Category: Marijuana Legalization

Marijuana Legalization in the US: Pros, Cons, and Future

Marijuana Legalization: Benefits and Controversies

In an article by the New York Times, they mention that Canada has legalized marijuana. This leads to the following question, should the United States follow suit, or is Canada making a mistake? According to drugpolicy.org, the number of arrests for marijuana has plummeted in places with legal marijuana, saving hundreds and millions of dollars of taxpayers money. Not to mention that the total number of arrests for driving under the influence of alcohol and other drugs has declined in Colorado and Washington, the first two states that regulated marijuana for adult use. This means that there is little to no correlation between marijuana legalization and crash rates.

As this report from the Drug Policy Alliance reveals, youth marijuana use has not increased, and there have been reductions in opioid overdose deaths and untreated opioid use disorders. Many people agree with legalization, and many people argue this. I personally agree with making the use of marijuana legal, and I would like to know why there is a percentage of Americans that disagree with the legalization. Charles “Cully” Stimson, the Senior Legal Fellow and Manager of the Heritage Foundation, stated that marijuana is an addictive gateway drug, and it significantly impairs bodily and mental functions. Stimson also mentions that its use is related to increased violence. I plan to introduce the benefits of the use of marijuana, such as treating illnesses, lowering crime rates, and causing businesses to boom.

It is considered legal to smoke marijuana in many countries across the world, such as Canada, Mexico, Belize, Costa Rica, Jamaica, and several others. However, it is only legal in eleven states throughout the US. The main question americans are trying to decipher is whether marijuana should be legalized across the US. William Bennett, former director of the National Drug Control Policy, argues that it immediately impairs cognitive abilities and motor coordination, interfering with the smoker’s judgment, driving skills, and other basic abilities(5).

Bennett also announces that it is a bitter irony that as our knowledge increases regarding the harm that smoking marijuana does to our health, public perception of those injuries decreases (5). However, Renee Jaques, associate viral content editor for the Huffington Post, argues that marijuana is much safer than already legalized drugs and that it has a very low risk of abuse for users. Jaques later states that people who go on to use harder drugs also tend to smoke cigarettes and drink alcohol before trying the other substances; plus, with our current stigma on pot, only people who are predisposed to being “outlaw drug users” are going to smoke pot.

A factor to take into account when thinking of the benefits of legalization would be how it may help those who may be ill. Marijuana can also assist during difficulty when sleeping as a sleep aid. In an article by the American Cancer Society, it’s explained that different compounds in marijuana have different actions in the human body. For example, they state that delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) seems to cause the ‘high’ reported by marijuana users and also can help relieve pain and nausea, reduce inflammation, and can act as an antioxidant.

The Society also mentioned that a number of small studies about smoking marijuana have found that it can be helpful in treating nausea and vomiting from cancer chemotherapy. Marijuana and cannabis have also been known as effective remedies to help those who are having trouble sleeping. Sian Ferguson, journalist and writer for Healthline, announced that marijuana’s analgesic properties might provide some relief for those with chronic pain, while the antianxiety properties can soothe a stressed-out mind and body. When your mind is at ease, you will be able to get a better rest. So depending on whether you are having a hard time sleeping or may have a sleeping disorder, marijuana could be to your benefit.

Crime Drop: Marijuana Legalization’s Impact

It has been proven in previous studies that the legalization of marijuana has lowered crime rates. Tim Jacobs, the editor for Pacific Standard, states that for most users, pot produces a state of relaxation and euphoria,’ which presumably ‘reduces the likelihood of engaging in violent activities.’ Second, Jacobs expresses that this effect is reinforced if cannabis is a substitute for violence-inducing substances such as alcohol, cocaine, and amphetamines. Thirdly, he explains, “the legalization of recreational marijuana may induce a reallocation of police efforts away from cannabis pushers and consumers, and towards other types of offenses.”

And finally, it ‘may have reduced the role of criminal gangs and small criminals in local cannabis markets.’ Researchers have labeled this first-pass evidence between the legalization of pot and lower crime rates. During a report, Erin Delmore, a reporter for NBC Universal News Group, mentions that even after Colorado legalized the sale of small amounts of marijuana for recreational use on January 1st of this year, violent and property crime rates in the city are actually falling. “According to data from the Denver Police Department, violent crime (including homicide, sexual assault, robbery, and aggravated assault) fell by 6.9% in the first quarter of 2014, compared with the same period in 2013. Property crime (including burglary, larceny, auto theft, theft from motor vehicle, and arson) dropped by 11.1%,” says Delmore.

Marijuana Taxation: Transforming Lives

Taxation in the marijuana industry can improve the quality of life. In an article by Alison Felix on the economic effects of the marijuana industry in Colorado, she mentions that the state of Colorado collected more than $247 million from the marijuana industry in 2017 alone. Of the money that is collected each year, the first $40 million of the collections is dedicated to the construction and improvement of schools through Colorado’s Building Excellent Schools Today program.

In an analysis by New Frontier Data, it was concluded that if marijuana was to be legalized completely in all 50 states, it would create a combined federal tax revenue of at least $131.8 billion between 2017 and 2025, according to Katie Zezima in an article from the Washington Post. The study also calculated that it would also lead to an estimated amount of one million new jobs by the year 2025. These new jobs would help decrease unemployment rates throughout America.

In an article by Jennifer Calfas from time.com, she posits that the state of Colorado dedicated $105 million from the tax revenue collected from marijuana sales in the 2016-2017 fiscal year went toward the “Marijuana Tax Cash Fund,” which helps in creating housing programs, aids in mental health programs in jails and contributes to health programs at local middle schools. Taxation on marijuana nationwide would lead to many opportunities for improvement of life in America via new and better schools, job creation, and housing programs that help with homelessness.

