Introduction
Medical marijuana legalization has taken shape of a movement in the United States of America as people continue to debate the pros and cons of legalization in the news media.
Since the year 1973, 12 American states have made changes to their laws to reduce penalties for possession of marijuana (Austin, 2016). This is because there are certain pros associated with the legalization of marijuana, but the cons should not be completely avoided that come along with it. Legalization of marijuana would certainly be a success for the on-going Decriminalization Movement and will provide several economic and health pros and cons for its consumers. In my personal opinion, marijuana needs to be legalized as the pros associated with the use of marijuana, clearly overweighs the cons associated with it.
Pros and Cons of Legalization
Economic Pros and Cons
The overt economic advantages associated with the legalization of medical marijuana in the United States of America include billions of dollars in tax revenue, alternate job market, reducing pressure on limited prison budgets, saving prohibition enforcement costs, reduction in marijuana pricing, marijuana is an asset and it is a potentially a $100 billion industry.
One of the biggest problems in the United States of America is the amount of federal spending done in enforcing marijuana prohibition with spending reaching $13.7 billion in 2012. States that have legalized marijuana make millions in tax revenue through medical marijuana shops. Another growing concern is the increasing prices of marijuana, which can only be controlled by the legalization of the pot industry. In the year 2007, marijuana related incarceration coasted U.S. prisons around $1 billion. The total worth of California’s pot crop was worth $14 billion in 2009. The size of the illegal marijuana industry reached $36 billion in 2010. Medical marijuana industry also provides jobs to several people in the country, as every weGrow centre employs around 75 people (Bradford, 2012).
Apart from the economic advantages associated with the use of medical marijuana, there are several disadvantages that are present too. With the legalization of marijuana, the current premium prices of marijuana charged by dealers would plummet, and the economic advantages that the industry can provide will also plummet with it. Reduced prices would also mean that the tax revenue of the U.S. government will also decrease. The reduced prices will reduce the revenue made by pot farmers and the number of people who are working in the pot industry would see their jobs vanish over a period of time (Dach, Moore, & Kander, 2015).
Health Pros and Cons
There are several direct health benefits associated with the use of medical marijuana by the consumers. Cannabis has a safe product which can be used for speed aid and alleviate several medical ailments for health problems such as anxiety, nausea, seizures, loss of appetite, muscle tension, chronic pain and spasms (Jacques, 2013). Consumption or smoking marijuana has therapeutic advantages to the consumer and some studies have proven that it can even cure cancer (Bekiempis, 2013). There are many identified advantages of using medical marijuana, such as reduction of carcinogenic effects caused by smoking tobacco. Marijuana is also known to reduce Alzheimer’s and reduce pain during multiple sclerosis. The combination of these medical benefits makes it wise to legalize marijuana and ensure people have access to it.
There are some health related disadvantages with the use of medical marijuana. Medical marijuana impairs consumer’s short-term memory, causing distortion of memory and judgement. Regular use by teenagers can lead to negative impact on the long-term cognitive development of their brain. Despite being addictive that other drugs, alcohol and tobacco, marijuana still is addictive and one out of ten consumers fall prey to addiction. Some of the substances present in the pot plant are psychoactive. In combination of these disadvantages, smoking pot seems logical for people who need it medicinally and consumers who do not have any health problem should limit the use (Bekiempis, 2013).
Consequences of Legalization
Pros of Legalization
Therefore, legalization of marijuana has clear advantages both in economic and health terms. In economic terms, legalization of pot would add a $100 billion industry, which can provide jobs, taxes, and eliminate the need for federal prohibition spending. Legalization of pot would also ensure that the number of people incarcerated for possession of marijuana are pardoned and given a chance to live a free life. It already seems illogical that the consumption of marijuana is legal is some states, but other incriminate people for others within a country. The government would also make billions in federal taxes annually as the industry will be worth $100 billion in coming years. The number of jobs created through the medical marijuana centres and in the farming industry is also another source of attraction for legalization (Roberts, 2015). Finally, the current prices of marijuana would be reduced, especially for people who are in desperate need for reducing their pain. Health advantages for legalization of marijuana can be witnessed by the number of people being helped by regular use of marijuana. Cannabis has proven to be helpful in reducing anxiety, nausea, spasm, chronic pain, muscle tension, and increase appetite of the consumer. Other major reports of marijuana helped patients have been noted in reducing cancer cells; reduce pain during multiple sclerosis; and help patients suffering from Alzheimer.
