In Support of Legalizing Marijuana
Abstract
Marijuana and it medicinal use continues to be a controversial topic. Surprisingly, marijuana has been around for centuries and many early doctors used the substance to treat a number of medical ailments. The Chinese wrote numerous literatures on the medical uses of marijuana and it is no surprise that modern-day doctors seek to improve to the ancient art of using marijuana for medical purposes. However, as with all substances, there are side effects that cause damages in its users. The excessive use of marijuana cause serious hallucinations, but these dangers are not fatal. There are no records to suggest that anyone has died from an overdose of marijuana. However, medical researches show that medicinal marijuana is beneficial and cost – efficient for individuals battling a number of life-threatening diseases. Critics against the legalization suggest that marijuana creates more harm than good. The following paper seeks to dispel the common myths of marijuana. In addition, the paper will shows the pros and cons of marijuana, and prove that marijuana can offer financial and medical benefits to the economy. As a result, the writer will prove that with these benefits, the government needs to legalize marijuana in every state.
The controversial debate surrounding marijuana continues as many researchers continue to argue the dangers and benefits of marijuana. But, the medical arguments for legalizing marijuana carry more merit than the arguments against legalizing marijuana. The most common argument against marijuana is that marijuana, in large doses, is not physically healthy for the human body. But what substance is good for the body when abused? If an individual consumes to much fatty foods, then it becomes harmful. A small amount of red wine is a classic addition to an elegant evening meal, but it becomes harmful when one consumes too much red wine. Similarly, marijuana is dangerous to the body when taken in large doses. Nevertheless, recent studies show that like other pharmaceutical drugs, marijuana is useful in the treatment of cancer, AIDS, asthma and many other major illnesses. Marijuana is less expensive to access and serves a good purpose to the medical arena. The fact is that the only barrier standing between medical marijuana and the other pharmaceutical drugs is that marijuana is illegal. Arguably, marijuana makes positive and negative contributions to the society. Additionally, marijuana is a substance that has the power to become both beneficial and harmful to mankind. However, despite the many negative arguments against legalizing marijuana, the benefits of legalizing marijuana outweigh the negative arguments.
The use of marijuana for medical purposes is a matter personal choice. Why should the government hinder the advancement of medical research and testing when marijuana can save lives? Medical researches show that marijuana can help to prevent further complications in illnesses that doctors have difficulty treating. But, if the government should continue in their ways and keep marijuana illegal, would that not be attempted murder? Marijuana has an economical consequence on the United States. Statistics show that the United States government spends approximately ten billion dollars per year trying to keep marijuana off the streets, (Miller, 2001 – 2014, par. 4). In contrast, the state of California earns approximately fourteen billion dollars per year from the manufacturing and production of medicinal marijuana. These figures show that medicinal marijuana can save the country from it economical shortcomings, while helping those with medical conditions. The truth is the legal battle against marijuana is quite costly. The money that the government spends keeping marijuana off the streets could be used to increase an awareness of the effects of marijuana on the body. In addition, these could be used to advance the treatment of the substance and prevention an abuse of the substance.
Over the years, medical researchers proved that cannabis is no more addictive than caffeine or any other substance. In fact, the countless clinical studies show that marijuana is relatively harmless and impossible to overdose its user. The most profound arguments for legalizing marijuana lies in it positive use in cancer chemotherapy, AIDS-related wasting, pain and muscle spasm relating to epilepsy and multiple sclerosis, glaucoma, and asthma, (Miller, 2001 – 2014, par.2). Hence, legalizing marijuana makes it easier for patients who need the substance and for medical researchers continued development of the medical uses of the substance. The active ingredient, “THC reduces vomiting and nausea, and alleviates pretreatment anxiety,” (Miller, 2001 – 2014, par.3) in cancer chemotherapy. Almost everyone is aware of the horrible experience of chemotherapy. If doctors can find a way to relieve the stress of the effects of the treatment, then they should not be stopped by a simple matter of legality. It is a known fact that marijuana improves one appetite.