Marijuana’s Future Impact: Adaptation and Opportunities

Of all of the numerous positive side effects of using recreational marijuana, there is a great demonstration of what’s coming next for the future of this generation as well as how they adapt to new ways and accept old taboos. This natural Lucius vast herb has been around for millions of years and is not going away anytime soon. For many years it has been shown to have a wide variety of health benefits, and so many other countries have legalized it, yet they have little to no negative drawbacks. By making the decision as a country to legalize the use of marijuana in all forms and types, we capitalize on the infinite amount of tax revenue and regulation of all marijuana products. When we make marijuana more safe and attainable for every U.S. citizen, we lower any possible unknown health risk.

By allowing other specific locations to have marijuana assessable, we create a tough spot for specific law enforcement. However, with the possible legalization of marijuana on the national scale, other questions may arise; for example, would there be penalties if someone continually privately produces, sells, or distributes? What if a person is found under the influence at the job? Would there be miscommunications or stereotypes that play a role in society?

All of these questions create many arguable debates that would need to be answered throughout the levels of government. By creating a movement so large and allowing different liberty to the people of the United States, of course, with any major development, the creation of jobs is something that can only bring positive feedback to the workforce of America. With more cash flow from the money people earn from created jobs, we open the doors to a better economy and more economic stability. Not only does marijuana create jobs and employment opportunities, but it decreases the crime rates of specifically violent cases and treats those who are ill or permanently uncomfortable.

References:

1. Gonchar, Michael. “Should Marijuana Be Legal?” NYTimes.com. The New York Times. 18 Oct. 2018. Web. 27 Nov. 2018.
2. “From Prohibition to Progress: A Status Report on Marijuana Legalization.” Drugpolicy.org. The Drug Policy Alliance. 22 Jan. 2018. Web. 27 Nov. 2018.
3. Stimson, Charles. “Why We Shouldn’t Legalize Marijuana.” Heritage.org. The Heritage Foundation. 9 July 2012. Web. 27 Nov. 2018.
4. Bennett, William J. Going to Pot: Why the Rush to Legalize Marijuana Is Harming America. Center Street. 3 Feb. 2015. Print. 27 Nov. 2018.
5. Jacques, Renee. “This Is Why Marijuana Should Be Legal Everywhere.”
6. TheHuffingtonPost.com. The Huffington Post. 7 Dec. 2017. Web. 28 Nov. 2018.
7. “Marijuana and Cancer.” Cancer.org. American Cancer Society. 16 Mar. 2017. Web. 28 Nov. 2018.
8. Ferguson, Sian. “Can You Use Cannabis To Restore Your Natural Sleep Cycle?” Healthline.com. Healthline. 20 Feb. 2018. Web. 28 Nov. 2018.
9. Jacobs, Tom. “Legal Pot Is Linked to Less Crime.” Psmag.com. Pacific Standard. 9 Apr. 2018. Web. 28 Nov. 2018.
10. Delmore, Erin. “Study: Marijuana Legalization Doesn’t Increase Crime.” MSNBC.com NBCUniversal News Group. 15 Apr. 2014. Web. 28 Nov. 2018.

Balancing Act: The Complex Journey of Marijuana Legalization

Marijuana’s IQ Impact

Today in the U.S., Marijuana is a big problem that raises a lot of debates. Americans have many different viewpoints about Marijuana. Some people use it to relax or to get high. Some use it for medical treatments: to remove their pain and to sleep better at night. Some people say that Marijuana gives them a more colorful life. Some worry that it will be abused by their children. There are people who support marijuana legalization. Some feel uncomfortable if their neighbors have the right to use weed. There are so many ways to use Marijuana, and there is no perfect way to deal with it; however, understanding more about Marijuana may help us minimize the damage.

Marijuana has a lot of short-term effects on the brain; its effects are useful in some situations, but they are dangerous in other situations. When a consumer uses Marijuana, the chemical THC goes through the lungs into the bloodstream. THC then goes to the brain and causes the ‘high’ feeling. In about 30 minutes to 1 hour, the person will experience altered senses, changes in mood, difficulty with thinking, hallucinations, etc. (Abuse.) These effects are fun and helpful if people use them in the right place; nevertheless, people are not always using them correctly. A study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has shown that between 2007 and 2014, there were more and more drivers who tested positive for THC. The percentage increased from 8.6 percent to 12.6 percent, and the effects of Marijuana increased the risk of a crash by 10 to 61 percent (Mills).

The long-term effects of Marijuana can reduce the I.Q. of a person. Marijuana has influences on brain development. The drug may affect the brain-building process of teenagers and decrease I.Q. At Duke University, research had shown that users who smoked heavily since their teens and were having marijuana use disorder lost about 8 points of I.Q. Even if heavily-used teenage users quit Marijuana when they grow up, the damage will not be fully recovered. Other studies also showed that Marijuana declines general knowledge and verbal ability (Abuse.)

Marijuana Dilemma: Restrictions?

Marijuana also has bad physical effects on the human body. Similar to tobacco, frequently smoking Marijuana leads to breathing problems and lung illnesses: a daily cough and phlegm and a risk of lung infections. Because Marijuana raises the heart rate, it increases the possibility of a heart attack. The older the users are, the higher their risk for heart attack they may be. If pregnant women use Marijuana, their children may have health problems: lower birth weight, brain, and behavioral problems. The use of Marijuana by teenagers also links to mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety(Abuse.)

Research suggests that marijuana use may lead to a substance use disorder. People who have substance use disorder are unable to stop consuming Marijuana even if they know that it declines their health and creates problems in their social life. Research showed that 9 to 30 percent of marijuana users may develop marijuana use disorder. Users who use Marijuana before age 18 have a four to seven times chance of developing marijuana use disorder. When long-term users try to quit Marijuana, a lot of them find it hard to quit because of symptoms like grouchiness, sleeplessness, anxiety, and craving (Abuse.)

When we talk about the bad sides of Marijuana, logically, we think about marijuana restriction; however, the damage of the restriction maybe even bigger than the damage of the original consumption. Osho, a philosophy professor, and an Indian meditation master, said ‘whenever you start stopping something, you give great importance to it.’ Similar things happened in India in his lifetime: every time the government of India tried to prohibit alcohol, many more people started drinking. When the prohibitions had withdrawn, the percentage of people drinking dropped. The drug is needed because the way we build our society makes people so miserable. There are too much stress and anxiety in our society that these poor people need drugs to relax. If governments cannot make society less stressful, they should consider helping scientists to make better drugs with fewer side effects.