Cons of Legalization
There are many cons associated with the use of marijuana for the users as it remains to be an addictive drug. The drug has euphoric effects that make users lose their short-term memory for the thrill of getting high. Teenagers can get addicted to the drug and the impact of its use can be possible in their cognitive growth. The plant also instigates psychoactive behaviour among the users and despite its health benefits provides several other disadvantages. In terms of economics, once the industry is legalized the revenue, industry size and taxes would reduce in a matter of a few years as government control would end up decreasing the prices of the products. Also, having low priced marijuana would mean that several marijuana farmers would need to reduce their workforce, leading to loss of jobs. Finally, as soon as the prices are reduced the dealers would move on to other drugs that have a higher profit margin.
Conclusion
Medical marijuana has been legalized in several American states, but the debates rages on over its possible legalization. In my opinion, legalization of marijuana is logical as its economic and health benefits outweigh the disadvantages. In economic terms, legalization would increase federal taxes and jobs, and reduce the number of incarceration and prohibition costs. But, once marijuana is legalized the prices would be reduced and the jobs and tax revenue would be lost over a period of time. On the basis of health, marijuana provides ailment to several mundane troubles and other serious health concerns. But, it is also an addictive drug which causes loss of judgement, slows cognitive growth among other disadvantages.
References
Austin., J. (2016). The Decrim. Movement. Retrieved 20 March 2016 from, http://norml.org/component/zoo/category/rethinking-the-consequences-of-decriminalizing-marijuana
Bekiempis., V. (2013, November). Can Cannabis Cure Cancer?. Retrieved 20 March 2016 from, http://connection.ebscohost.com/c/articles/92720539/can-cannabis-cure-cancer
Bradford., H. (2012, 7 November). 14 Ways Marijuana Legalization Could Boost The Economy. Retrieved 20 March 2016 from, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/marijuana-economy-14-reasons_n_2089107.html?section=india
Dach, J., Moore, E. A., & Kander, J. (2015). Cannabis extracts in medicine: The promise of benefits in seizure disorders, cancer, and other conditions. Jefferson, NC: MacFarland & Company Publishing.
Jacques., R. (2013, 24 October). This Is Why Marijuana Should Be Legal Everywhere. Retrieved 20 March 2016 from, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/marijuana-legalization_n_4151423.html?section=india
Roberts., C. (2015, 23 January). California's Marijuana Farmers Average $100K Annually. Retrieved 20 March 2016 from, http://www.sfweekly.com/thesnitch/2015/01/23/californias-marijuana-farmers-average-100k-annually
Volkow., N.D. (2016, March). Marijuana. Retrieved 20 March 2016 from, https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/marijuana/letter-director
Quote 1.
“it's not a good candidate for therapeutic use because of its psychoactive properties” (Bekiempis, 2013).
This quote has been used because it identifies that marijuana has psychoactive properties and it is a disadvantage for using marijuana.
Quote 2
“marijuana has been extremely successful in relieving nausea, which is extremely good news for cancer patients suffering from nausea as a side effect of chemotherapy” (Jacques, 2013).
This quote identifies one of the advantages of using marijuana which is the reason for many cancer patients using medical marijuana.
Quote 3
“These are solid middle-class jobs, they pay better than most timber jobs” (Roberts, 2015).
This quote is used because it provides one of the significant advantages of legalizing marijuana. It not only creates jobs, but it also creates better paying jobs.
Quote 4
“Because marijuana impairs short-term memory and judgment and distorts perception, it can impair performance in school or at work and make it dangerous to drive an automobile” (Volkow, 2016).
This quote is added because it shows how legalization of marijuana can lead to poor performance in school and lead to accidents.
Quote 5
“In several of these studies cannabis was found not only not to cause harm but to offer therapeutic benefits” (Dach, Moore & Kander, 2015, p. 63).
This quote has been selected because it not only identifies the advantages, but also shines light of the disadvantages of legalizing marijuana.
