Introduction.
Marijuana is amongst the most used drugs in the globe and has always been criticized with its effects to human health. The benefits of Marijuana have for a long time been ignored until recently when doctors and health professionals advocated for its use in maintenance of health, in human bodies. Marijuana is a contributor to economic growth as in some economies it is considered as a cash crop. Scientifically, Marijuana is safer than alcohol intake in consideration of its toxicity. Scientists argue that intake of marijuana is not as addictive as that of alcohol or tobacco; hence it has fewer consequences than alcohol or tobacco. With its impacts on health and changes in the user’s lifestyles, the use of marijuana has raised debates on whether it should be legalized or not. However, there is more to smoking marijuana than anyone would think.
Statistics indicate that marijuana has been in existence for a century and is currently used by over 25 million people globally. A poll conducted by ABC News poll in November last year indicated that there is a rapid increase in Marijuana usage as compared to polls conducted, during previous years. The polls revealed that 48%, nearly a half of Americans, have used Marijuana in their lifetime. Out of this survey, 52% of the respondents viewed that marijuana should be legalized. Research conducted by Pew Research Center in March 2013 revealed that support for legalizing Marijuana has risen by 11 points as compared to data in 2010. Currently, the plant is amongst the largest rated cash crops in the United States.
The benefits of Marijuana range from physical, spiritual, and psychological. Physically, the benefits of marijuana are widespread and far reaching as the drug impacts the Autonomic Nervous System relaxing the body and expanding breath. This enhances the brain to function by both sides as the right brain reception is enhanced while the left brain reception is heightened.
Marijuana experience does not in itself offer cure, but it guarantees treatment to instances of tension, and as a response to homeostasis. This triggers a natural healing process in the body system. The drug calms down the nerves, and offers treatment to migraines and glaucoma (Bello, 2008). These are some of health ailments that convectional medicines have failed in the provision of treatment. The drug also offers treatment to psychosomatic diseases such as cancer. In such cases, the drug represses the pain, restores patient’s breath, and reduces toxicity. In Costa Rica, for example, chronic marijuana and cigarette smokers are found to be less likely to develop cancer than cigarette smokers who do not use marijuana (Caulkins, 2012).
Anything that enlivens is considered spiritual: marijuana enhances mental processes such as thinking and raises consciousness, which assists in perceiving reality (Caulkins, 2012). In the darkest of times, marijuana users facilitate the search to success or to meet their objective. In Buddhism, for example, it is only the realm of insatiable hunger or nightmarish, which cannot be resolved until one takes a self-centered level. This implies that spiritually, the drug allows the creation or development of reality. This allows focus in meeting of objectives and in being productive.
The legalization of marijuana would add to the hemp of development as it adds to diversity in agricultural production (Bello, 2008). In Canada and some European economies, apart from being a cash crop, the plant is used in manufacturing of bio-fuel, which reduces carbon emissions. Legalizing it would imply embracement of bio-fuel technology, and create alternatives to oil dependency.
Instead of marijuana adding to the costs in the justice system, it should be taxed to add to the national income. Arresting more than 750,000 individuals annually, disposing each of their cases, clogging up court systems, wasting jail space, and use of time by police, correctional officials, judges, and attorneys, is more expensive than taxing the use of the drug. Legalizing it would mean that other serious crimes such as terrorism, violence, and child abuse, among others will be given enough time to ensure public security. Additionally, taxing marijuana can provide funds required in the provision of justice or social programs such as correctional centers, which is more valuable than prohibiting its use (Caulkins, 2012).
For almost a century, the dangers of marijuana have been exaggerated leading to ignorance on its benefits. Many claims of its danger are based on old 20th century judgments, which developed in a time when science had not ascertained its benefits (Caulkins, 2012). In this century, everyone agrees that marijuana, just like any other drug, should not be used by children. Nonetheless, adults have demonstrated that the drug can be used moderately without imposing harm to human health or society.
As Bello (2008) indicates, many people use the drugs on realization of its medicinal value or from informed decisions that its use fits their needs. Most Americans use it because they choose to, and manage its liabilities or side effects. This implies that legalizing the drug would add to the conscience of the users in using it responsibly, and this would reduce cases of its effects. However, this has to be regulated to avoid cases of addiction or irresponsible use of the drug.
Reference.
Bello, J. (2008). The benefits of marijuana: Physical, psychological, and spiritual. Susquehanna, Pa: Lifeservices Press.
Caulkins, J. P. (2012). Marijuana legalization: What everyone needs to know. New York: Oxford University Press.