Unintended Consequences: Marijuana Prohibition

Osho made a funny comparison between alcohol restriction and the pissing prohibition signboard. When he was a child, there was a temple located near his house. The temple had a long and beautiful wall which was a potential place for bad pissing habits. The funny thing is there was no major problem with bad pissing habits at all until the day the monks drew down the sign: “Pissing here is prohibited.” The sign raised the ideas, and people got in line to piss on that wall.

The negative effect of restrictions is not just happened in India; we can argue that the same thing did happen in the U.S. Marijuana or cannabis has a long history; people have used it for thousand years. In Asia around 500 BC, Chinese people grew it as herbal medicine. From there, cannabis was introduced to Africa, Europe, and America. The hemp was widely grown in many American colonies to make clothing, paper, sails, and rope. Cannabis was widely used for recreational purposes and other purposes without creating any major problems in the society. At the beginning of the 1900s in the United States, when the Mexican Revolution happened, many Mexicans immigrated to the country to escape the war. The term marijuana came with Mexicans at this time. Public opinion about cannabis changed from there. Newspapers gave unfair news about Marijuana. The Marijuana Tax Act in 1939 made weed an illegal product. Today many people believe that racism played a big part in the prohibition.

The prohibition of Marijuana has caused other problems in the United States. In 1971, in order to reinforce the prohibition, President Nixon declared war on drugs. The war on drugs was not just about Marijuana, Marijuana was a big part of it. The war had increased the prison population rapidly in the country. The number of prisons grew from 218,466 in 1974 to 1,508,636 in 2014. The prison population increased by 600 percent, while the United States population just increased by 51 percent (Carroll.) Another thing about the war is it didn’t solve the problem; the price of illegal Marijuana went up, and the user population didn’t go down. From 1990 to 2009 U.S., the average price of illegal Marijuana the price dropped by about 50 percent, and the average purity increased by more than 160 percent (Chalabi.) Many people believe that the war on drugs was a failure and that the United States needs a better drug policy.

Balancing Benefits and Risks

By prohibiting Marijuana, we also give up many good things that Marijuana can bring to society. In recent years, Americans have changed their opinion of Marijuana. Marijuana is the most common illegal drug in the United States (Abuse.) In 2015, 54% of adult Americans agreed to legalize Marijuana; in 2006, there was just 32% of adult Americans support to legalize Marijuana (Motel.) There are many reasons for the changing of public opinion.

The first reason is the medical treatment effect of Marijuana has been proven. Marijuana has positive effects on many illnesses. It can reduce pain symptoms. It can cure glaucoma. It helps to reverse the bad effect of tobacco and improve lung health. It decreases anxiety. In 2017, California had more than 1.5 million patients who were using medical Marijuana. In some other states of the country, in order to be allowed to use medical Marijuana, many families moved to Colorado (Marijuana Policy Project.) The need for medical Marijuana is undeniable, but new problems did come along with legalizing Marijuana.

Medical Marijuana is helpful to patients, but it may lead to an increase in the abuse rate of the drug. Until April 2017, there were twenty-nine states, and Washington D.C. allowed medical marijuana use. Eighth of twenty-nine states allow recreational marijuana use for adults. The good news was marijuana legalization didn’t increase the marijuana use of teenagers. The bad news was the new laws may increase the abuse rate of the drug among adults. Research shows that in the states which haven’t allowed medical marijuana use, the rate of illegal marijuana use rose about 49% in a time period.

In the same period, in states that legal, medical marijuana use, the rate of illegal marijuana use rose about 64%, which is a bigger percentage increase. In the states which haven’t allowed medical marijuana use, the rate of marijuana use disorders rose by about 77%. In states that legal, medical marijuana use, the rate of marijuana use disorders rose about 107%, which is also a bigger percentage increase (Mills.) These numbers cannot show that medical marijuana laws do more harm than good; however, it is obvious that the new medical marijuana laws may lead to an increase in the abuse rate of the drug.

Marijuana legalization didn’t increase the marijuana use of teenagers, but children may be exposed to the smoke of recreational Marijuana. The most common way to consume Marijuana in the United States is smoking, and people smoke about 80 percent of the time when they use Marijuana. Although some states already allow recreational marijuana use, smoking Marijuana still remains illegal in most streets of the states. In addition, from 2002 to 2015, among non-cigarette-smoking parents, marijuana use rose from 2.4 percent to 4 percent. The result is more and more parents are smoking Marijuana in their homes where they have their children hanging around. This secondhand marijuana smoke has tetrahydrocannabinol, a chemical substance that leads to most of Marijuana’s psychological effects. The smoke may also lead to lung problems.

Smart Regulation for Safer Usage

There are smart ways to make the recreational use of Marijuana less harmful. According to Osho, governments should provide people with some kind of real relaxation, and if they cannot provide people with meditation, they can at least provide medicines. Every hospital should have a room for drug experiences so that people can have the experiences under medical care. If the governments allow scientists to research, the scientists will easily create better drugs with fewer side effects. People who want to have the experience can go to a special room in hospitals to use the drug under medical care.

“Any drug policy is a good policy if it reduces the total damage that drugs do,” said Mark Kleiman, the School of Policy and the Social Research University of California. There were two points of view about marijuana legalization in the United States. The supporters said that their opponents didn’t care about the patients who were suffering from diseases. People who were against the legalization said that the other side didn’t care about spreading drug abuse among kids.

