Category: Marijuana Legalization

Introduction

This research’s main is to answer the negotiable question which is, should drugs be decriminalized worldwide or no.in other words this research is about whether to make usage of drugs legal or illegal. drugs can destroy generations if used in a wrong way and some people don’t know why it should be forbidden to be used at all ,so this research is made to help them understand the advantages and disadvantages of using drugs. To start with In 2001, nearly 20 years into Pereira’s accidental specialization in addiction, Portugal became the first country to legalize the state of holding drugs or using them (Ferreira, 2017). In the writers point of view, drugs shouldn’t be legalized in any country in the world because drugs disadvantages outweigh its advantages.but, some people could use it even when they know that it has lots of disadvantages for some reasons but one of these reasons is that it can increase the creativity of a person and result in more creative work. In addition, the main countries that will be mentioned in this research will be Canada , Germany , United states and the writers birth country Egypt. Also, the opinion of the biology teacher will be mentioned to see what are the advantages and disadvantages of using drugs.

Global perspective

Canada

Canada’s new step in legalizing cannabis (which is one type of drugs) recreational usage for grown-ups has been the recent attention grabber internationally (Alcohol and Drug Foundation, 2019) ,the debate of legalizing cannabis became a trend in the 2015 Canadian Federal Election (Alcohol and Drug Foundation, 2019),so why did Canada legalize cannabis ,to start with To make the cannabis away from the small ones ,Not to make the criminals take advantage of selling the cannabis by taking the profit to themselves, To make sure that the public health and safety is kept away from harm by permitting the use of cannabis by mature ones.(Alcohol and Drug Foundation, 2019).there is also some rules that should be followed ,for example:Packaging is controlled ,and The businesses that make cannabis couldn’t support people ,events and facilities. People that hold cannabis should be aged more than 19 or 18 in Alberta and Québec. A research has been conducted 6 months before the decriminalization which highlighted that 14% of people living in Canada has smoked cannabis in the last three months, a study after legalization has been conducted with the results showed up in February 2019 which showed that ,55% of people in Canada never used cannabis and only 9% of Canadians has tried it once (Alcohol and Drug Foundation, 2019). To sum up, the move of legalizing cannabis is being watched by institutions like Statistics Canada.

Germany

Cannabis are known to be illegal in Germany but there is some cases to the rules, The private usage of cannabis is known to be a relaxation giver, for instance if a police officer saw someone who is smoking a joint he will only take it from him without doing anything else (Schuster, 2018).the consequence of holding drugs or selling them will depend on the circumstances so it is either paying paying 25000 euros or two years in prison for only people who use it who are over 21 yeas old (Schuster, 2018).cannabis could be classified to be slighter more danger causer than the rest of drugs ,but they are banned by the law neither selling them or sharing them or growing them because they have a negative effect on the brain and can cause addiction (Schuster, 2018).In march 2017 medical use of marijuana became legal, average of 1000 sick person has received the allowance to use marijuana for medical use (Schuster, 2018). in other words ,Germany criminalize drugs or to be specific cannabis due to its danger on the brain ,But, marijuana is legalized for only the medical usage an nothing else. To sum up, cannabis is not legalized in Germany but the laws of cremaliztion of cannabis is not strictly used but marijuana on the other hand is legalized for only medical usage.to Conclude, the country is more conservative to the health of its individuals, so, they didn’t legalize the use of drugs for all ages not just a specific age group to save people from the danger of drugs on the brain but they legalized marijuana for only the medical usage, on the other side of the coin they are not very strict in applying the law.

United states

Two thirds of people living in the united states are demanding legalization of marijuana and are increasing over the last 10 years (DANILLER, 2019),on the decreased from 52% to 32% from 2010 until today (DANILLER, 2019).a high percentage of adults in America wants to legalize the marijuana for medical treatment and recreational use and some of them wants it to legalized for only the medical usage (DANILLER, 2019),but the other small portion of adults in America wants to keep it illegal under all conditions for the sake of everyone (DANILLER, 2019),but on the other hand as Chairman Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y said “The criminalization of marijuana has been a mistake,” during the markup of the bill should be changed (Jr, 2019).Most of Millennials (who was born between 1981 and 1997), Generation X (who was born between 1965 and 1980) and Baby Boomers (who was born between 1946 and 1964) are with legalizing of marijuana but people from the Silent Generation (who was born between 1928 and 1945) (DANILLER, 2019).To sum up,a lot of people wants to legalize drugs in the united states or specially marijuana. there is some states in America that made it already legal and here is a list of some of these states,Alaska and California and Colorado and Hawaii and Maine Massachusetts and Michigan and Nevada (Bauer, 2018).

National perspective

A survey has been conducted to see what are the opinions of people on legalization of drugs in Egypt,so the questions where the how old are you, Are you with the legalization of drugs in Egypt and why,and is he/she with or against the legalization of drugs for only adults and why, all of the people who were between 31-40 said not to the thought of legalization of drugs no matter what is the age of the user and one of the answers were “Because I don’t think that people are responsible enough in Egypt. We will see a lot of cases driving under influence, sexual harassment and so on. People using drugs should stay home at lease until the effect fades away but I am pretty sure this will not happen in Egypt. Which will lead to higher crime rate” and he/she also said no for legalization of drugs for adults only with an answer “For the same reason, people are not responsible enough to stay home while using drugs” also all of the people who are between 15-20 said no to the legalization of drugs and one of the answers was ”Because legalization of drugs may lead to a severe consequences, because this experiment was tried in other countries only to control the drugs distribution” and another one was “Drugs cause alterations to the normal processes of the brain, which will cause changes to the behaviour of the addict, the result might be unforeseen violence.” But the different answers began to be clear when they started to answer the question of legalization of drugs for adults and one of the answers of the with side is “ Adults can handle themselves better than teenagers and know when to stop taking drugs”,on the other side of the coin the one of the other sides answer is “They can be very addictive and cost many lives through overdose and destroy families.”so,to conclude , all of them didn’t agree about the possibility of legalizing drugs in Egypt but sum of them agreed to legalizing drugs for adults only not for all of the age ranges for the reason that adults can control themselves more than the younger ones.

local perspective

The local opinion in Egypt is the same as the last paragraph, as the last paragraph states that there are two types of people the one with the legalization of drugs an the ones against it ,but to talk about the local perspective I asked the biology teacher for his opinion about this concern, and he stated that ”drugs are very dangerous and it can be addictive which cause a lot of damage to the human body for example a weak immune system which makes the chance of illnesses larger more than other people, heart conditions which is not normal heart rate which can cause heart attacks , last but not least issues with memory, attention and decision-making which result in more difficult daily life this is a few problems from a lot more issues” to sum up the teachers opinion is against legalization of drugs for the reasons stated before.in addition,i asked a friend of mine in school and his answer was ”Because legalization of drugs may lead to a severe consequences, because this experiment was tried in other countries only to control the drugs distribution” , this opinion is the same as the biology teacher they both stated that they are against the legalization of drugs and for the reasons the stated.to sum up, a huge number of people in Egypt are against the legalization of drugs but some of them in the paragraph before that agreed that it could be legalized for adults only and one of the answers was ”Adults have more self control”

Problems faced

Of course,There is some problems that is seen in the countries that legalize drugs.for example the legalization of marijuana have impacted negatively on the society were it is legal in for instance, marijuana is beneficial if it is used for the medical usage only but what happens when it is used for non medical uses ,marijuana users might experience delusions and forget their identities which is obviously a disadvantage, also marijuana could be addicted which will break the family bond.in addition, drugs have a serious consequences on the brain and the behavior of the individual for example aggression and the lose of self-confidence which are serious draw backs to the human body in general and also the increase in aggression will cause a lot of accidents and the lose if friends and family. on the other side of the coin if a pregnant mom uses drugs this will badly affect her baby, to clarify the usage of drugs can cause pre-mature birth or less birth weight than the normal weight of babies also the mom who takes drugs can harm her baby or may not eat well which will also harm her baby (gatewayfoundation, 2019).in conclusion, drugs disadvantages out-weigh its advantages, as mentioned before “Drugs cause alterations to the normal processes of the brain, which will cause changes to the behavior of the addict, the result might be unforeseen violence” and for the unborn babies for adults for pregnant moms and of course for the children , people living in the countries which legalize drugs like Canada and Portugal will most and use drugs could be addicts and most likely they have the symptoms discussed above. solutions for these serious problems will be either criminalize the usage of drugs or keep it legal but with a strict laws that regulate the use of it.