A healthy appetite is important in AIDS patients as the disease causes low appetite which results in a loss of lean muscle mass. Living with AIDS or cancer is emotionally stressful. The humanitarian action is to do everything to help the victims of these two diseases to endure their medical conditions with as much ease as possible. If medicinal marijuana can help to achieve this purpose, then it is only fair make marijuana legal so as to facilitate more researches that will help more people. From a utilitarianism point of view marijuana serves as the greater good, and as such, it should be used to provide a less expensive treatment for those who require its use. If one truly believes in the American ideal of life, liberty, and freedom, then one automatically believe that one should be free to choose a better life. In essence, “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” (Legalize It, 2014, par.12) dictate that happiness does not include pain. Therefore, withholding any form of medical treatment for patients impinges on the rights to happiness.
Much research surrounds the issue of the legalization of marijuana. Deni Carisse writes that the media recently reported that between forty to fifty-two percent of the adults in the United States favor the legalization of marijuana, (Carisse, 2013, par.1). The arguments center on the increased tax revenue that comes with legalizing marijuana. In addition, legalizing marijuana lessons the number of criminal activities and gives law enforcers an opportunity to focus on fighting more serious criminal offences. The monies spent on fighting crime and creating homes for criminals in the prisons will lessen if the government legalizes marijuana in all the states. Carisse further adds that pro-legalization groups often compare the probable tax revenue between marijuana and alcohol and tobacco, (Carisse, 2013, par.2). The comparison lies in the fact that alcohol and tobacco carry heavy taxes, but an abuse of these substances cause much danger to the society. Clearly, the revenue from alcohol does not cover the increase in alcohol related accidents and domestic violence. Nonetheless, these substances are legal. In contrast, marijuana use and abuse does not cause as much damage. Individuals function properly even when they are high on marijuana. Unlike alcohol and tobacco users, marijuana use does not cost the government as much as these legal substances. Therefore, marijuana use can only improve the economy of the country.
Advocates against the legalization of marijuana point out that excessive and persistent use of marijuana is closely tied to “neuropsychological decline and more cognitive problems,” (Carisse, 2013, par.3). Interestingly, Carisse adds that medically, marijuana has an adverse effect on the development of “mental illness, including psychosis, schizophrenia, depression, and anxiety,” (Carisse, 2013, par.3).The impairment of judgment increases when young teenagers persistently use of the substance. As such, the advocate against marijuana uses these medical arguments, to implore the authorities to continue with the repeal against marijuana. While these arguments may have sound research documentation, every legal and non-legal substance has a negative effect on the body. In fact, anything when used excessively causes negative repercussions on the body. The real problem with marijuana and it excessive use stems from the need to embrace deviant behavior. It is a common fact that individuals gravitate to wrongdoing because it gives them a thrill. But, mankind’s choice to abuse marijuana does not make the substance harmful. The legalization of marijuana cannot cause mental and physical if the society understands the need to use the substance responsibly.
Many individuals recognize that the prisons are the homes to a large number of convicted marijuana users. The cost of providing the basic needs for these convicts is high. Arguably, the economic system would benefit greatly if the state gives up the responsibility to act as providers for convicted marijuana users. The use of marijuana is a crime because the government decides that it is a crime. One cannot equate or treat marijuana use as one treats hard criminals. Stephen Easton, in his article, Pro: Fund Crime – or Taxes, points to the California’s first public test of the legalization of marijuana for Americans to pay close attention to the benefits of legalizing marijuana, (Easton, 2010, par.1). Similar to the Prohibition laws against alcohol, the illegal use of marijuana excites its users. In addition, illegal marijuana presents an easy income of organized crime, as it contributes billions of dollars to those who grow substances, and “who commit a variety of bad acts both at home and abroad,” (Easton, 2010, par.2). The cost of illegal marijuana is very high and many marijuana growers enjoy the extravagant lifestyle that come with the income they earner from producing and marketing marijuana. The government gets nothing from these revenues as they cannot collect from revenue from an illegal substance.
