English
One of the highly debatable topics is the legalization of marijuana. Those in favour of legalizing this drug has been ignored in the past, but currently there is widespread campaigning conducted to legalize marijuana. One of the main challenges related to the debate on legalizing marijuana is the linkages between the use of alcohol and marijuana. But, the social costs related to alcohol consumption is more that the costs related to marijuana use. Moreover, legalizing marijuana may help in enhancing the health of people.
Medical and recreational effects of marijuana use
Scholars have proposed theories in favour of legalizing marijuana. They have argued that under given some conditions, the enforcement of this law aiming to reduce quantity is far inferior to a law under which drugs may be taxable and legal. Another academic scholar have presented a multi – level theory of the drugs market having a set of retailers, traffickers, customers and dealers. This theory assumes that an oligopolistic system exists in the drugs market and given some conditions, the legalization of drugs will help in lessening the prices (Glaser & Shleifer, 7).
Those is favour of legalizing this drug for recreational and medical purposes have further claimed that this drug helps in relieving patients from pain, treatment of anorexia, glaucoma, AIDS and stimulated appetite in patients afflicted with cancer. Patients have reported favourable effects of marijuana consumption to lessen chronic, neuropathic, and postoperative and pain related to rheumatoid arthritis, cancel, multiple sclerosis and fibromyalgia. Further research on the medical use of marijuana has determined the prescription of marijuana to successfully treat muscle spasticity and peripheral neuropathy. Medical practitioners prescribing marijuana for treatment needs to consider certain factors like psychiatric comorbidity and prior evidence of substance use in patients before suggesting marijuana as a prescription medicine for certain ailments. Research has determined that short term medical use of this drug poses fewer risks to health (Grant et al. 22).
Experts argue that a lot depends on physicians who administer marijuana. They have to consider the case history of patients afflicted with illnesses in which marijuana can help in providing relief. However, patients having a history of cardiovascular disease, prior use of substance abuse, problems in mental health should not be prescribed marijuana. This drug may also not be effective for the elderly and may lead to several psychiatric ailments and should be evaded by medical practitioners. The legalization of marijuana for medical purposes will benefit several individuals who suffer from ailments in which marijuana can be an effective remedy. However, it is essential that medical practitioners are completely aware of the risks and accordingly prescribed the dosage of marijuana to patients (Grant et al. 23).
Economic benefits of legalizing marijuana
Legalizing marijuana will help the government to garner immense economic revenues. This is because the legalization of this drug will augment the demand as well as the supply of marijuana. The government will immensely benefit as it can levy taxes on the purchase and sale of marijuana thereby garnering revenue. Marijuana, currently is being illegally used and traded as a street drug in many states in America. People are also benefitted as illegal drug dealers can be removed and replaced by legal dispensaries for sale of marijuana. It has further been witnessed that the crime rate has considerably lessened in states in which marijuana has been legalized (JournalStandard.com)
People engaging in smoking marijuana as well as using it for medical practices are currently arrested. The nation as a whole has to spend on its prisoners and legalizing marijuana will considerably lead to a decline in the prison inmates. This is because around 50 percent of prison inmates are marijuana offenders. Marijuana legalization will lead to considerably less spending on prisoners which translates to better allocation of the tax money (Wolff). Furthermore criminal activities especially by drug suppliers will be significantly reduced by legalizing marijuana. This is because the legalization of this drug will lead to the closure of illegal drug cartels and suppliers of marijuana. Illegal drug sellers also sell this drug to children leading to substance abuse at an early age. Legalizing marijuana will ensure that children are not sold this drug and can help protect children from abusing marijuana. The same rule is applicable to merchants selling alcohol and tobacco. These merchants are prohibited to sell such items to children below eighteen.
Social benefits of legalizing marijuana
There have been further arguments on the debate on using marijuana for recreational purposes. Medical practitioners maintain that smoking this drug can lead to adverse health consequences. Despite this, those smoking this drug should not be treated like ordinary criminals. This is because smokers also pay taxes, have a family to support, and engage in work to take care of their children. Experts have seriously argued that people should be allowed to use marijuana for recreational purposes in private. Furthermore, state federal bodies put children using marijuana to foster homes which leads to suffering, pain and financial issues for several impacted families. Society should determine manners by which individuals evade engaging in behaviours which may cause harm to themselves as well as the society. Moreover, responsible users of marijuana should not be penalized as they are not a danger to the society or their family (NORML).
Legalizing marijuana is likely to reduce the demand for other severe drugs like cocaine and heroin. Past research has determined a significant relationship with the consumption of hard drugs and marijuana use. Scholars have also determined that the number of individuals hospitalized for consumption of hard drugs along with marijuana use has considerably decreased in areas where marijuana has been legalized (Grant et al. 18). Past studies have also determined that there is an inverse relationship between marijuana use and alcohol use. Alcohol use leads to engagement in domestic violence and violent crime. Legalizing marijuana will further help in limiting the use of alcohol.
Conclusion
Marijuana is far less harmful for the body as compared with other drugs. Sleep aids, cigarettes, prescription painkillers and alcohol if taken is excess is highly addictive and in severe circumstances may lead to death. Despite this cigarette and alcohol sale and purchase is legal. While arguing for legalizing marijuana, one should not ignore the adverse health effects that can be caused if this drug is used in excess. However, legalizing marijuana can help in making a better society by prohibiting the sale of this drug to children, reduce crime and lead to economic benefits. It is high time that individuals conduct themselves in responsible manner and reduce marijuana abuse. Medical marijuana will help in benefitting many patients especially by providing recourse to pain. It will also contribute in making medical practitioners to engage in prescribing responsible dosage of this drug to cure several ailments.
Works cited
Glaser E.L. and Shleifer A. (2001) A case for quantity regulation, NBER Working Paper Series, 8184, 1 - 11. Print.
Grant, I., Atkinson, J.H., Gouaux, B. & Wilsey, B. Medical marijuana: clearing away the smoke. The Open Neurology Journal, 6(2012): 18 – 25. Print.
“Legalization of marijuana: pros and cons.” JournalStandard.com. 23 Jul. 2014. Web. 20 Nov 2014.
“War against marijuana consumers.” NORML, n. d. Web. 20 Nov 2014.
Wolff, M. Legalizing marijuana can reduce crime, increase revenue for state. The Sundial, 9 Nov. 2009. Web. 20 Nov. 2014.