Personal opinion

In my humble point of view,drugs disadvantages outweigh its advantages because as mentioned before drugs can be addicted and can cause crimes and drugs cause damage to the brain if addicted and can cause a lot of other damages as mentioned before,also drug shouldn’t legalized in any country or for any specific age because drugs cause damage ignoring to the age and could be addicted not just for teenagers but also for adults .to sum up, my point of view is to criminalize the usage of drugs and selling them in all countries and for all ages

Marijuana Is a psychoactive drug, that means it is a chemical substance that changes brain function and results in alterations in perception, mood, consciousness, cognition, or behavior also affects almost every organ in the body. It comes from the cannabis plant and it is used for medical or recreational purposes. “Globally, marijuana is the most used illicit drug. Classified as a Schedule 1 controlled substance.” (Medical News Today)

Marihuana contains some chemicals these are called Cannabinoids. When they are ingested they react with several receptors of the brain producing different effects, these receptors can be grouped into 2 CB1 and CB2 that are found in the central nervous system, the digestive the reproductive and the immune. There are more than 100 different cannabinoids one of the best known are the CBD, CBN, CBC and the most popular the THC that has the most psychoactive power and has been the most studied. These produces the ‘high’ people feel when they smoke it in a recreational mode.

But there is other way to use it and is the Medical marijuana. It uses the marijuana plant or chemicals in it to treat diseases or conditions. It’s basically the same product as recreational weed, but it’s taken for medical purposes Because the marijuana plant contains chemicals that may help treat a range of symptoms, that’s way many people argue that it should be legal for medical purposes.

Chanda Macias, CEO of National Healing Holistic Center said “Marijuana is medicine. This plant-based treatment should be an accessible and affordable healthcare choice for all patients. This plant can be used in many forms of application or ingestion. My professional team at National Holistic Healing Center, a medical marijuana dispensary serving over 10,000 patients in the Washington D.C. area, recommends specific strains with known benefits to treat depression, insomnia, ADHD, pain and post-traumatic stress disorder”(ProCon)

According to studies more than half of US adults, over 128 million people, have tried marijuana. Nearly 600,000 Americans are arrested for marijuana possession annually. more than one person per minute. Public support for legalizing marijuana went from 12% in 1969 to 66% today. Marijuana is especially dangerous for young people, because human brains are not fully developed until around age 25, 4 years past the legal age in US states that allow recreational marijuana. Weed related traffic deaths rose 62% following the legalization of marijuana in Colorado. Jim Lea, Chief of Police of Newark, California, said of legalizing marijuana: ‘You are commercializing a product that is just going to put more impaired drivers on the road, worsening a problem that we already have.

In my opinion marijuana should be legalized but it need to be controlled. I think that With medical purposes it is good and may help people with diseases that are living bad moments in their lives. In recreational use I think it should be legal but controlled. That the government apply laws of the use of weed. There are studies that affirm that marijuana is much safer than already legalized drugs. “if you are completely fine with alcohol and cigarettes, then there shouldn’t be a reason you aren’t accepting of marijuana as well.” Said a team of drug experts in the U.K.(ProCon)

Legalization of marijuana is a subject matter that many people have exclusive opinions on. Yet many of the motives that persons have towards it are motives that, I feel are not valid. Many humans deliver up health reasons and additionally that solely criminals use cannabis. There are many phrases for marijuana, you have weed, bud, k-2, pot, kush, and many more terms for it that are area based. I am solely going to refer to it as marijuana and cannabis, because that is the official terms for it. I feel that the legalization of marijuana will benefit many components of life, one that it can benefit the economic system and the humans who are unemployed, two that it can assist residents in present day society by stopping individuals from being criminalized for it, and three that it has many benefits medically speaking.

The legality of marijuana has been a hotly debated subject for decades. Until the government and many other established countries outlawed its use, smoking marijuana had been a recreational exercise for hundreds of years. Marijuana has been illegal in America since 1923. Since the Government banned the recreational use, sale, and increase of this substance many companies have sprung up and protests have been prepared to battle for the right to possess and use the plant.

Marijuana can benefit the economy drastically. “In 2015, Colorado accrued more than $135 million in taxes and fees on medical and recreational marijuana. Sales in the state totaled over $996 million. Sales in North America grew 30%, to $6.7 billion, in 2016, and is projected to amplify to $20.1 billion by 2021, according to Arcview Market Research”. This is a massive impact to colorados and the United States economy. This is proof that not only will it assist the government acquire revenue, it also as a result indicates that many citizens will be able to profit and gain jobs in the cannabis industry.

Marijuana is very tough on our justice system financially. If the policy was modified and it was legalized it could be taxed and used for authorities funding (Alternet). It has been studied and many studies show that weed could create very suitable income (Head). Not only can legal marijuana help make money but it can additionally help out the justice system a lot. Over 750,000 people are arrested for marijuana a year. This number is extraordinary if you ponder on the risk of marijuana. 750,000 people are arrested for something that doesn’t directly cause physical or emotional damage to anyone else. Also, not only does enforcement have to arrest these people but also they have to pay for every individual case. Another way it could assist the justice system by opening up penitentiary spots. Marijuana offenders take up far too much penitentiary space which could be used for much greater serious offenders (Alternet). legalizing marijuana could help out the justice system immensely.

The use of marijuana can additionally help many citizens in our society. The Number of drug arrests that had been for possession only: 1,394,514 (85.4 percent). Number of people arrested for a marijuana regulation violation in 2017: 659,700. These if you cannot tell, are a massive percentage of our population. By legalizing marijuana thousands perhaps hundreds of thousands of people will no longer be criminated for the possession of cannabis. Marijuana in many instances could be offered from dealers who additionally sell hard drugs. Therefore, if marijuana was legal and offered in a store in the right way, it would help children stay away from other drugs that dealers have to provide (Nathan). Also, it would stop children from getting into the drug dealing business. They would have fewer reasons to promote to their buddies and different people. If the policy was modified and it could be bought in shops it would end children from selling all together. Being a dealer would be way less advantageous and it could end many drug dealers and clean up the streets (Alternet). Marijuana is going to be offered either way, so it may as well be bought legally. If the policy was changed and it was offered legally it would keep children out of risk and make it more difficult to be a drug dealer.

CBD is an extract from cannabis that is not as frowned upon when speaking on the topic because this component of marijuana has little, if any, intoxicating properties. Marijuana itself has more than 100 active components. THC (which stands for tetrahydrocannabinol) is the chemical that causes the “high” that goes along with marijuana consumption. CBD strains have little or no THC, so patients report very little alteration in physical feelings. Many individuals do, however, report many benefits of CBD, from relieving insomnia, anxiety, spasticity, and pain to treating potentially threatening conditions such as epilepsy.

Researchers confirm that marijuana is used to treat tetanus, epilepsy, and cholera. Moreover, it is proven that ‘reporting in all cases, … patients experience alleviation from the signs and symptoms of these disorders’ (Jacob & Jacob, 2009, p. 37). Among other diseases, which can be handled with the assist of marijuana, is migraine, immoderate coughing, involuntary twitching, incapability to sleep, loss of appetite, palsy, dysentery, and a lot of others. Moreover, marijuana is used even to relieve ache from HIV/AIDS, and it is on occasion given to teenagers who suffer from epilepsy.

According to a survey carried out by an authoritative internet site about medicine, WebMD, American medical doctors of 12 unique specializations accredited the utilization of marijuana for medicinal purposes. During the course of the survey, more than 1,500 medical practitioners from forty eight states replied that they would recommend the legalization of medical marijuana to make it a choice for patients who want it. In addition, the American epilepsy Foundation appealed to the Drug enforcement Administration to loosen up its restrictions on marijuana in order to conduct greater ideal research on it. Michael W. Smith, MD, WebMD Chief Medical editor, says that “The medical community is truly announcing they support the use of marijuana as a possible cure alternative for any wide variety of medical problems. In fact, many medical practitioners already prescribe it. But health specialists are nonetheless doubtful as to what the long-term results may also be. The findings would point out a robust desire to have the DeA ease the restrictions on research so that extra research can be accomplished to conclusively exhibit the place medical marijuana can assist and the place it would possibly not” (WebMD).

Yet any other advantageous impact that would possibly come out of the legalization of medical marijuana is the reduction of opiate consumption and prescriptions. The trouble with opioid painkillers is that they can cause addiction, and even though they are extraordinarily effective in alleviating pain, there have been instances of dying due to overdose. The utilization of marijuana as a painkiller should fix this situation—at least partially; in accordance to one NIDA-funded study, there is a connection between clinical marijuana legalization and the decrease of deaths prompted by opioid overdose, opioid prescribing, self-reports of opioid misuse, and treatment admissions for opioid addiction, as well as the reduction of doses of prescribed opioids (NIDA). Although extra research on this problem are nevertheless required, it can be viewed that clinical marijuana can be a more healthy choice to usual opioid painkillers.