Statistics show that the government earns billions in revenue from “sin taxes” annually, but collect nothing from marijuana. Easton points to an overwhelming earnings of billions of dollars being spent on marijuana annually. Users of the substance pay at least ten dollars per gram for illegal retail marijuana. One could argue that if the price of retailing and distribution are similar to legal tobacco products which sell at ten cent a gram, then the sale of illegal product at the same price generates about forty to a hundred billion dollars in new revenue, (Easton, 2010, par.4). Surely, the government must realize that this estimated cost of revenue in an illegal substance could benefit the country if it were made legal. The fact is that the government would only transfer the revenue from an organized crime to the government purse. The harsh reality is that marijuana stand to add a strong boost the economy of any country that legalizes its use. One only needs to look at the subsistence of the California referendum which shows that by legalizing marijuana, the state showed economic benefits from the substance.
The economic arguments for marijuana surpass the social or recreational arguments for marijuana. If the government were to remove the law against marijuana, then there would be a decrease in the number of inmates in the prisons. The 2014 report on “Drug War Statistics” shows that the number of people arrested for violating the laws against marijuana was at an alarming, 749,825. Of this figure only 658,231 were charged with possession of marijuana. Clearly, the government would not have to take on the responsibility of caring for over a half of a million people simply because they have marijuana in their possession. The figures are frightening as the large number of arrests undoubtedly cause a strain on family life. Children now grow up without their parents even though these parents have not broken any moral laws of the country. The National Debt currently stands at sixty percent of GDP. This figure is the highest since World War II. Researchers show that this current projection sees this ratio increasing to more than seventy-five percent by 2020. Even with the economic recession, the United States refuse to stand down and legalize marijuana. How can legalization impact the country negatively when illegal marijuana sales amount to billions of dollars annually? There is no logical explanation as to the government’s need to finance inmates for trivial matters when these inmates would serve the country better by paying taxes on marijuana.
The States currently face severe budgetary shortfalls as expenditure in prisons and the medical arena increases. The standard proposals for tax increases and spending cuts have little support from the citizens. While legalizing marijuana is an unconventional approach to closing the growing fiscal gap in the country, it is possibly the best option at the moment. The truth is that marijuana offers no serious threat to the society. Alcohol, tobacco, guns, and larceny cost the country more each year than the use of marijuana. The unwanted reality is that legalizing marijuana would reduce federal and state deficits, but the citizens seek to hold fast to the rule of keeping marijuana because of their ignorance. The legalization of marijuana can move the country forward in a positive way as it allows law enforcement expenditures on arrests, incarceration, and prosecutions to lessen.
Arguably, the legalization of marijuana can raise the production of hemp. Hemp is an important component in the manufacturing of fiber, food, paper, and fuel. Still, the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 prohibits hemp farmers from advancing their cause of minimizing the cost of paper and food production. Hemp has a number of environmental advantages when compared to many other natural resources. It is a renewable resource and its cellulose can make fuel. How can the government honestly place a ban on a substance that offers more positive contributions to the country? This prohibition cannot be acceptable. Marijuana and hemp are cost efficient. It does not take much money to grow the substance or manufacture the substance, but the fact that these growers operate illegally in many states slows the production sector. Legalizing marijuana does not mean that it will open the gates to binge smoking. In fact, advocates for the legalization of marijuana seek its use for increase revenue in the country. In other words, the legal growth of marijuana would be grown on a large scale to help in the medical and production field. Other uses of the substance would not be as intense as it currently is as individuals have ease of access to the substance. As such, an individual would not need to “get enough” at one sitting because there are limitations on the use of the substance. In all fairness, legalizing marijuana has more pros than cons, and is worth the effort to legalize its growth.