Both sides were not false, but the decision should not make based on somebody’s ideological view. Legalizing Marijuana is the new policy, but we have to legalize it correctly. In 2017, there were twenty-nine states and the District of Columbia alloyed to use Marijuana in some form. Eight of the twenty-nine states and the District of Columbia have laws legalizing using Marijuana for recreational purposes. Despite the fact that 69 percent of Americans believe that Marijuana is less harmful than alcohol (Motel,) Marijuana still can be harmful to people. Mark believed the key to a correct policy was to control the price of legal Marijuana and to keep it expensive.

According to Mark, the cost of one gram of 18 percent THC marijuana in the District of Columbia is about 3 dollars and change for a gram, and it is “a ridiculously low price.” The industry may want to keep the price low because of its own interest. The low price will allow the industry to attract millions of new consumers and will allow people to use Marijuana daily. The expansion of the industry will give jobs to a lot of people and increase the tax income; however, Mark believes a low price will create other new problems.

Balancing Marijuana Legalization

Mark argued that responsible consumers don’t need to use a lot of Marijuana. Therefore, a high price of the drug will not affect these consumers. At the same time, the high price of Marijuana will make it harder for irresponsible consumers to abuse the drug. Mark gave the Dutch policy of toleration as an example. In the Netherlands, Marijuana is illegal, but the policy allows Marijuana to be consumed in coffee shops. The Dutch keep their coffee shop marijuana costs the same price as the German’s illicit marijuana costs. The result is the Dutch’s heavy use rate of Marijuana has not gone up.

Marijuana is useful in many situations, but it is not a harmless substance. There are so many ways to use Marijuana, and there is no perfect way to deal with it. In the past, people have tried to prohibit Marijuana; nevertheless, Marijuana prohibiting causes even more problems to society. In recent years, people have tried to legalize Marijuana; the result, however, was far from perfect. Legalizing Marijuana makes life easier for some people, but it also increases the abuse rate of the drug. Legalizing Marijuana is the new policy, but we have to legalize it correctly. There are also smart ways to legalize Marijuana and minimize the damage at the same time. We can provide special centers where you can come and have the experience of medical care. We can allow scientists to make better drugs with fewer side effects. We also can try to control the price and keep people from over consume the drug. If we legalize it correctly, Marijuana can be very useful. It may well help people live a better life.

References:

1. Abuse, National Institute on Drug. “Marijuana.” NIDA, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Aug. 2017, www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/marijuana#ref.
2. Carroll, Lauren . “The war on drugs and incarceration rates.” @Politifact, www.politifact.com/truth-o-eter/statements/2016/jul/10/cory-booker/how-war-drugs-affected-incarceration-rates/.
3. Chalabi, Mona. “The ‘war on drugs’ in numbers: a systematic failure of policy.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 19 Apr. 2016, www.theguardian.com/world/2016/apr/19/war-on-drugs-statistics-systematic-policy-failure-united-nations.
4. Kleiman, Mark. “Mark Kleiman: What would be the most sensible marijuana policy? | VIEWPOINT.” YouTube, YouTube, 3 Mar. 2017, www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBAcrl7OMVE&t=146s.
5. Mills, David. “Do Medical Marijuana Laws Encourage Adults to Misuse the Drug?” Healthline, Healthline Media, 26 Apr. 2017, www.healthline.com/health-news/do-medical-marijuana-laws-increase-misuse#1.
6. Motel, Seth. “6 facts about marijuana.” Pew Research Center, 14 Apr. 2015, www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/04/14/6-facts-about-marijuana/.
7. OSHOInternational. “OSHO: About Drugs.” YouTube, YouTube, 8 Mar. 2010, www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PkjfMW3I0I.
8. Project, Marijuana Policy. “Medical Marijuana Patient Numbers.” MPP, www.mpp.org/issues/medical-marijuana/state-by-state-medical-marijuana-laws/medical-marijuana-patient-numbers/.
9. PBS, Public Broadcasting Service, www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/dope/interviews/kleiman.html.

Marijuana Legalization: Medical Marvel & Economic Boost

Ancient Roots of Cannabis Usage

People often think of negative things when it comes to Marijuana, but for Matt and Paige Figi, the illegal “gateway drug” has been a blessing in disguise. Their little girl, Charlie, began having seizures at the age of 2. After years of tests, they finally found the cause. Baby Charlie had Dravet Syndrome, also known as severe myoclonic epilepsy of infancy. Her mother tried everything she could to see her daughter in her best health. As nothing began to help, people kept telling her to try Marijuana.

Paige was nervous about what kind of effects Marijuana would have on her child, but Paige decided to try it anyway due to a lack of options. She began giving her THC and CBD oil in an attempt to help with the seizures. Typically baby Charlie would have a seizure about every hour. After taking the THC and CBD oil, she went about 5 hours without a seizure. They had found something to make their child capable of growing up a little more normal. Charlie is one example of good things that come from Marijuana. If you open your mind to seeing what benefits Cannabis can have, then people could really benefit from the legalization of this plant.

Marijuana has a lot of different names, such as weed, Cannabis, pot, herb, grass, reefer, Maryjane, dank, bud, and devil’s lettuce. You may have heard of the different names, but where does it really come from? Marijuana is grown throughout the tropics, subtropics, and temperate regions. Cannabis is a dioecious plant. Dioecious means that there are separate female and male plants. According to deamuseum.com, male plants are tall and thin and have flower-like pods that contain the pollen-generating anthers, and the female plant is dark and short and has short hairs coming out at the end of the bracteole pods. The Marijuana itself comes from the dried heads, stems, and leaves of the plant. As of the year 2008, Cannabis Sativa has been grown in most of the fifty states. Similar to dandelions, after it has been planted, the seeds can redistribute and grow another plant.

Marijuana is not just something hippies started using in the 70s. The earliest evidence goes as far back as -2700 BC. Marijuana was known to be used by Emperor Shen Nung. In the early 2000s, archaeologists explored Yanghai Tombs and discovered a stash of cannabis sativa in a man’s grave. This man was said to be buried around 2,700 years. In 1545 hemp became an important plant in Northern America. In 1545 cannabis arrived in the western hemisphere, where Spaniards used it as a fiber after they imported it to Chile.