Many tough pills such as painkillers, heroine, and cocaine are pills that are very negative to your health and per chance even your life. Marijuana must no longer be put beneath the equal identification as these drugs. It should rather be below the class that consists of alcohol, tobacco, and even sugar. These drugs are more often associated to marijuana than hard drugs (Nathan). Also, it is clear that alcohol and tobacco are more unsafe to an individual than marijuana. That’s why the law on marijuana isn’t equal if not more in favor than the policies on alcohol and tobacco. even sugar in many health elements can be regarded as greater damaging than marijuana. Marijuana is a drug that is a lot safer and more difficult to overdose than alcohol (Nathan).

Drug consumption is continually linked to the risk of developing an addiction. even such “harmless” and legalized pills as alcohol and tobacco yearly cause tens of millions of deaths worldwide. However, in the case of marijuana, there would possibly be exceptions—given that it is prescribed for medicinal purposes, and under the manage of a doctor. This drug can ease pain, assist critically sick people alleviate or get rid of their symptoms, and can even come to be a choice to standard opiate painkillers. Therefore, under positive conditions and regulations, marijuana can be used as a leisure drug.

The health and comfort of the people should be the foremost concern of the government. Marijuana has many tremendous attributes that should assist people in everyday life. Many Americans that are struggling from poor health symptoms should use this drug. Marijuana could be used to assist with pain, nausea, spasticity, and different signs and symptoms that everyday drugs just simply aren’t curing. Also, it should be a superb way to enable people to loosen up on an everyday basis. For the most parts the symptoms of marijuana are very slight and are easy to deal with. Not very frequently are people uncontrollable or in a place of risk when using this drug. Marijuana is a drug that without difficulty builds tolerance and permits people to handle the symptoms better.

Does the government ever ask themselves the query “has anybody ever died from marijuana usage?” They should no longer ask themselves that question due to the fact the answer would be no. There isn’t even a part for marijuana in the disease control and protection section. That is due to the fact marijuana is now not linked to loss of life in any way. Also, it is proven to have no link to cancer or any other hazardous diseases there are out there. Marijuana isn’t even linked to lung cancer. Many people would assume it would be linked to cancer particularly of the throat however that is no longer the case (huffing). The truth that marijuana doesn’t directly cause death and also doesn’t lead to other detrimental illnesses simply proves why it should be legal. The law definitely needs to be modified if the government doesn’t even consider the drug a hazard to disease. However, the government has such a massive concern on alcohol use and spends most of its time worrying about that. If marijuana isn’t a main concern for the government then why not simply make it legal. If it isn’t hazardous enough to even have a classification then why wouldn’t it be legal.

The use of marijuana has continually been questioned however now is the time our country is at a time where the use of the drug is at a top and the issue should be addressed. It is no longer ideal to no longer reflect on consideration on legalization because states inside the country have already taken things into their own hands by way of making it legal, Colorado and Washington have been the first to do so this previous election season. The counter argument to legalization of marijuana would be research that shows smoking “weed” would alter emphysema and decrease IQ however smoking cigarettes or any tobacco product also increases emphysema and ingesting alcohol is confirmed to damage your IQ and kill your brain cells.

To restate my points, I feel that the legalization of marijuana will benefit many aspects of life, one that it can benefit the economy and the people who are unemployed, two that it can help citizens in today’s society by stopping individuals from being criminalized for it, and three that it has many benefits medically speaking. I hope that by listening to my speech you will change your mind on the benefits of marijuana.

The legalization of marijuana has been an issue of controversy across the globe. The issue brings in a lot of perspectives to consider. Marijuana has been in existence for many centuries. Marijuana is a small and flowery green plant that is grown in many parts of the world. The main component of marijuana is Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and it is responsible for altering the minds of its users. It is believed to have negative health effects on its users. Notably, there has been a debate on whether marijuana should be legalized or not. Those who argue against the legalization of marijuana claim that it can compromise the safety of individuals. They also argue that it can lead to oversimplification of the drug. Nevertheless, marijuana has many positive medicinal and recreational benefits to its users and, therefore, should be legalized.

Marijuana has certain health benefits in the body. Mainly, it has four medical advantages, which are pain management, reduction of inflammation, management of neurological and mental disorders, and sleep management. Firstly, it acts as a relief for chronic pain. The latter is attributed to cannabinoids, which alters the perception of pain in the brain. Marijuana is not strong for severe pain. However, it is effective for most pains that affect individuals, especially the elderly. For instance, marijuana eases nerve pain and the pain of sclerosis. Although there are other options for easing this pain, they are highly sedative. Additionally, marijuana is proved to be an effective muscle relaxant. Marijuana can reduce symptoms of certain diseases, which eventually lead to chronic pain for patients. According to reports, there have been many testimonies confirming the successful use of marijuana in medicine. An example of such testimony is from Jean Charles Pariseau. The latter would be an HIV/aids patient if the patient was to only stick to the medications prescribed by his doctor; maybe he would not be alive by now. However, marijuana played an important role in suppressing the virus in his body and improving his immune system (Crocker 1). Apart from physical healing, cannabis is also a cure for the mind. It lifts up the mood of the user and helps him or her stay positive. It is important to note that legalizing marijuana can bring certain advantages to the health of its users and medical practitioners.

The legalization of marijuana can help improve the economy. It is ironic that marijuana has been topping in the industry with high revenues. The latter shows that the sale of marijuana is was too beneficial to be ignored. Additionally, marijuana can be sold without tax considerations. The high revenues of marijuana sales mean that taxes would be high, too (Caulkins etal. 6). So far, two states in the United States have legalized marijuana, Colorado and Washington. The states have realized increased tax revenues, which in turn have increased their overall income. In the first two months after the legalization of marijuana, Colorado collected an extra 6 million dollars in tax revenue. In other words, states that have not legalized marijuana are denying themselves opportunities for economic growth. Other few countries across the globe have also legalized marijuana. An important point to note is the financial burden faced by countries to cater for prisoners. A certain percentage of the prisoners are jailed for marijuana-related cases. Prisons are already underfunded and overcrowded. Some of these prisoners are law-abiding citizens who are only there because they were caught in possession of marijuana. Legalization could ease the financial burden, and the money can be used to cater to other expenses. The costs for prosecuting marijuana criminals are high, and countries spend millions of dollars in marijuana cases. This amount of money can be considered a waste of resources, and it proves the need for the legalization of marijuana.

Marijuana should be legalized because it is safer than alcohol and tobacco. Many people across the globe die annually from tobacco use. It is estimated that in the United States, tobacco causes the deaths of 443,000 people every year (Basu 10). They do not only die because of smoking tobacco but also being exposed to the substance. Alcohol, on the other hand, is not as deadly as tobacco. However, it is toxic to the brain. Overdose of alcohol can cause thousands of deaths in a year. It is evident that alcohol and tobacco have detrimental effects on human health. The latter should not be the norm for legalized drugs. Similarly, alcohol-related crimes increase arrests and prosecutions in courthouses. Since both alcohol and tobacco are legal in all parts of the world, people can buy huge amounts of alcohol and tobacco. The negative effects of alcohol and tobacco use push governments into spending huge amounts of money, which could otherwise be earned through the use of marijuana, which does not have similar detrimental effects. Since the latter are legalized with the many negative effects, marijuana should also be legalized. The reason for the latter is that marijuana has proven health benefits as opposes to tobacco and alcohol. Moreover, studies show that marijuana has no long-term negative impacts on users (Aljabri 2). Marijuana should be legalized because it has lesser health effects compared to alcohol and tobacco. Instead, it will benefit the users medically. If substances that have been proven to have long-term negative effects have been legalized, it is therefore only fair for marijuana, which has no negative long-term effects to be legalized.

To sum up, marijuana has many positive medicinal and recreational benefits to its users and, therefore, should be legalized. It is evident that marijuana has many benefits for its users and states as well. Marijuana has medicinal properties. It helps in pain management, where it reduces chronic pain. It is also effective for suppressing HIV and improving the immune system of HIV/aids patients. Marijuana can also benefit states economically. Legalizing marijuana can allow taxation and make high profits for states. The latter has been proved by countries in which marijuana has been legalized. Finally, tobacco and alcohol have been legalized. Notably, the two have detrimental long-term effects on health. Therefore, it is only fair for marijuana, which has no negative long-term effects to be legalized. However, marijuana should not only be legalized; there must be policies and rules abiding its legalization.

