Why We Should Not Legalize Marijuana

The legalization of marijuana has been a hot topic in the media for many years now. There is a major divide in those who believe it should be legal, those who do not, and those who think it could be legal with modifications on the usage. The number of those who support the legalization of marijuana is on the rise with nearly 50% supporting recreational marijuana legalization, and 81% supporting marijuana legalization for medical treatment as of 2015 ("Public Support for Marijuana Legalization, 2015”). Marijuana should be legalized on a federal level because it is safer than alcohol, it will increase the economy, and there is an unfair criminalization of marijuana.

Medical use of Marijuana is probably the most discussed topic of the legalizing campaign over the recent years. Some opponents of Marijuana say that it does not have any medical uses at all, and argue that Marijuana is only harmful and should remain illegal. Others for legalization have an opposite view that is starting to gain more recognition as time goes on. Around the late 1990’s, some members of the nation’s medical establishment began to acknowledge marijuana’s potential health benefits. One respected health organization, the Institute of Medicine, released a report in 1999 which stated that “nausea, appetite loss, pain and anxiety can all be mitigated by marijuana (Medical). In an article Drug Legalization, Advocates of medical marijuana say that in many cases it is the only treatment that has been shown to work. “It is a very effective medication for people who have failed to get good results from standard medications,” says Ethan Russo, a neurologist who has studied medical marijuana, “and that is why so many people are devoted to risking their lives and career to get this drug”(Drug). There are many reports that Marijuana can help with conditions traditional medicines do not seem to help with. Marijuana has also been a huge help to patients with Cancer, HIV/AIDS, Glaucoma, and Insomnia. With a lot of prescription medicines being expensive, Marijuana would be a cheaper alternative to buy if people chose to do so.

One of the primary focuses of America 's War on Drugs is the controversial drug Marijuana. Marijuana remains the most widely used illegal drug and stirs up constant debate everywhere. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime from the World Drug Report 2004 an estimation of about 4 percent of the world’s adult population (162 million) consume marijuana annually (156). For thousands of years human beings have attempted to find ways to get passed the struggles of everyday life. With the pain of the world stopping people from enjoying simple pleasures, sometimes there is a need for help. Marijuana brings millions of people relief from pain flet on a day-to-day basis. This completely natural plant which previously helped so many people has puzzled the leaders of our nation for a long time. The effects of the drug on a individual level is what 's prevented the product from being legalized. Many issues involving this plant, like the speculation of it being a gateway drug, has put yet another block on its legalization. Even with the drugs known speculations, the benefit that it brings to the table most definitely out way its disadvantages. Marijuana can also alleviate several symptoms associated with cancer and Aids treatments and disorders. While Marijuana is effective as a medicine, it is also extremely lucrative. The economic benefits that Marijuana brings to the table are endless. Non legalization is a waste of societies hard earned money to continue to enforce

Marijuana has been used in religious ceremonies or for medical purposes for thousands of years. I have always been against the use of Marijuana up until four years ago when my husband at the age of twenty seven underwent invasive surgery on his knee and has never been the same since. Colorado took a huge step several years ago legalizing marijuana for medical use and in recent years took the plunge to legalize it for recreational use. Marijuana is not always a bad thing nor is it always a good thing. A lot of people will compare it to any other mind altering substance and have very valid points. I would rather have a loved one or myself smoke marijuana or ingest it, instead of popping pain pills or other harmful substances put on the market by the pharmaceutical industry; Recreational use can be safe and accepting if it is regulated correctly and used responsibly.

A benefit of legalizing marijuana includes providing the government with leverage to this problem. Marijuana is currently against federal laws yet medical marijuana complies with several state laws. Every year, the government is obligated to spend money directly related to the cost of enforcing marijuana laws. Marijuana is a cash crop and can be used for clothes, paper, medical substances, along with many other uses. The legalization of marijuana would provide the government and our country with control over a huge cash crop that can be easily cultivated to our climate. In addition to exporting hemp and marijuana to accumulate more funds, the government would be able to tax the plant very similarly to alcohol or tobacco. If this were the case, it is estimated ‘according to the calculations here, legalization would reduce government expenditure by $5.3 billion at the state and local level and by $2.4 billion at the federal level.” (Miron18). These figures generated in the article the Budgetary Implications of Marijuana Prohibition reinforce that the calculated values of getting rid of the expenditure caused by marijuana offenders along with the taxation of the substance would be a substantial revision to our economy.