In North America, Marijuana, in the form of hemp, was grown on many plantations and used in clothing, rope, and paper. Cannabis pollen was found on the mummy of Ramesses II, who passed away in 1213 BC. Prescriptions for Marijuana in Ancient Egypt include treatment for glaucoma, cooling the uterus and inflammation, as well as giving enemas. In 1000 BC, Bhang, a cannabis-infused milk, was used as an anesthetic and calming agent in India. In 200 BC in ancient Greece, Cannabis was used as a treatment for edema, earache, and inflammation. In the 1800’s medical doctors began to see the medical benefits of using Marijuana. Doctors began running tests on animals and then on humans to see the effects. Hemp then became illegal in 1937.

Legalities and Conflicting Views

Today medical Marijuana is legal in 44 states but is still illegal federally. There has been a huge debate over the legality of Marijuana in the past couple of years. There are advocates for Marijuana who rally to fight for its legalization. While there are others, who believe Marijuana should be completely illegal. Bill Frist, a surgeon, said, “As a physician, I have sympathy for patients suffering from pain and other medical conditions.

Although I understand many believe Marijuana is the most effective drug in combating their medical ailments, I would caution against this assumption due to the lack of consistent, repeatable scientific data available to prove Marijuana’s benefits. Based on current evidence, I believe that Marijuana is a dangerous drug and that there are less dangerous medicines offering the same relief from pain and other medical symptoms.” There are also people who believe it should be medically used but not recreationally. In 2016, Ohio passed a law approving medical Marijuana and having the possession limit being a maximum of a 90-day supply; the final amount has yet to be determined.

Although in Colorado, you can have 2 ounces usable, six plants, three may be mature, three may be immature in your possession. A mature plant is a bigger size, and an immature plant is a smaller size. Though there are 44 states that have legalized medical Marijuana, it is still illegal under federal law. Federally speaking, there is no difference between smoking medically or recreationally. Federal law treats smoking Marijuana as equal to heroin and cocaine. Meaning that if you use Marijuana in a way to treat your medical issues, you are doing just as bad as someone on heroin. The government stated that Marijuana is too addictive, so it has no medical value, but they keep allowing opioids, which are addictive, to be given.

There is not any known person who is addicted to Marijuana and dying from using it. It isn’t all bad when it comes to Cannabis, though. The facts are not as scary as you think. When you smoke, approximately 30 percent of the THC is delivered to the bloodstream. If you take it by mouth, for example, an edible, there is a lower amount of THC absorbed because the liver metabolizes it. Smoking pot can give you a high in just a few minutes but taken orally, the effects can take up to 30 to 60 minutes. When smoking, the high usually lasts about 4 to 6 hours, while orally, the effects last about 6 to 8 hours. When THC enters your brain, it releases a neurotransmitter called dopamine. Dopamine is the rewarding neurotransmitter in your brain. Short-term effects of smoking include making people calmer, altering their senses, and causing time distortion.

Diverse Benefits and Economic Implications

Physically it can cause bloodshot eyes, dry mouth, and increased heart rate. There are other ways to get Marijuana in your system rather than smoking it. In the late 1980s, it was found that humans and animals have an endogenous cannabinoid system. This means that the THC in Marijuana interacts with a naturally occurring system in the body. Through animal and human experiments, we have learned that Cannabis can affect your appetite (the munchies), be used for pain relief, and have the effect of impairment on your memory and the control of your movements. Cannabis has helpful effects on multiple things.

During a woman’s period, she can experience unbearable cramps, crazy mood swings, nausea, and back pain. Today there are multiple cannabis-infused menstruation products like lotions, oils, and tampons. Hemp can be derived from Marijuana and can be used for rope, building materials, foods, many health products, personal care items, etc. Most women report not necessarily getting a high but definitely getting pain relief and crazy hormone relief. Women with severe dysmenorrhea (painful periods) often get prescribed opioids, but as addictive as they are, they’re not a great option.

Opioids are one of the top causes of death due to overdoses. The best part of using Marijuana is that, unlike opioids, you cannot overdose on Marijuana. Philip Denney, a Physician, said, “I have found in my study of these patients that Cannabis is really a safe, effective, and non-toxic alternative to many standard medications. There is no such thing as an overdose. We have seen very minimal problems with abuse or dependence, which, at worst, are equivalent to dependence on caffeine.

While a substance may have some potential for misuse, in my opinion, that’s a poor excuse to deny its use and benefit to everyone else.” Another use for Cannabis is for those who have constant migraines. It has been found that when people use Cannabis for their migraines, their attacks are cut in half. The negative effects of smoking Marijuana can include failure to remember things, which typically only occurs while you are high. If you use it frequently for years, you do risk slight short-term memory problems. Some people can often experience paranoia and anxiety while using Marijuana.

Cannabis can worsen the mental health of someone with bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. If you have heart problems, Cannabis is probably not a good option for you as it can lead to an increased heart rate, besides the good health benefits associated with Marijuana. If legalized, it can begin to bring more money into our economy. Legalizing Marijuana would reduce the amount of tax money we spend on inmates taken in for minor marijuana charges.

Annually, it costs about one billion to support the inmates living in prison. Enforcing marijuana prohibition costs taxpayers 41.8 billion annually. By cutting down on judicial, prosecutorial, correctional, and police resources for charges related to Marijuana, the amount spent can end up reducing to 7.7 billion. Cannabis licensing, taxation, and industry could lead up to about 8.7 billion in government revenue. Statistics tell us that marijuana offenses count for nearly half of the 1,531,251 drug arrests nationwide. Most arrests made related to Cannabis are for possession, not for distribution. In 2004, in Vermont, their expenses were 8,000, and the revenue was 22,000, meaning they made 14,000.

Marijuana’s Positive Impact and Future Promise

It’s estimated that the legalization in Washington could bring their state an additional $500 million in tax revenue. Marijuana users could save a lot of money due to marijuana legalization. The prices of Cannabis will go down as more people are able to receive these treatments. The most valuable cash plant in California is Marijuana, bringing in 14 billion dollars per year. Altogether, Marijuana is beneficial in multiple ways. Whether it is used recreationally or medically, it can dramatically improve many people’s lives.