Scientific revolution and rapid increase knowledge in the field of researches, it has led to rise in economic needs of people in various aspects. Today with the advancement in medical sciences, the trend of legalizing of marijuana has started in many developed states across the globe. Marijuana was first legalized by the state legislature in Vermont in January 2018. Marijuana use is allowed in Colorado, Alaska, California, Montana, Oregon, Vermont, Nevada, for recreational and medical uses (Huestis, 2002) . But decriminalization of marijuana use started in 1970 with medical professionals having access to it for medical purposes. (Zvonarev V. , 2019). The various arguments are made to legalize the trading and use of marijuana as it raises revenue, lowers criminal justice expenditure, improves public health and traffic safety, and stimulates the economy. However Bhutan being a small country of happiness, legalization of trading Marijuana in the nation will have greater negative impact in the nation. Firstly legalization led to increase the consumption rate in the country (Dnderson). Researchers have found out that illicit use of marijuana plant have led to increase in motor-vehicle accident and death rate creating disharmony in the society (Dunstan, 1997). It will also affected the user physically and psychologically leading to lowering down the educational achievement among youths. With identification of important journals, analyzing the systematize reviews on legalization of marijuana plant in developed nation have concluded that trading of marijuana in the southern belts of Bhutan should be decriminalize to save the lives and achieve the developing Gross National in the country.

The marijuana plant is an invasive plant that grows well in the southern belts of Bhutan without much care. The people residing in rural areas called it as “Phakpa Nam”, a feed for pigs. In olden days seed of cannabis plant is used as a substitute for butter in tea. It was in 1970s where people of Sebjikha village in Punakha have started to pluck the tender leaves and let them dry on wood-fed stove and roll them and smoked (Penjor, 2019). They have mainly done this to prevent flea bite. According to Kuensel the misuse of Cannabis plant has increased over the years and it was in 1991 that a ton of these plant was seized from Shingkhar Lauri and burnt in the presence of the people of Daifam (Dorji, 2019). Today in the southern of the Himalayan kingdom especially in border areas the Cannabis plant grows abundantly without much care. These Cannabis plant has serve as the resource which has the utility and functionality for the people residing over these areas (Cooper, 2017). They are making their income through trading of Cannabis outside Bhutan though it is not legally approved by the government.

Legalizing the trading of marijuana plant that grow over the southern belts of Bhutan by the government can help to create the income for their living. These plant do not required much of care still than it grows well over the region. Today in these areas land are kept uncultivated and resources are not properly utilized. The cultivation of marijuana plant over this fallow land can help the government to generate a good amount of revenue. However the researches that were conducted in state where the trading of marijuana is legalized have found out that the consumption of marijuana have also increased over the years after they have legalized the trading. In Alaska, when the trading was illegal the marijuana users during this period (2002-2014) stood at 20%. On February 24, 2015, the trading and possession of marijuana was legalized in the state. After the legalization the number of users reached up to (24.5%) in the state (Zvonarev, 2019). The same thing has happened in Colorado, in 2000 the possession among the youth was 15.7% and have increased to 20.7% in 2012.

From the above mention statics it can be concluded that the number of users increases if the trading of marijuana is legalized in the nation. Bhutan is a small both in terms of technology and human power. Moreover it is a country of happiness, giving the preference to the Gross National Happiness than Gross Domestic products, today Bhutan has proven that happiness of the people is well treasured than any amount of money. Smoking on regular basis will not make anyone happy, even the person who smoke. According to Tobacco Control Act of Bhutan 2010, it prohibits smoking and use of tobacco in public areas, cultivation, harvesting and sale in and out of the country. The production of tobacco products are also not allowed in the country (Neil Lava, 2018). As per the past history of Bhutan, numerous measures were taken to ban the possession and the use of tobacco and drugs in the country. At present scenario, marijuana plant is dried up and consumed as a tobacco by most of the youths; school dropout, High school students, under graduates and even graduates. Although the consumption and sale of marijuana is strictly ban in the country, there are few people who supply these products in black to consumer. If the trading of marijuana plant is legalized in the country by looking the availability of the plant considering it as a resource then, the aim of creating Bhutan 100% tobacco free zones will not be achieved. Therefore the government of Bhutan should not legalize the trading of marijuana or cannabis plant and its product in the country.

Marijuana is the most common illicit drug reported in motor vehicle accidents. Experimental studies indicate that intoxication with marijuana affects a number of cognitive and motor skills that are relevant to driving, including reaction time, attention, signal detection, information processing speed, spatial working memory, verbal learning and recall, procedural memory, tracking accuracy, time and distance estimation, set shifting, motor coordination, and danger perception (Volkow ND, 2014). Driving under the influence of marijuana and other drugs lead to accidents. This is an important measurement since the driver’s ability to operate a vehicle was sufficiently impaired that it brought his or her driving to the attention of law enforcement. The following graph will help to make a comparative study of Colorado to make better decision to legalize the trading of marijuana in southern belts of Bhutan.

After the legalization of marijuana for the recreational purposes in Colorado it has found out that the number of accidents caused by the use of marijuana shows a linear pattern. In the year 2000, total number of fatalities stood at 535 and the fatalities caused by the usage of marijuana stood at 46 (Krishna, 2019). In 2010 the total fatalities is 450 decreased compared to 2006. However the fatalities caused by the use of marijuana still increases and stand at 75. The graph has clearly displayed the growing number of fatalities rate over the Colorado region. Bhutan have mountainous land features. If the marijuana is been legalize in the country then substance is definitely use as the recreational purposes and this lead to disharmony in the country. By looking at the statics of other nation, they have reported that marijuana is a common illicit drug. After looking at the increasing trend of death due to the accident caused by the consumption of Marijuana, legalizing the treading of marijuana in Bhutan is not a wise decision. Though it creates the employment opportunities and serve as a medium of earning however, it have greater impact on the society. Today Bhutan having the mountainous topography the rate of vehicle accident is high. If the marijuana is misuse by those drivers the Road safety & Transport Authority of Bhutan will have tough time to implement the rules and regulation in the country. Therefore as much as concern the trading of marijuana should not be legalize in the nation.

Though Bhutan being one of the most rapid economic development country in the world, still there is no medical cannabis programmed compare to other nation. But in other developed nation such as United States, Germany, Canada, France, the Netherlands and Spain, states that’s cannabis can be used for medical purposes according to a recent survey of 31 countries (Hazekamp, 2013). From there, out of 953 people were male (64%), relatively with the young age (medium age 40.7years) and age over 51(24%). Few people around past or within the age 60 to 70 (6%, 1%). They said that this cannabis plants can be useful purposes for back pain (11.9%), for sleeping disorders (6.9%), depression (6.7%), injury or accident-generated pain (6.2%), and for use of multiple sclerosis (4.1%) (Harding, 2013). Due to the plants, exception of multiple sclerosis and neuropathic pain can be symptoms are scant. Though it has some important on medical purposes it is said to be that, it has more effects on human being. Use of cannabis can affect physical and psychological problems to the user. With consumption on cannabis plant it will have some acute effects on our cognitive power such as lack in grabbing attention, thinking power, lack in decision making and short term memory. This is particular true since it has been recognized that in recent data, an adolescent was found out to be smoking marijuana during his early teens. In the study field, adolescent who has been addicted in smoking marijuana at the early age of (14-22) and stopped at the age of 22 was found to be having some cognitive deficits at the age of 27.

During the long period effect of cannabis, it usually happens to that person who smoke cannabis regularly uses over more than months, years or decades. Under the influence of the cannabis a person is affected in the following health outcomes such as, dependency, cognitive impairments, and mental disorder and towards physical health (Huestis, 2002). Therefore if the person is affected by mental disorder, he might fall into depression, anxiety and suicidal activities. Where he might face with different challenges in his life such as, getting into trouble within the society and within himself and no one will be there to support/help him since society will look down on those who consume and smoke marijuana (Sandberg, 2012). So when people don’t give attention on this people and look down on them things even get worst after the reaction of the society towards them will be the result to the cannabis consumer. After that only anxiety and depression hits them and finally they end there life by doing suicidal activities.

