Marijuana should Legalized in the United States.
The legalization of marijuana in the United States is a subject that creates a great debate. The subject creates polarization between the American citizens with each side having a prediction of what will happen with the legalization of the drug. The proponents argue that the legalization of the drug has many economic benefits to the country. In addition, Marijuana is not harmful to its users compared to other legal drugs such as alcohol and tobacco. On the other hand, opponents argue that the legalization increases the likelihood of the drug falling into the hands of the underage and the drug can be a steppingstone to the use of harder drugs including cocaine and heroin. Legalization of marijuana in the United States indeed has its advantages and disadvantages. However, legalization of marijuana is vital for the United States.
Marijuana should be legal in the United States due to its medical benefits in relation to Cancer and other terminal diseases. Marijuana helps in the stimulation of eating habits hence curing the appetite problems in the AIDS patients and those suffering from anorexia. In addition, it cures diseases such as Sickle-Cell Disease, Alzheimer’s disease, Tourette syndrome, and Fibromyalgia. A study by Scripps, a Research Institute in California reveal that delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), an ingredient in Marijuana helps in stopping the development of deposits in human brain, which are responsible for Alzheimer’s disease (Russo 207). Furthermore, Marijuana helps to relieve chronic pain and reduces nausea and vomiting after chemotherapies hence helping patients suffering from cancer (Russo 153). Legalization of marijuana in all the states will benefit patients suffering from terminal diseases such as cancer by alleviating pain and sorrow.
The recreational use of marijuana is not harmful compared to alcohol or tobacco if taken in moderate quantities. The use of both alcohol and tobacco in the United States is legal and regulated by FDA (Food and Drug Administration). Tobacco and alcohol are more addictive, more toxic, and more harmful to the user’s body compared to marijuana and alcohol use has a high possibility of resulting in violence and injuries. Recent studies done in California shows that the health related costs for tobacco users are 40 times more than Marijuana users and those for Alcohol users are eight times more compared to marijuana users (Ferner, “Why marijuana should be Legalized”). Furthermore, there has never been a known case of an individual dying from the use of marijuana. Documentation by CDCP (Centers for Disease control and Prevention) which track all the death causes in the US does not have any case related to marijuana use. Furthermore, this report reveals that close to 40,000 deaths every year can be attributed to alcohol use (Ferner, “Why marijuana should be Legalized”). For this reason, marijuana should be legalized just like tobacco and alcohol.
The legalization of marijuana will save both the federal and the national government a lot of money. The war on marijuana by all levels of government involves the use of billions of dollars every fiscal year (Morgan 58). According to the San Francisco Chronicle in 2009, CNN’s Jack Cafferty and Fox News’ Glenn Beck have always publicly questioned the billions of dollars used the government in fighting the endless war on the use of Marijuana and other drugs (Holland 416). The legalization and regulation of marijuana will save the government close to $8 billion every year used in the law enforcement by the Mexico border security and the FBI (Freeman, U.S Should Legalize Marijuana to Curtail Mexican Drug War and Curb Illegal Migration”). Additionally, Marijuana is one of the top selling agricultural products in the United States. An estimation done by the California State authorities indicates that the marijuana sales in the state are worth $14 dollars annually and the taxes selected would exceed $1 dollars (Morgan 60). This gives a clear indication that legalization of marijuana will boost the US economy during this recession period.
The availability and the use of marijuana by the American citizens have remained unchanged despite the enormous efforts and finances used by all levels of government in fighting marijuana use. Survey done by NIDA (the National Institute on Drug Abuse) and the FBI clearly indicate that policies concerning the elimination of marijuana are not accomplishing their goals (Gerber 65). Currently, over 25 million US citizens at some point in time have used marijuana, and this number has stayed relatively unchanged for many years. Nevertheless, the number of people arrested annually because of marijuana use keeps on increasing giving a clear indication that threats of being arrested does not help in deterring anyone from ingesting marijuana. Countries such as the Netherland and Portugal, which have legalized the use of marijuana, have a relatively lower crime rates compared to the United States, and this shows that there is no connection between use of marijuana and increased crime rates (Holland 416).