It has been scientifically proven that smoking Marijuana can help many people’s lives who have been put off due to illnesses. Dr. Sanjay Gupta, a Neurosurgeon, said, “It doesn’t have a high potential for abuse, and there are very legitimate medical applications. In fact, sometimes Marijuana is the only thing that works… It is irresponsible not to provide the best care we can as a medical community, care that could involve Marijuana. We have been terribly and systematically misled for nearly 70 years in the United States, and I apologize for my own

role in that.” The economy will be helped be improved, people will have help for their illnesses, and there will be fewer people to support in jail. It is 2018, and Marijuana is slowly being accepted in different states. People are becoming more educated about the benefits of using pot instead of only focusing on the negative. Soon enough, Marijuana will be legalized everywhere, and people can begin to smoke safe pot and enjoy just getting high. Those who have health issues will start to be relieved from Marijuana and its many uses.

References:

1. Ziskin, J. L., & Chohan, M. (2018). Medical Cannabis for Pediatric Moderate-Severe Behavioral and Developmental Disorders. Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, 39(5), 376-380.
2. Booth, M. (2005). Cannabis: A History. St. Martin’s Press.
3. National Conference of State Legislatures. (2021). State Medical Marijuana Laws.
4. Pacula, R. L., Kilmer, B., Wagenaar, A. C., Chaloupka, F. J., & Caulkins, J. P. (2014). Developing public health regulations for marijuana: lessons from alcohol and tobacco. American Journal of Public Health, 104(6), 1021-1028.
5. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (2017). The health effects of cannabis and cannabinoids: The current state of evidence and recommendations for research. National Academies Press.

The Marijuana Legalization Debate: Economic, Social, and Health Implications

Benefits of Marijuana Legalization

Marijuana also is known as some other variable name which pot, weed, or bud has been using from history since around 500 BC. It is a herbal of Cannabis sativa which has been using medical purposes like fiber medicinal and food-changing of the human body. In Early colonists, America cultivates Marijuana as a medicine who are suffering from cancer and AIDS. Now some states in the US started supporting the legalization of Marijuana like Colorado and Washington. Even though there is a conflict between the federal government and state government about legalizing Marijuana, for the overall benefit, the Government should legalize Marijuana in all the states.

There are some advantages and disadvantages to legalizing Marijuana throughout the United States. Some experts saying is that a billion of USA dollars is lost only for not legalizing weed in all the States. For Example, for decades, a black market was the only place to find Marijuana. Your friends always have some on hand, but the question that where he gets it from this change of dealing like he knows someone knows and knows someone, and finally, someone has known a drug dealer or some Terrorist /mafia organization in other countries. Those money has been used against killing innocent people, and Government has to put a large amount of money into national security and safety. The recent problem has also been seen that purchasing Marijuana off the street by hand is more dangerous than creating a set of standards for quality and safety control products.

In addition, A black Market of weed products has been selling all over the United States, which could be included in government tax revenue. That money can be used to make roads and bridges, funding public schools, government research centers as well as national projects. However, Government is also spending lots of money on security and protecting the black market, which is quite impossible. The legalization of Marijuana not only increased tax revenue but also some other health benefits as well as.

For Example, in medical Cannabis, pot is a useful drug for the treatment of a wide range of diseases such as Crohn, Epilepsy, Cancer, Anxiety, Insomnia, High Blood Sugar, Nervous system degeneration, and depression. In the United States, more than 15 million American adults are suffering from some type of depression. The result is committing suicide rates higher and higher every year. Smoking weed is fun, enjoyable entertainment, makes people happy and helps get rid of depression.The main reason for legalizing pot is that it increases local government revenue. In Colorado state has shown graph number of amounts of money increase respectively.Figure: Increasing tax revenue from 2014 to 2018 in Colorado

Weighing Marijuana’s Impact

The chart shows that the number of amount weed sales increases from 2014 to 2018, from almost $42 million dollars to $120 million. A great amount of money goes to Government revenue. In that, money is being used to manufacture new schools or simply develop them, something very useful to any state across the country. ‘Legalizing Marijuana has many things to offer. Besides freeing up funds to state agencies and city police forces, it also frees up manpower and resources for violent crimes, instead of trying time and money up in chasing a non-violent crime such as marijuana use.’ (Stevens, 2012). Moreover, Legalizing weed could be beneficial for the national economy as if the national Government permitted Marijuana in every State like alcohol, it would be a large profitable industry. It will be created an American job market; for instance, In Colorado has been selling around $73.5 million in marijuana-related products for just a few years, and Oregon state has been found that spent $647 in years, which is the average recreational customer on Marijuana.

Everything has some positive and negative effects. However, it has some negative effects. Compared to other drugs like alcohol or beer, it is safer. According to the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention in the US, nearly twenty-five thousand people died in 2013 from liver disease, which was caused by alcohol, and 2.2 million arrests in 2012 in the United States for Alcohol-related crimes. Moreover, the Tobacco product also caused nearly fifty thousand people to die per year.

Some researcher has shown that weed is similar to Cigarette getaway drugs which influence the link to a more serious and dangerous drug like heroin or meth as well as crime involvement. There is also a law against smoking pot and driving like alcohol because it decreases your capacity to drive properly, which risks your life as a passenger or others as well. Moreover, every State classified driving and drinking as the same as driving and smoking. Different states have different laws on driving under the influence of drugs. In Texas, DUI and DWI have very restricted laws for safety departments. It would be worst not only DUI or DWI but also charged a felony. For Example, In Kentucky, from two years to ten years in prison and a fine of up to Twenty thousand dollars. There is no such scientist who thinks the test of the level of smoking, but physiological behaviors tell if he/she is smoking or not. There is no testing device invention yet, like a breathalyzer for an alcohol test.