Under the physical health effect of cannabis there is high chance of getting cardiovascular diseases (CVD) which is related to the circulatory system, that is heart and blood vessels. It may also lead to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease due to smoking of more cannabis and other cancer. Even it also leads lots of problems to the students who are studying and it also crates disharmony within the family members. When the student is influence under the cannabis basically there is school failure, where the performance of the students is grated with low marks and failure in school examination. That’s all because of the use of cannabis where the students become slothful or lazy to do there given home task and notes to write (Borcherding, 2016). Not only that it also leads to the peer pressure where one student who consume may influence other student to get influence on smoking cannabis which may lead to peer attitudes towards the drugs. In the views and the recent study found out that most of the college students are under influence on smoking cannabis and it diverts them to study and leads to delay in writing their assignments and making their power point presentation.

Not only it has also leads to disharmony and destroy the peace within the family itself. How it ruins the relationship is that, after consuming marijuana the persons may not be in his normal state and his mood may be changed after smoking marijuana and it leads to misunderstanding within the family members. After that once if the children are caught using cannabis by their family members or by their parents, many parents don’t trust much on their children and some lack of trust issues occur amongst the parents (Stephen M. Miller, 2017). After that most of the parents become permissive by enforcing them with harsh disciplines rules, where they are not allowed to go anywhere and met up their friends. From there the attitude of children changes due to enforcement of hard disciplines and he will not listen to what his parents are telling. Then he will spend most of the time with his friends by consuming marijuana with his friends and the bond between the family and the children will be ruin. Then it is found out the most of the parents will have low parental aspirations towards the children instead of supporting cause many parents have set of mind that our children is influence in drugs abuse and all. So from there only we can see that it leads to low parental aspirations and low parental involvements takes place within the parents and the children. So in order to enhance the life style of every child it is necessary to give time and support every child.

To conclude, Bhutan is a small developing nation with small geographical area and even small population. Bhutan still stand as one of the peaceful country in the world. Today with the favorable climatic condition cannabis plant grows well in the southern belts of Bhutan. The people residing over this region illegally trade these plants though it is not legally approved by the government. At a global level, marijuana plant is legalized in other nation such Colorado, Canada and Alaska despite facing lots of problems that socially and economically affects the nation. These countries are well equipped with facilities which can facilitate those problems. If we look from the economic prospective cannabis plant can be consider as a resources of the nation as it has the utility and functionality which will help to generate the revenue of the country. However by looking at those problems faced by developed nation after legalizing the cannabis, it is better decision that the government of Bhutan should not legalized the trading as Bhutan is not well equipped economically. The legalization of trading cannabis lead to increase in illicit use of marijuana, increase in motor-vehicle accident and death rate creating disharmony in the society It will also affected the user physically and psychologically leading to lowering down the educational achievement among youths. Therefore marijuana plant should not be legalize for trading in southern belts of Bhutan and the concern authority should take responsibility to reduce the illegal trading of marijuana plant in Bhutan.

References

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Legalising marijuana use has long been a controversial debate worldwide. With recent legalisation in countries such as several states in the USA, as well as marijuana culture having grown, the push for marijuana legalisation has increased. To understand the debate, pros and cons of both sides of the argument are explored. Supporting the legalisation means to help dismantle the black market, which is an economy of transactions that involve illegal behaviours. The availability of marijuana also creates standards of quality, and users will be able to pick all types of strains that cater to their wants and needs. This includes medicinal cannabis, which help treat a wide array of untreatable conditions such as epilepsy and chronic pain. However, marijuana has long been considered a gateway drug, making a user more susceptible to trying other, possibly harder, drugs. Despite laws that prevent younger people than 18-21 to enter dispensaries, legalisation makes it easier to obtain marijuana for anyone in legalised areas. As countries start to move towards the legalisation of marijuana, the list of pros and cons grow as well; it’s a good idea to stay informed of both sides of the arguments regardless of whichever side an individual stands on.

In areas where marijuana is illegal, the only ways to find it is on the black market, whether that is online or in person through dealers. In high drug trafficking areas, dealers may be involved in organised crime which presents more problems for the country, police and can put users in danger when trying to purchase. Through legalisation, this puts these illegal markets out of business, and in some legalised areas there are now dispensaries where users can purchase their cannabis from. Sir William Patey, a former UK ambassador to Afghanistan, found that that illegal supply is inevitable – as drug culture evolves, there is always demand – therefore the alternative to take on was to limit demand for illicit drugs, which includes marijuana, by making a licit supply available from a legally regulated market rather than letting users run free in the black market. With legal suppliers around, marijuana purchases are regulated and taxed. In turn there is more assured safety for the user in terms of obtaining and consuming quality cannabis, and tax revenue is increased for the government.

Upon the legalisation of marijuana, cannabis dispensaries open. Users that meet the requirements are permitted to enter, choose and purchase among a variety of strains that cater towards different wants and needs. This includes medicinal cannabis, which are high in CBD (cannabidiol). Medicinal cannabis often works better than conventional medicines with people who have, sometimes lifetime, chronic and terminal illnesses such as epilepsy. It also helps relieve symptoms such as anxiety and insomnia. This improves public health and less is spent on the healthcare system, therefore resulting in more public funds being available for other needs such as schools, roads and other public safety expenses.

Marijuana has long been considered a gateway drug; once a person tries it, they are likely more susceptible to trying other drugs, most of which are likely more harder and addictive. Legalising marijuana would increase the number of individuals trying the drug, and those same people would become susceptible to move onto other drugs. There is also the concern that legalising marijuana can send out the wrong message to people who don’t take drugs; they are vulnerable to the idea of using drugs recreationally to escape, which potentially increases the risk of misusing drugs.

Despite the laws that only allow individuals over the age of 18-21 to be let into dispensaries, the messages that legalising marijuana send could be misinterpreted by teenagers and they become curious to try it out. If legalised, marijuana would be more easily acquired just the with help of an adult, and teenagers will be able to obtain the drug. Marijuana use is especially dangerous for young people, as the human brain is not fully developed until the age of 25. Studies have shown that cannabis users perform worse in school. Effects include impaired short-term memory loss, decreased concentration, attention span and problem solving and alterations in motor control, coordination and reaction times; all of which interfere with learning as well as everyday life.

Marijuana legalisation comes along with a list of its own pro and cons, which makes a controversial debate. The legalisation will help dismantle the black market, provide users with quality product and help in the healthcare system. However, it comes with its own risks; it’s known as a gateway drug and makes easier access for young people, putting their developing brains at risk. Despite the drawbacks of marijuana legalisation, governments and citizens are pushing for it, which makes it even more important that people are educated in both sides of the debate.

From its first national regulation in the United States with the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937, to its eventual decriminalization in the 70’s and legalization in 2012, the legalization of marijuana has remained a controversial topic. Although controversial, 23 states have legalized marijuana for medical purposes, with another ten states legalizing marijuana for recreational use. As marijuana becomes slowly becomes widely accepted all over the nation, one is left wondering what impacts the legalization of marijuana will have on our society, health, and economy.

Before even considering the implications the legalization of marijuana will have, it’s a good idea to understand what it is. Marijuana, also commonly referred to as cannabis, weed, or hemp, can usually be found in the form of a green or brown mixture of dehydrated parts of hemp plants (Drugs.com). However, marijuana can also come in the form of food products, such as brownies or gummies, pills, nasal sprays, and oils (National Institute of Health). As of now, scientists and researchers are aware of over 100 different compounds found in marijuana, some of the most notable ones being THC, the component producing the euphoric effect, and CBD, the component that has been found to have positive effects on one’s health. When used for medicinal purposes, the THC component can be removed so that the medicinal effect is still delivered, while keeping the patient’s consciousness the same.

When considering the social impact legalization would have, one of the impacts that comes to mind is the end of criminalization. While the belief that legalization would end criminalization serves as another argument to push for legalization, it is mostly false. In a study done in 2015 in Washington and Colorado, where marijuana has been mostly legalized, it showed that while overall crime rates dropped, marijuana related arrests remained steady. However, while marijuana related arrests remained steady, even increasing sometimes, traffic stops in which police conducted drug searches dropped a whopping 34% for African Americans, and 25% for Hispanics (Lift&Co). This represents a decrease in cases of racial profiling, as Hispanics and African Americans make up a large majority of those who are stopped for drug searches.

Likewise, another false assumption that is made is the idea that crime would increase in accordance with the legalization of marijuana. According to a crime report published in 2016 concerning Washington, there was an increase in the number of crimes involving unlicensed marijuana distribution, however, overall violent crime rates dropped. According to the report, Washington reached a 40-year low crime rate in 2014 occurring alongside the legalization of marijuana. In it, the report showed a 13% drop in murder rates, and a 10% drop in overall violent crimes; Colorado showed similar results (Lift&Co).