War on marijuana in America has done more damage than help. The bans on marijuana use have increased crime and violence in the US and the Mexico-US border due to illegal buying and selling of marijuana (Freeman, U.S Should Legalize Marijuana to Curtail Mexican Drug War and Curb Illegal Migration”). Legalization of marijuana use will help in reducing crimes associated with the sale of marijuana. In addition, drug related disputes will end, and this will result in drug mafias losing their significance because legalization removes marijuana from the black market. A report released by the Global Commission on drug policy, including Kofi Annan, former UN Secretary General, gave a recommendation that regulation and legalization drugs including marijuana helps in denying profits to the drug cartels. Drug cartels derive their power from the profits gained from the illegal trading because of the high demand for marijuana. Cartels always operate in a black market which is an underground economy characterized by violence aimed at solving disputes or eliminating business competitors. Police and other law enforcing agencies will thus focus their attention on more serious crime such as trade in heroin and cocaine. Most of the arrests related to marijuana in the US results from mere possession of the drug, not manufacturing, or sale. This gives unnecessary congestion in the courts and state prisons. Moreover, offenses related to marijuana use receive harsh punishments hence causing unnecessary social harm and lifetime consequences to its users (Holland 220).
Legalization of marijuana ensures that no unsafe additives are added to the drug. Occasionally, harmful drugs like crystal-meth are added to marijuana without the knowledge of the user. Consequently, the smoker gets addicted to this dangerously harmful drug. The legalization of marijuana helps in the elimination of the laced marijuana. The chemical content of marijuana is THC (delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol). In the 1970s, the content of THC in marijuana was 1% but currently, the content has increased to 30% (Holland 267). Legalization will help in keeping the THC content as low as 10% thus reducing its harms on the users.
The opponents of marijuana legalization claim that further problems will accompany the legalization marijuana. They argue that legalization will increase the use of the drug especially by the underage and increases the crime rates in the country. Studies sponsored by organizations that oppose the legalization of marijuana reveal that individuals involved in the buying and selling of marijuana are more likely to involve themselves in crime (Morgan 72). In addition, some US citizens believe that smoking marijuana is immoral, and it can act as an avenue to the abuse of harder drugs such including cocaine and heroin. Some side effects have been associated to the ingestion of marijuana including memory loss, hallucinations, weakening of the immune system, increased chances of heart attack and lung cancer. Nonetheless, these arguments are generally based on the legalization of all illegal drugs rather studies carried out. Additionally, they do not focus on the benefits brought about by legalization of marijuana.
In conclusion, marijuana should receive legalization in the United States because the pros of legalizing outweigh the cons. The main reason for legalizing marijuana is the economic benefits derived from legalization including increased tax revenue and reduction of costs involved in the war against marijuana. Furthermore, the drug has many benefits derived from it because studies reveal that it can be used for medicinal purposes. Instead of banning the use of marijuana, the government should engage a more pragmatic regulatory agenda that allows for the licensing of both production and sale although restricting the sale to young people (Holland 350). This will help in reducing the little risks associated with the use of marijuana.
Work Cited
Ferner, Matt. Why marijuana should be Legalized: ‘Regulate Marijuana like Alcohol’. The
Huffing post website, 2012. Web. 12 Nov 2012.
<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/28/why-marijuana-should-be- legalized_n_1833751.html >
Freeman, Mellissa. U.S Should Legalize Marijuana to Curtail Mexican Drug War and Curb
Illegal Migration. Policymic website, 2012. Web. 12 Nov 2012.
<http://www.policymic.com/articles/3502/u-s-should-legalize-marijuana-to-curtail- mexican-drug-war-and-curb-illegal-immigration/62299>
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Holland, Julie. The pot book: a complete guide to cannabis : its role in medicine, politics,
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Morgan, Kayla. Legalizing marijuana. Edina, MN: ABDO Pub. Co., 2011. Print.
Russo, Ethan. Cannabis and Cannabinoids: Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Therapeutic
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