Nevertheless, 2013 report from the DEA suggests “treatment for marijuana dependence more than double over the past decade,” (The DEA Position on Marijuana, 2013, p.40). Similarly, “research shows that use of [marijuana] can lead to dependence, (The DEA Position on Marijuana, 2013, p.40). While some heavy marijuana users develop serious “withdrawal symptoms when they have not used the drug for a period of time,” (The DEA Position on Marijuana, 2013, p.40), medical marijuana does not have that effect. Conversely, all substance will have a negative impact on its users if the users abuse the substance. A number of critics “argue that marijuana is less dangerous than alcohol and tobacco,” (Marijuana Legalization: Pros and Cons, n.d., par.1). Arguably, the substance is safer that alcohol and it is the major mental structure of dependence as it is safer than the main legal drugs,” (Marijuana Legalization: Pros and Cons, n.d., par.1). There is no recorded case of a marijuana overdose, but there are numerous documented cases of alcohol overdose. Similarly, legal pharmaceuticals, if taken in excess, can cause immediate death in its users. How then can this drug be banned when aspirin, alcohol, tobacco, among others stand proudly on the market as they wait to take another life? The drug has medical benefits for patients undergoing chemotherapy and those who have glaucoma.
In concluding, the most outstanding advantage of legalizing marijuana rests in the current fiscal environment. The money that marijuana can generate in tax revenues and savings in law enforcement can add a positive contribution to the current fiscal problems in the country. In addition, the legalization of marijuana can raise almost ten billion in revenues for the county. Why should the government turn its back on such an economic earner while it struggles to maintain the economy? Marijuana serves a number of positive purposes if it the government legalizes its production and use. Similar to tobacco and alcohol, the government could collect “sin taxes” on the substance and turn a “negative” product into an asset. The legalization of marijuana allows law enforcers to spend more time dealing with hardened criminals, and thereby, reduce the level of crime in the country,
In addition, marijuana is beneficial to the medical world as new researcher show that the substance can help with removing the pain and suffering in AIDS, cancer, and asthmatic patients. The medical uses for marijuana are numerous, but medical researchers have a serious problem in many states as they cannot produce enough marijuana for their researches. In addition, they pay exorbitant fees to gain access to marijuana. This level of difficulty only hampers the medical arena as researchers are unable to advance their work because of the limitations of the substance. The fact is that the government should legalize and tax marijuana instead of allowing the illegal marijuana market to continue to grow. After looking at the pros and cons of legalizing marijuana there is no doubt that the demand for the illegal marijuana increases the use as individuals do not have to worry about paying taxes to relieve their medical or social stressors. The revenues go to illegal traders and the government does not benefit. Therefore, the government needs to repeal the law and legalize marijuana so that the country can benefit both medically and economically.
Works Cited
Carise, Deni (2013) Legalizing Marijuana -- The Real Costs, Scientist/Clinician Substance
Abuse Treatment Field. Retrieved at: < http://www.huffingtonpost.com/deni-
carise/legalizing-marijuana-the-_b_3620472.html> Accessed: November 1, 2014
Drug War Statistics (n.d) Retrieved at : <http://www.drugpolicy.org/drug-war-statistics>
Accessed: November 1, 2014
Easton, Stephen (2010) Pro: Fund Crime – or Taxes, Easton, Legalize Marijuana for Tax
Revenue, The Debate room Bloomers Businessweek, Retrieved at:
<http://www.businessweek.com/debateroom/archives/2010/03/legalize_marijuana_for_ta
x_revenue.html> Accessed: November 1, 2014
Legalize it – A Utilitarian Perspective on the Legalization of Marijuana, Retrieved at:
<http://pallen4.hubpages.com/hub/Legalize-it-A-Utilitarian-Perspective-on-the-
Legalization-of-Marijuana> Accessed: November 1, 2014
LegalizationOfMarijuana.com. (2014).Marijuana Myths.Retrieved from
<http://legalizationofmarijuana.com/marijuana-myths.html>
The DEA Position on Marijuana (2013, April) Retrieved at:
<http://www.justice.gov/dea/docs/marijuana_position_2011.pdf> Accessed: November 1,
2014