Another concern for our society that comes with legalization, is the worry that teenagers would begin using and they’d be put at risk. But, just like the many other arguments made, this is false. In a study provided by Lift&Co Magazine, data showed that marijuana usage by students in the 6th, 8th, 10th, and 12th grades dropped following the decriminalization of marijuana. For instance, 18% of 10th grade students reported using marijuana in 2006. That number eventually rose to 20% in 2010 but dropped back down to 17% in 2016. Although, this data cannot be too heavily relied on as there is a lot to consider, such as changing trends, or an evolving culture.

After considering the social implications of legalization, we can now analyze the impacts marijuana has on one’s health. Marijuana offers relief for people with chronic diseases because of its medicinal effects. According to Peter Grinspoon, a writer for Harvard Health Publishing, the component CBD gives little to no high, therefore having little to no effect on one’s consciousness or brain function. At the same time, however, it delivers a great deal of positive impacts on one’s health without the euphoric effect. For instance, cannabidiol (CBD) is known to relieve insomnia, muscle spasms and tremors for people with Parkinson’s, anxiety, and chronic life-threatening conditions specifically in children, such as epileptic seizures in which they seize many times each day (Harvard Health Publishing).

Additionally, marijuana serves as a safer alternative for pain relief. Deaths from opioid overdoses numbered 42,000 in 2016 due to their addictive nature. Marijuana is less addictive than opioids, and it is virtually impossible to overdose on marijuana. Studies that have been conducted in states with flexible laws concerning marijuana laws showed reduced deaths caused by opioid overdose (Harvard Health Publishing).

However, although marijuana may deliver a plethora of benefits to one’s health, it can be dangerous, specifically for children and teenagers. Edibles in the form of gummies, brownies, and cookies pose a threat to innocent kids who are unaware of the danger. Over the course of 2014, 14 children had ingested marijuana products, seven of which were sent to the ICU.

Additionally, marijuana can be detrimental to the brain, especially of those who haven’t fully developed yet. Judith Grisel with the Washington Post explains the effect marijuana has, even speaking from experience before becoming a prominent neuroscientist. She explains that the component delta-9-THC acts and mimics as our natural endocannabinoids, which are a series of receptors and neurotransmitters present in our nervous system. When using marijuana, delta-9-THC triggers widespread activity of the endocannabinoids, and as she explains from her very own experience, makes the most boring task entertaining. Why is this so wrong? Well, she makes the comparison that “as watering a flooded field is moot, widespread cannabinoid activity, by highlighting everything, conveys nothing.” What effect does this have on a teenager? They lose the ability to see some events or things as valuable or important and depend on marijuana to see events that way (Grisel). However, this can ultimately be reverted by abstinence in adults, but can be more permanent in adolescents.

Finally, what some people may view as more important, is the economic impacts marijuana would have if legalized. According to Lift&Co Magazine, in states where marijuana has been legalized, like Colorado and Washington, the cannabis industry has been booming. Colorado has experienced a profit of $76 million in tax revenue from cannabis in 2014, which increased to $135 million by 2015. Washington, however, experienced an even bigger boom, making $83 million in 2015 on excise tax alone, and another $185 million in 2016. That number was expected to rise to $230 million by 2017.

A more recent example shows booming business in newly legalized Canada. Ian Austen with the New York Times explains the phenomenon. The company Canopy Growth, founded in 2013 and situated in Canada, is now valued at over $10 billion. At this point, it’s worth more than Canada’s plane and train manufacturing company Bombardier, known worldwide for its planes and trains. Canopy Growth has made its way into America, debuting on the New York stock exchange. With over 120 businesses in Canada licensed to sell marijuana both medically and recreationally, businesses and entrepreneurs are left scrambling to get their hands on a license of their own. However, even in this booming industry, companies continue to lose money in their first year. For instance, Tweed, a subsidiary of Canopy Growth, lost $70 million, making zero profit that year. But, even with the hefty loss, entrepreneurs and business owners remain hopeful as the industry grows.

Most articles that argued against legalization concerning the economic implications were written before the legalization of marijuana in some states in the United States and used theories and assumptions. Now that there are states to use as examples, such as Colorado and Washington, their theories and assumptions have been disproved with facts and numbers. For example, CNBC argued in 2010 that the cost of legalizing it would exceed tax revenue, but that wasn’t the case for Colorado and Washington, in fact they made profit.

After considering all the facts, it’s clear to see why the legalization of marijuana remains a controversial topic. For some, it may seem an easy choice to oppose or support legalization, but there are two sides to the story to be considered. In an era where marijuana is becoming more and more acceptable, one should know what marijuana is, and how it will affect them or their loved ones if, or rather when, it’s legalized. In the end it feels like the legalization of marijuana will appeal to most in some way, whether it be through social impacts, economic impacts, for their health, or to just use recreationally without the fear of being incarcerated.

The battle over legalizing marijuana has been debated for years in the United States. The controversy has grown in modern times, and action has been taken by both sides of the fight. This issue has been prominent in the news headlines recently with legalization spreading across many states. However, the problems stem from the vast difference of opinion between those who support the new laws and those who oppose them. In an article from the Missouri Medical Journal, doctor Samuel T. Wilkinson argues that there is not enough research and regulation to establish there is not harmful effects. On the other hand, in an article from Berkeley Journal of Criminal Law, doctor Tamar Todd claims through legalization studies will be able to ensure its medical benefits as well as economic profit, create new jobs and decrease the disproportionate of injustice criminalization in the United States.

In an article from the Missouri Medicine Journal, titled More Reasons States Should Not Legalize Marijuana: Medical and Recreational Marijuana: Commentary and Review of the Literature, author Samuel T. Wilkinson argues that it would not be beneficial to the United States to legalize marijuana. Wilkinson believes that the risks outweigh the potential benefits legalization would bring to society. In his first argument he explains how there is not enough substantial research done to be able to show evidence in favor of its therapeutic benefit. In the United States, commercially available drugs are subject to rigorous clinical trials to evaluate safety and efficacy. The exception to this is marijuana, having only limited amounts of research, potentially putting people at risk. Its argued that the therapeutic components of marijuana should be investigated, but they should only be made available to the public after research trials are able to ensure safety.

Another issue Wilkinson points out is that marijuana growing is not subject to regulatory oversight and ranges from strict standards to almost none at all depending on the state. This can lead to contamination of the plant, including fungus and mold growth as well as “cross breeding” to increase levels of THC which creates new strains producing more unknown effects. Long term effects on lungs is another huge concern because it is the only medication smoked and compared to cigarettes, marijuana smoke can result in three times the amount of inhaled tar and four times the amount of inhaled carbon-monoxide. In addition to this, marijuana use shows evidence of causing numerous health problems. It has been consistently shown to be a risk factor for schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders. Wilkinson explains a recent study that followed subjects from birth to age 38; whos data showed marijuana use, “when begun during adolescence, was associated with cognitive impairment in multiple areas, including executive functioning, processing speed, memory, perceptual reasoning, and verbal comprehension.” There is more substantial evidence that shows other negative health effects due to cannabis use. This includes being harmful to the respiratory system, symptoms of obstructive and inflammatory lung disease, an increased risk of lung cancer, and is associated with harmful effects to other organ systems, including the reproductive, gastrointestinal, and immunologic systems. Overall, Wilkinson agrees that there is potential benefit to the use of marijuana from a medical standpoint but only if major reforms are made that ensure safety. He questions how it is possible that marijuana does not undergo the same rigorous approval process that other medications prescribed by physicians are obligated to go through. Wilkinson argues that the potential benefits of legalization do not compare to the vast amount of negative health effects and issues it would bring to society.

Despite the claims made by Wilkison, there are strong arguments in favor of legalizing marijuana as well. In an article titled, The Benefits of Marijuana Legalization and Regulation, from the Berkeley Journal of Criminal Law, author and director of legal affairs Tamar Todd argues this opposing standpoint. Her main claim is the economic benefits that have been produced and are showing continuous gains through states that have already legalized marijuana. Another includes the emphasis on the importance of decriminalizing marijuana for reasons such as the immense waste of public resources. For example, enforcing marijuana laws costs about 3.6 billion per year. Over the past twenty years, the police departments in the United States have made over ten million arrests for marijuana possession.This is not only wasting money but wasting the time of officers and those in the legal system who could have been enforcing real crime and ensuring a safe society.