Regulations and Considerations

However, it is a kind of drug it needs to be some restrictions or rules and regulations. At the beginning legalization of weed, the first effort was only for medical propose. According to that, California was the first State to legalize weed for medical propose in 1996. After that states, ten State included California, Colorado, Alaska, Orgon, Maine, Massachusetts, and Nevada, legalized Bud for personal recreational purposes by ballot measure in 2017. There are many things that need to consideration when the Government passes the law, which is that the Government has to spend a number amount of money on developing a new system, such as making a law on buying age, production of marijuana law, selling limitation law, selling store rules, and regulation. Not only that, many people debated if Marijuana should be legalized, id. Their change would be US drugs and criminal justice policies that affect a great cost to the nation of liberty.

Some people think that the Government should take some extra steps to control the massive industry. There is an example in Colorado state Government policies monitoring and implantation of it. Hudak, John explains ‘Colorado’s Rollout of Legal Marijuana Is Succeeding.’ How can the state government implement a new controversial product in the system, and what policies have to make for it? For Example, the Government makes rules, regulations, taxation, and other policies for the safety to be succeeding the products. The relevance of this source is the economics which is Government make a rule for products, as in Colorado, legalizing Marijuana and came up with some restriction like product tracking, limiting purchase, taxation on it, and, most importantly, the age limit for buying and selling as well as. It is quite challenging for any state’s Government to implement and monitor a large number of consumers. The Government needs to research how they provide better service for public safety.

The evidence has shown that Marijuana will be officially allowed to sale all over the United States today or tomorrow. It is a matter of time. It is clear that legalizing Marijuana would create great opportunities, such as Creating a new industry, creating a number of jobs sector, helping suffering patients, and creating a strong local economy and Government also. In Contract, Critics believes that moderating marijuana law makes children and teens more exposed to the drugs and cause a rising drive, but it will help some patients a serious illness as well. In the end, people are going to drugs. Whether it is legal or not, it is a better idea put them in a system government can control them. There is also additional research that needs to be done on the number of benefits and risks of legalizing Marijuana, especially for the public. Once it has been legalized, scientists also can figure out how can do better services for monitoring or controlling.

References:

1. Lopez, German. ‘Marijuana Legalization Is a Response to the Failures of the War on Drugs.’ Vox.com, Vox Media, 14 Nov. 2018, Accessed 11 December 2018. www.vox.com/identities/2018/8/20/17938342/marijuana-legalization-war-on-drugs-failure.
2. Researcher, Colorado. ‘Marijuana Sales Reports.’ Gov. John Hickenlooper | The Official Site of Governor Hickenlooper, Nov. 2018, Accessed 11 December 2018. www.colorado.gov/pacific/revenue/colorado-marijuana-sales-reports.
3. Stevens, A. (2012, February 8). Common sense legalizing marijuana allows police to focus on violent crimes. The Raw Story. Retrieved September 3, 2014, Accessed 11 December 2018. http://www.rawstory.com/exclusives/amanda/legalizing_marijuana_violent_crime_731.htm
4. Hudak, John. ‘Colorado’s Rollout of Legal Marijuana Is Succeeding.’ Brooking, 31 July. 2014 https://www.brookings.edu/research/colorados-rollout-of-legal-marijuana-is-succeeding/ Accessed 11 December 2018.
5. Franciosi, Anthony. ’12 Pros & Cons Of Marijuana Legalization.’ Honest Marijuana, Honest Marijuana, 23 July 2018, Accessed 11 December 2018. www.honestmarijuana.com/legalization-of-cannabis-pros-and-cons/.
6. Jacques, Renee and Luling, Todd V. ‘This Is Why Marijuana Should Be Legal Everywhere.’ The Huffington Post, 24 October 2013, Accessed 11 December 2018 https://www.huffingtonpost.in/entry/marijuana-legalization_n_4151423
7. Head, Tom. ‘8 Reasons Why Marijuana Should Be Legalized.’ 18 July 2018, Accessed 11 December 2018 https://www.thoughtco.com/reasons-why-marijuana-should-be-legalized-721154

Pros & Cons of Federal Marijuana Legalization: Impacts on Society & Industry

Growing Industry Potential: Federal Legalization’s Impact

Introduction Marijuana legalization is becoming a large and important conversation in various states across our country. While 32 states have already legalized this mind-altering substance for medical relief, few have condoned it’s recreational use (Lopez). However, there is a push for extending legalization throughout the entire country. With this possibility of federal legalization on our country’s horizon, we must ask ourselves whether we believe the pros or cons to be greater.

By examining this through a futuristic lens, we can investigate what the effects of federally legalizing recreational marijuana will have on our country and the marijuana industry down the road. Why Federal Legalization? The push for federally legalizing marijuana, as opposed to per-state legalization, simply boils down to money. A large motive behind legalizing marijuana is the additional tax dollars available, obtained through taxing the sale of marijuana, similar to tobacco and alcohol. States in which marijuana is already legal have seen substantial revenue increase. The state of Oregon, which passed its bill for recreational legalization in 2014, brought in 1 million dollars of tax revenue within the first month of legalization (Philips).

In a recent study conducted by Divya Raghavan, a Harvard graduate, it is predicted that the United States could generate $3,098,866,907 in tax revenue throughout a single year post-federal legalization (Raghavan). Furthermore, federal legalization is becoming vital to the industry. This is due to the fact that state-sanctioned marijuana production can still face prosecution under federal law. While there are bills that instruct federal prosecutors to deprioritize cases against marijuana consumption and production that are in compliance with state law, there still are effects on the industry (Garvey and Yeh).

This can be seen in the refusal of legally generated marijuana money by banks. The deputy director of the National Cannabis Industry Association, Taylor West, refers to this as “…the biggest problem we have” (Stinson). This cash-based industry can become very prone to criminal action with the lack of bank security. What Opportunities Would Legalization Present? As it becomes legal in more and more places, the marijuana industry is rapidly growing. When we face federal legalization in the United States, we could expand upon the already present industry found in legal states.

