental because of its harmful effects on the users. This paper aims at explaining the various reasons why legalization of marijuana is important.
Marijuana has about twenty five thousand products some of which have medicinal properties. Marijuana has numerous benefits to patients suffering from cancer and other diseases. It helps in relieving pain in cancer patients and reduces vomiting and nausea after chemotherapies. Marijuana stimulates eating habits thus help in treating appetite problems in anorexia patients and those suffering for HIV/AIDS. In addition, marijuana cures diseases including Fibromyalgia, Alzheimer’s disease, Tourette syndrome, Asthma and sickle cell disease. According to research done by the Scripps Research Institute in California, Marijuana contains tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) which helps in hindering the development of deposits in the brain of a human being responsible Alzheimer’s disease (Gerber 16). Therefore, marijuana should be legalized because it benefits patients with terminal diseases such as cancer.
Marijuana should be legalized because its fiber has various uses because of its durability and strength. Marijuana fiber has proved to be the best alternative fiber in the paper industry replacing the wood fiber thus reducing deforestation. Besides, marijuana grows at a faster rate compared to trees. Additionally, marijuana fiber is more durable compared to wood fiber and can be recycled more frequently (Gerber 45). Other uses of marijuana fiber include a raw material in the ship making industry and textile industries.
When taken in its natural and moderate quantities, marijuana has little or no harmful effects on the user, unlike tobacco and alcohol. In most countries, the use of both alcohol and tobacco is legal though with minimal regulation by the government (Morgan 8). Marijuana is less addictive and less it is not harmful to its users compared to both alcohol and tobacco. A study done in California State revealed that tobacco is 40 times more harmful compared to marijuana and no case of a person dying of marijuana has ever been reported. Alcohol is responsible for liver cirrhosis, a deadly disease that claims many lives annually. In the United States, about 30,000 deaths annually are attributed to the use of alcohol (Ferner, “Why marijuana should be Legalized: ‘Regulate Marijuana like Alcohol”). For this reason, the legalization of marijuana is essential in replacing other harmful drugs such as Tobacco and alcohol.
Legalization of marijuana is also vital in increasing a country’s revenue through taxation, thus boosting the economic growth. In addition, the issuance of license and permits to marijuana and fines from those who do not obey with the rule can also be a revenue source to the government. Estimation in the California States reveals that trade on marijuana is worth USD 15 million each year and the tax revenue would be more than USD 1 billion. Since most governments are currently operating on a budget deficit due to the economic recession, revenue resulting from the legalization of marijuana is necessary. Apart from the tax revenue, legalization of marijuana helps the governments and law enforcement agencies with saving of avoidable costs associated with the war against marijuana. Every country uses a lot of funds in the war against the illegal buying and selling of marijuana every fiscal year. For example, in the U.S., both the state and the federal government use approximately USD 8 billion every fiscal year in the war against illegal drugs including marijuana.
Marijuana in all countries should be legalized because the use of marijuana has been on the increase worldwide despite efforts by most governments in fighting its use. A report by FBI in the U.S. indicates that policies by the government aimed at eliminating marijuana are not achieving their goals. A significant number of people are being arrested annually, but this does not deter many people from smoking marijuana (Morgan 11). In the United States alone, over 20 million people have at some point in time smoked marijuana and this figure remains unchanged over the years. In some countries where marijuana is legal such as Portugal and the Netherlands have relatively lower crime levels compared to the United States where marijuana is illegal, and this clearly indicates that there exists no relationship between crime rates level and the use of marijuana.
Legalization of marijuana reduces crimes associated with the banning of the product. The trading of marijuana in the black market increases the price of the drug and this might lead to trivial crimes such as pick pocketing and mugging. The legalization of the drug will ensure that the price of marijuana is regulated thus making it affordable to low income users. There has been an increase in the crime levels in the USA- Mexico border because of the illegal trade of marijuana (Freeman, “U.S Should Legalize Marijuana to Curtail Mexican Drug War and Curb Illegal Migration”). These crimes result from disputes among the drug mafias. Legalization of marijuana will end the disputes among the drug cartels and the, mafias will lose their significance because the legalization removes the drug from the underground market. The former UN secretary General, Kofi Annan recommended that legalizing drugs such as marijuana play a key role in deny profits to the major drug cartels in the world. Profits earned through Illegal trade on marijuana and other illegal drugs make the drug cartels powerful. Most cartels operate in the underground economy where conflicts and disputes occur due to competition. The governments should therefore shift their attention from the war on marijuana to war other hard drugs such as heroin and cocaine (Morgan 26). The frequent arrests of marijuana sellers and users by the law enforcement agencies create unnecessary congestions in courts and state penitentiaries. Marijuana users often receive harsh punishments and penalties create needless lifetime consequences social harm even though it is a minor offense.
Illegal marijuana might contain harmful additives, which are harmful to the users. Occasionally, drug dealers add harmful substances such as Crystal-meth without the buyer knowing. As a result, the user gets addicted to the harmful substance. Legalization of marijuana helps in the elimination of the laced marijuana in the market. Marijuana contains a chemical component known as delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). During the 1970s, marijuana had a 1% composition of THC, but currently the content is about 30% (Morgan 36). Legalization will help in reducing the THC content in marijuana thus reducing its harm on the users.
The antagonists who argue against the legalization of marijuana cite numerous reasons to support their position. First, they argue that legalization of marijuana increases availability of the drug thus increasing the abuse by the underage population. Secondly, the legalization of marijuana increases the crime levels in a country. Various research studies, which derive their sponsorship from unions and association, which oppose the legalization of marijuana, reveal that those who involve themselves in the trade and the use of marijuana are likely to get involved in criminal activities. In addition, most people worldwide have a notion that the use marijuana is associated with immorality and it leads to abuse of other drugs such as heroin and cocaine (Morgan 21). Another argument by the opponents is that marijuana has harmful impacts on the health of the users. These side effects include weakened immune system, hallucinations, memory loss, lung cancer, and heart attack. However, these arguments are mere myths and misconceptions rather than facts. Furthermore, they mainly focus on the negative effects ignoring the benefits accompanying the legalization of marijuana.
In conclusion, marijuana should be legalized in all countries because the advantages of legalizing outweigh the disadvantages. The most important reason, which supports the legalization of marijuana, is the economic benefits derived from the buying and selling of the drug, tax revenue, and the cutting of costs involved in fighting the illegal trading of the drug. Moreover, the drug has medicinal benefits and it helps in curing a number of diseases including cancer. Instead of outlawing the trade and the use of marijuana, governments should engage a more sensible agenda for regulation allowing for the issuance of licenses for the production and sale. The regulation should also include the restriction for sale to the underage population.
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Work Cited
Ferner, Matt. Why marijuana should be Legalized: ‘Regulate Marijuana like Alcohol’. The Huffing post website, 2012. Web. 5 Dec 2012. <>
Freeman, Mellissa. U.S Should Legalize Marijuana to Curtail Mexican Drug War and Curb Illegal Migration. Policymic website, 2012. Web. 5 Dec 2012. <>
Gerber, Rudolph J. Legalizing Marijuana: Drug Policy Reform and Prohibition Politics. Westport, Conn: Praeger, 2004. Print.
Morgan, Kayla. Legalizing Marijuana. Edina, MN: ABDO Pub. Co, 2011. Print.