However, with the system in place of criminalization all revenue and profit stays in the illicit market. It is estimated by The Congressional Research Service Projects that eradicating criminalization and instilling taxation and regulation through legalization then the U.S. would yield a potential 6.8 billion in excise taxes. The states who have already legalized have produced substantial tax revenue, such as Colorado which collected between 2014 and 2017 over six hundred million dollars. This money goes back in to these states, improving schools, assisting in substance use disorder treatment and prevention, and public safety. In the states that have legalized arrests for marijuana, possession, cultivation and distribution of marijuana have dropped significantly. In turn, these states are now creating jobs flourishing the economy even more. The industry of legal marijuana now employs approximately two hundred thousand workers. Through these statistics Todd is able to show how there is a source available to produce billions and save resources but instead the profits are being circulated in the illicit market. Todd argues that by legalizing marijuana the economy will be able to flourish and the government can successfully profit off the new industry.

In addition to the better economic situation legalization would produce, it is also aid in the injust criminalization that is currently facing the U.S.. The Potential harm caused by marijuana does not compare to the results that come from being criminalized. It is evident that racial discrimination is a factor in the enforcement of marijuana law. Statistics show minorities and caucasians use and sell marijuana at very similar rates. Despite this, minorities are disproportionately arrested, punished, and fined (Bender). There are higher rates of police arrests for marijuana possession of African Americans than whites in every state and nearly every city and county in the U.S.(Bender). In the states that have legalized there has been a notable decrease in marijuana arrests. However it remains unequal, with minorities still being overrepresented among the people arrested for conduct regarding marijuana that is still illegal. Nonetheless, any reduction of people victimized by these arrests is a positive step forward. If less people are being convicted, less will endure the of the detrimental effects it can have on lives. Not only incarceration but criminalization damage can extend through individuals lifetimes. About one in every seven American adults have used marijuana in the 2018 year according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. As well as over half of all American adults have used it in their life, making all these people to have committed a federal drug crime. Therefore, by legalizing the U.S. is able to reduce the numbers of people harmed by a rationally disproportionate criminalization and this is a step in the right direction even though reform is still needed.

A main benefit of legalization also includes the medical benefits produced. There are at least two active chemicals in marijuana that researchers studied to have medicinal applications. Those are cannabidiol (CBD) , which impacts the brain without a high, and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which has pain relieving properties(Hood) . Many medical professionals question if there is enough research conducted and it is due to the other chemical compounds marijuana contains that has been covered by limited studies. However, with legalization these studies can become achievable while regulating the chemicals to ensure for health safety. It is proven cannabis has anti cancer activates that has been shown through preclinical and clinical data that has concluded that cancer cells reproduce less quickly. It has also been proven that medical marijuana does not just alleviate symptoms, but actually help modify diseases. Cannabis helps moderate autoimmune disorders such as Alzeimer’s and Lou Gehrig’s disease(Hood). There is also evidence that shows marijuana does no harm to the lungs, unless you also smoke tobacco. Legalization would be able to make conditions safer for users if regulated. A main concern is also that youth rates will increase but according to studies done from states that have legalized this is not the case. Marijuana use by youth in states where marijuana is legal has remained stable or declined(Hood). Overall, by making marijuana legally available to the public it will aid in making sure it used for the right reasons while increasing the safety through regulation.

If you have heard anything controversial in the 20th century surely, you’ve heard plenty about legalizing marijuana. Either it be recreationally or medically, there are both pros and cons surrounding the stigma with plenty of research to support either side of the debate. Marijuana has a wide variety of different uses in society but remains illegal under the federal law. Some states have decriminalized marijuana, but federal law does not recognize state law. Suppose that by federal law, marijuana was a legal substance. An entire new world of research could arise and each of its uses would become agreeable within communities and beyond. Stigmas concerning the use of marijuana would likely be thought about differently. The decriminalization or legalization of marijuana would cause many economical, industrial, and medical differences focused towards the benefit of the United States of America. Being an activist plays a key role in the decriminalization of marijuana.

Activism consists of efforts to promote, political, economic, or environmental changes. Activists for the legalization of marijuana have made great effort and progress in 20 states to date based on the supporters of its medical uses. Although Congress classified marijuana as a Schedule 1 substance in 1970, instantly making it the most widely used drug in the U.S. Many disagree with this and the debate its created raises ethical issues, such as whether the government should be allowed to control what people do in their own homes. Up until the government started creating restrictions in 1930, physicians still widely prescribed marijuana to their patients for several reasons that are similar the reasons people use it today (Sraders).

Marijuana, as most people commonly know it, is a plant called hemp, or “marijuana sativa.” Hemp is a durable plant that has been used since around 8000 B.C. for many purposes, such as rope, paper, and clothing. The marijuana plant also produces three very important products that other plants do not which are seeds, pulp, and medicine. The marijuana sativa plant grows as a cultivated plant all over the world in several climates and soils (Sraders). Marijuana has been used throughout history; in 6000 B.C. marijuana seeds were used as food in China; in 4000 B.C. the Chinese used textiles made of hemp; the first recorded use of marijuana as medicine in China was in 2727 B.C.; and in 1500 B.C. the Chinese cultivated Marijuana for food and fiber (Sraders).

Paul Armentano, Deputy Director of the NORML (The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws) Foundation, stated at the beginning of 2018 that scientists are investigating the cannabinoids’ ability to moderate the pain related with disorders such as multiple sclerosis, arthritis, and inflammatory bowel disease, as well as the role in the treatment of several neurological disorders including Alzheimer’s disease and Lou Gehrig’s disease (Armentano, par 3). The cannabinoids contained in marijuana have the power to provide relief for a spectrum of diseases. The potential relieving uses of medical marijuana include relief from conditions like gliomas, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s, ALS, fibromyalgia, Tourette’s syndrome, dystonia, HIV, hepatitis c, hypertension, diabetes, sleep apnea, gastrointestinal disorders, pruritis, incontinence, osteoporosis, and rheumatoid arthritis (Armentano, par. 8). Armentano also stated in his report in the Recent Research on Medical Marijuana: Investigators are currently studying the anti-cancer properties of cannabinoids. A growing amount of data states that cannabinoids can put a hold on the spread of certain cancer cells and by the inhibition of angiogenesis (the formation of new blood vessels). These recent trends represent a far more significant for cannabinoid therapy than researchers could have imagined thirty or even twenty years ago (Armentano, par. 4) If marijuana were to be decriminalized, an entirely new spectrum of medicinal research could possibly be unveiled. The medicinal properties of marijuana including the short term as well as therapeutic relief to a wide list of clinical conditions could be researched and released to society. Allen F. St. Pierre states in his article About Marijuana:

Modern research suggests that marijuana is a valuable aid in the treatment of a wide range of clinical applications. These include pain relief – particularly of pain from nerve damage, nausea, spasticity, glaucoma, and movement disorders. Marijuana is also a powerful appetite stimulant specifically for patients suffering from HIV, or dementia. Recent research suggests that marijuana’s medicinal properties may protect the human body against some types of infectious tumors and are neuroprotective. (par. 10)

Newer and healthier methods with the use of THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) could be researched in order to prevent any negative effects that inhaling the material of marijuana may have on your respiratory system. New research dedicated to showing the positive side of marijuana of possible decriminalization were set in motion. Canada has already benefited in a huge way from their nation-wide legalization of marijuana. Andrew D. Hathaway and Kate Rossiter state in their article on Canada’s society involving medical marijuana that “In 2001, Canada announced it would be the first country to legalize marijuana for therapeutic purposes and earmarked funding for clinical trials. By June 2007, legal access had been granted to about 1,800 patients with terminal illnesses and serious medical conditions” (1). Not only does marijuana have the potential to provide the United States with an extremely wide range of medical therapy, but this plant also has the potential to provide various industrial applications.

Hemp’s uses include but are not limited to: fuel; food (hemp seeds provide an amazing source of protein-not only for people but for birds who seek out hemp seeds which have been mixed with other seeds); paper; textiles, (canvas, paper, cloth, rope); paint; medicine; and building materials. Almost any product that can be made from wood, cotton, or petroleum can be made from hemp.

Every year the United States government spends billions of dollars to fund the war on drugs, which is conducted mainly by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). More specifically, the extremely well-funded Domestic Marijuana Eradication/Suppression Program (DCESP) is the part of the DEA that specifically deals with the enforcement of marijuana laws. In the past 25 years, the enforcement of marijuana prohibition has grown stronger. Besides this, marijuana production in the U.S. has increased since 1982 (Johnson, par, 17). Along with this increase DEA enforcement and production, the cost of the war on marijuana has increased greatly in the last few decades.