Industry Jobs and Societal Perceptions

This industry is home to an array of job opportunities. In an article published by Forbes, a very revered business magazine, Debra Borchardt highlighted some of the best jobs available in the industry. The bud trimmer, described as an “entry-level” job, is usually among the lowest-paying jobs in the industry (Borchart). However tedious the deed of separating the marijuana bud from the stem with tiny scissors becomes, “…it is an opportunity to get in on the ground floor of the business and work your way up” (Borchart). One of the most highly skilled positions in this industry is the extraction technician, with those hired often having a PhD.

These skilled individuals have perfected the art of reducing marijuana to the extract form. Their salaries can range from $75,000 to $125,000 yearly, and with 40% of sales amounting to extract sales at certain stores, this is a very in-demand job in the industry (Bochart). Forbes compares the grow master position to a head chef, as they are responsible for generating different marijuana strains. Similar to the extraction technician, this position requires a specific skill set, is in high demand, and has a pay grade near $100,000 and a percentage of the profit (Borchart). Currently, it is estimated that there are between 125,000 and 160,000 full-time employees in the marijuana industry (Fenton).

It is predicted that by 2022, 340,000 individuals will be employed in this industry, with a 21% growth rate per year based on current projectors (Fenton). Currently, in America, the unemployment rate has reached 3.7%, a low not seen since 1969 (Frazee). With the large array of job opportunities present in the marijuana industry, ranging from manual labor to those with PhDs performing extractions, this industry might just be what our country needs. How Would Marijuana Affect Society?

Many people’s opposition to marijuana legalization is centered around a preconceived stigma surrounding the drug. To be fair, this is understandable. According to the DEA the federal drug enforcement administration, marijuana is still listed as a Schedule I drug (“Drug Scheduling”). To put that in perspective, marijuana is compared to heroin and ranked above cocaine (“Drug Scheduling”). While many do not believe it deserves this high a ranking, the impression of marijuana being a hard drug still resides in many minds across the country. Due to this stigma, many people fear the impact marijuana will have on our society. They perceive it as a drastic and dangerous change, but this is not the case.

Safety Concerns and Testing Challenges

One major misconception is the idea that marijuana usage levels will spike. They believe when marijuana is legally available, everyone will begin to use it, but this may not be true. A study published by the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, a peer-reviewed scientific journal, showed only a marginal 1.2% increase in marijuana use across Washington State after its recreational legalization (Kerr, William C., et al.). This is evidence of the common belief that black-market marijuana is already so widespread that legalization may only show a tiny increase in use.

Furthermore, many worry about the chances of those intoxicated from marijuana getting behind the wheel of a car. In actuality, this is the most prevalent concern we, as a country, have to face. Driving while intoxicated is already an epidemic across our country, with alcohol being the main culprit. While individuals driving after consuming marijuana is an issue that, if legalized, must be dealt with, the larger issue we face is being able to determine whether or not someone is high while handling a motor vehicle. In many legal states, this is done by a blood test that examines the potency of delta-9-THC in one’s blood, the chemical which triggers the feeling of being high (Bichell). However, this blood test is not entirely accurate.

While alcohol is soluble in water, and humans are a large percent water, ethanol can spread and then leave the body very quickly. Delta-9-THC, on the other hand, is soluble in fat (Bichell). This creates the issue of differing rates at which THC can exit your body depending on one’s amount of body fat or gender. In a podcast streamed by NPR, a slightly liberal-biased non-profit national broadcast organization, they discussed a study conducted covering THC levels in the blood. They performed the study on 30 frequent marijuana users, who were subject to an entire month stay at a research facility where they would not have access to marijuana.

After several days passed, it was unsettling to find that some individual’s blood could measure above five nanograms, the legal limit in many states (Bichell). Additionally, another study showed that those who do not use marijuana regularly could smoke a joint, and it would leave no imprint in their blood (Michelle). Conclusion While legalizing marijuana for recreational use could be of great benefit to our country, the drawbacks are undeniable.

The additional tax revenue is already being used for great things. Many states allocate funds to public schools and criminal rehabilitation programs (Philips). The job opportunities will undoubtedly assist in alleviating the current unemployment crisis our country is in. However, it is a matter of people’s lives when we discuss the DUI risk. Before moving forward with legalization, our country must fund research programs dedicated to finding reliable tests to determine whether or not someone is high. Once this is done, our country will have taken steps in the right direction; approaching legalization.

References:

1. Lopez, German. “Marijuana Legalization by State: A Comprehensive List.” Vox, 2021.
2. Philips, Kristina. “Marijuana Legalization: What Everyone Needs to Know.” Oxford University Press, 2016.
3. Raghavan, Divya. “Estimating the Revenue Potential of Cannabis Legalization in the United States.” Unpublished master’s thesis, Harvard University, 2020.
4. Garvey, Todd, and Yeh, Brian T. “Enforcing Federal Drug Laws in States Where Medical Marijuana Is Lawful.” Congressional Research Service, 2015.
5. Stinson, Jeff. “Legal Marijuana Businesses Face Constant Rejection from Banks.” The Daily Beast, 2014.
6. Borchardt, Debra. “The Top 10 Jobs In The Marijuana Industry.” Forbes, 2014. https://www.forbes.com/sites/debraborchardt/2014/10/23/the-top-10-jobs-in-the-marijuana-industry/?sh=47bf803d1652
7. Fenton, Josh. “Legal Marijuana Is The Fastest-Growing Industry In The United States: Report.” The Huffington Post, 2015. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/marijuana-industry-fastest-growing_n_7718540
8. Frazee, Gretchen. “U.S. Unemployment Rate Hits 3.7 Percent, Lowest Since 1969.” PBS NewsHour, 2018.
9. “Drug Scheduling.” Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), 2021. https://www.dea.gov/drug-scheduling
10. Kerr, William C., et al. “Changes in marijuana use across the 2012 Washington State recreational legalization: Is retrospective assessment of use before legalization more accurate?” Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, vol. 80, no. 3, 2019, pp. 309-315.