For example, in 2002 roughly 730,000 people were arrested for state marijuana charges meaning they did not possess enough to get charged federally. The total criminal justice cost of these marijuana arrests was about $7.6 billion, which equals to roughly $10,400 per arrest (NORML 131). The legalization of marijuana would eliminate the need for all these arrests which would result in an economic boost, not to mention save the money required to incarcerate someone for such an offense.

In addition to reducing the amount of money spent keeping marijuana illegal, the legalization of marijuana would free up lots of needed space in our already overcrowded jails. U.S. citizens account for about 5% of the world’s population, yet U.S. prison inmates account for 25% of the world’s prisoners. By eliminating the need for marijuana related arrests, a great amount of problems would be lifted off our police force. Our police would be able to focus their energy on the real criminals in our nation as opposed to wasting money charging citizens with minor marijuana offenses. Most importantly, the legalization of marijuana would eliminate all the crime involved with marijuana such as sale, possession, paraphernalia, and cultivation.

I held a survey that I personally handed out to a class of about 20 adults at the University of Montana. The survey consisted of about 10 questions, the questions were along the lines of, do you think marijuana should be legalized? and if so, then why and if not they why. Looking at the results of the survey I analyzed a percentage of who was against and who was for the legalization of marijuana. The statistics I recovered were somewhat shocking, yet at the same time I was not surprised by results.

By making marijuana legal, it makes it impossible for criminals to conduct crimes involving marijuana. However, the prohibitive laws involving marijuana provide organized criminals with one of the most notorious sources of income: the sale of illegal marijuana. Legislation against marijuana does not eliminate the demand for it within society either. Because marijuana is illegal, the price of marijuana is much higher than what it would be if legal. This unintentional result of the prohibited laws against marijuana has caused am increase in crime revolved around the purchase of the herb. New crimes are being committed to make money so that users can afford the high prices; even though it’s not as severe as a crime directly related to the sale and cultivation of marijuana. Wiping out all crime associated with marijuana and the money earned as a result will only become possible through the regulation and production of marijuana by the U.S. government. These would not be the only benefits legalization would have to offer either; the government could generate great contributions to the economy through the taxation and sale of marijuana within the U.S. All in all, the war on marijuana has failed. Marijuana use and production continue to increase from year to year despite the increased war against marijuana. New policies need to be researched and tried if the government ever wants to have control over one of the biggest issues in the war on drugs. Scientific studies may have iffy results, but overall, they link smoking marijuana to heart and lung disease, throat cancer, and a decreased memory capacity. Making marijuana legal would increase the number of people being affected by these diseases. Others point to the large amounts of drugs that have been seized coming into the United States. They look to how drug use is linked to criminal activity and predict that legalizing marijuana would lead to an increase in violence and crime (Jefferson-Bullock).

The federal government, which is working to keep marijuana illegal, agrees that there is no real benefit to legalizing marijuana. Gil Kerlikowske, director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy wrote “As a former police chief, I recognize we are not going to arrest our way out of the problem. We also recognize that legalizing marijuana would not provide the answer to any of the health, social, youth education, criminal justice, and community quality of life challenges associated with drug use.” (Gane-McCalla)

In conclusion marijuana has the potential to be one of the most useful substances in the world. Even though cannabis prevails as possibly one of the most useful plants on the face of the Earth, it remains illegal in the United States. With countless uses, whether they be industrial, medical, or economical, it is hard to believe that marijuana remains a regulated and prohibited substance. It seems as if this harmless flower is considered illegal for no other reason than to be considered illegal. Cannabis is a possible head start towards the economy’s stability and holds the potential to assist in the addressing of some of the United States’ most pressing issues. If people acted and the government legalized it today, we would immediately see benefits from this decision. People suffering from illnesses ranging from manic depression to Multiple Sclerosis would be able to experience relief. The government could make billions of dollars off of the taxes it would hold on its sale, and its implementation into the industrial world would create thousands of new jobs for the economy.

Marijuna is the dried flowers and leaves of the cannabis plant. It contains mind-altering compounds like tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, as well as other active compounds like cannabidiol, or CBD, that are not mind-altering. You can smoke it or put it in an edible. The US population have different opinions on it some people want it for themselves, or to make a profit on it. Other people think it will cause more illegal activity, when in reality it would most likely reduce crime. I strongly believe that it should be legal, the benefits outway the doubts.

Why marijuna should be legal, “People who would like to see recreational marijuana legalized point to the potential creation of thousands of new jobs, as legal cannabis is a billion dollar industry. In addition, proponents of legal recreational marijuana point to the billions of tax dollars that would be saved, otherwise used to fight a failing war on drugs that mainly focuses on marijuana use and eradicating plants.” At this point that could be enough for people to be convinced to legalize it. Also “Supporters believe that legalization would greatly help to reduce violent crime from drug cartels, who they say mainly make their money because of the illegality of cannabis. Not to mention, legalizing recreational marijuana at the federal level would virtually eliminate the headaches that otherwise law-abiding owners of retail locations go through when worrying about being raided by federal agencies such as the DEA.” In 2012, 749,825 people got arrested for marijuna law violation. Imagine the crime rate if weed was legalized, and that’s not opinion that’s a fact. I haven’t even started on the health benefits yet, “Patients do, however, report many benefits of CBD, from relieving insomnia, anxiety, spasticity, and pain to treating potentially life-threatening conditions such as epilepsy. One particular form of childhood epilepsy called Dravet syndrome is almost impossible to control, but responds dramatically to a CBD-dominant strain of marijuana called Charlotte’s Web.” To close this argument the benefits outway the negatives.

I strongly agree with legalizing recreational marijuna, the pro’s and con’s do not lie. Not many people have tried it because of the government making look just as bad as heroin. If you just took ten minutes out of their day to research what it is and how it can help you out with your health problems. Like I stated above if you have anxiety which 18.1 percent of people have it, this is perfect for you. Also if you are stressed out I can help, now I’m not saying you have to use it all the time but every once and a while would satisfy all of your needs. Not even to mention, but If Marijuana is legalized the estimated revenue would be $1, 400, 000, 000. If it were up to me I would start up shop right now. For some people who are very religious, I can see why you hate it and I do not judge them, but for the people who are willing to give it a go but can’t because it is illegal it’s unfair to ban something that can benefit people for the good. In my opinion the generation that I live in is going to make it legal. To add on here some fun facts, Most marijuana users never other use illicit drugs. Marijuana users use the drug occasionally. Claims about Marijuana potency increases are hugely overstated. Marijuana has not shown to cause mental illness. Marijuana has not been proven to increase the risk of cancer. The drug has proven to be helpful in treating symptoms of a variety of medical conditions. Marijuana use rates in the Netherlands is similar to that in the US Marijuana has not proved to cause long-term cognitive impairment The drug has no compelling evidence that it contributes to traffic accidents and fatalities. 75% of a million people get arrested for possession of this drug.

Now there is an opposing side to legalizing marijuna. ” Marijuana use directly affects the brain—specifically the parts of the brain responsible for memory, learning, and attention. The compounds in marijuana can affect the circulatory system and may increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Smoking marijuana can lead to a greater risk of bronchitis, cough, and phlegm production. Marijuana users are significantly more likely than nonusers to develop chronic mental disorders, including schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is a type of mental illness where people might see or hear things that aren’t really there (hallucinations). Eating food or drinking beverages that contain marijuana have some different risks than smoking marijuana, including a greater risk of poisoning. About 1 in 10 marijuana users will become addicted. For people who begin using before the age of 18, that number rises to 1 in 6. Some research shows that using marijuana while you are pregnant can cause health problems in newborns—including low birth weight and developmental problems. Marijuana use can slow your reaction time and ability to make decisions when driving.” It can also start an addiction, and just overall make you unproductive. Addiction makes you disoriented and feel a negative need to always feel like you need it. It’s called a drug for a reason, that’s why when we would legalize marijuna for recreational use people would abuse it. Drug dealers would be doing the same thing they do know, but getting the marijuna would make it so much easier. “Not everyone’s experience with marijuana is pleasant. It often can leave you anxious, afraid, or panicked. Using pot may raise your chances for clinical depression or worsen the symptoms of any mental disorders you already have. Scientists aren’t yet sure exactly why. In high doses, it can make you paranoid or lose touch with reality so you hear or see things that aren’t there.” Even though there is a good amount of benefits that can come out of this it would just create more disadvantages as soon as it would be legal.

In conclusion you are allowed to have your own opinion, but before you decide no matter whether you think we should legalize it or whether we shouldn’t, I would like you to look into what matijuna is and it can affect you and your life. You can either believe in a change or you can be against it, either way it’s going to happen it’s in the facts. Personally I don’t think it’s that big of a change it’s just the reaction not the action.