The subject of marijuana legalization has been an exceedingly popular discussion topic in recent years and, as time goes on, only seems to grow more popular. This discussion has resulted in many arguments that support marijuana’s legalization. One popular argument says that since alcohol is worse for you, and alcohol is legal, marijuana should be legalized. However, this argument that marijuana should be legalized because marijuana’s effects when consumed or smoked are better than those of alcohol is a purposeless argument. This argument fails to consider the many negative effects marijuana would have on the individual, environment, and, society.

Abraham Lincoln spoke of prohibition as an “attempt to control a man’s appetite by legislation and makes a crime out of things that are not crimes” (Lincoln). The prohibition and eventual repeal of the prohibition of alcohol taught the United States a valuable lesson about making essentially non-harmful entities illegal. Yet, even today the current prohibition on marijuana reforms has put the United States in a similar situation. Marijuana is the most widely used illicit drug in the United States. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, “95 million Americans age 12 and older have tried "pot" at least once, and three out of every four illicit-drug users reported using marijuana within the previous 30 days” (ONDCP). The decriminalization and eventually legalization for the recreational use of marijuana will bring forth benefits in all aspects of life in the United States. Many oppose the idea of marijuana legalization, but there is strong evidence to support the endless benefits its of legalization. 1. For starters, cannabis is proven to not be a life-threatening drug. 2. Furthermore, legalization will result in enormous societal benefits such as tax benefits, decreased criminal behavior, and the creation of new jobs and businesses. 3. Ultimately, the legalization of marijuana will bring forth safeguards and regulations to help insure the safe use and regulation of the product.

America's attitude towards marijuana has changed dramatically. The plant that used to be considered dangerous by most has now been decriminalized and smoked almost everywhere. Although the federal government prohibits marijuana, four states have already legalized it for recreational use. California should take this opportunity to legalize marijuana for its economic benefits and also because of the evidence on the states that have already legalized the plant, it is not as harmful to society as perceived.

The legalization of Marijuana has been an ongoing issue for many years that has lead to much controversy. Not only is smoking marijuana a risk to the person, but also every other human being around them therefore, Marijuana should not be legalized. All over the country, there are teenagers and adults that smoke marijuana for recreational purposes. Smoking marijuana has become so common recently, that to some people they do not even consider it a drug. Marijuana has detrimental effects on people. It alters physical and mental health, is extremely addictive, negatively affects people’s lives and should not be legalized.

The debate regarding the legalization of marijuana has been controversial for decades. Advocates for the legalization of the drug have argued of the supposed benefits of consuming marijuana, such as medicinal purposes. However, the dangers of marijuana are well known by the scientific community and society. Diseases, deterioration in psychological function, vehicle accidents, and paranoia are among negative consequences. All from a product that has revealed no benefit. For most conditions for which marijuana has claimed benefits, we already have existing safe medications. Marijuana should be illegal because it unhealthy for relationships, it’s opposes dangers for public safety, and lack of medical evidence.

The debate surrounding the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes has been around for many years. Patients with chronic debilitating illnesses taut the benefits of marijuana, whether through smoking or eating it, and claim that its use has been instrumental in allowing them to live normal, productive lives. Others, like those in law enforcement and the government, believe that allowing marijuana to be used for medicinal reasons will result in a higher incidence of illicit drug use, along with encouraging users to seek bogus exemptions under the medicinal marijuana laws (Fang, 2014). Used for thousands of years to treat a variety of illnesses, there is no evidence that the use of marijuana for treatment purposes led people to

Nearly 100 million people in the united states have used marijuana. This past year government surveys have found that over 14 million Americans smoke marijuana despite the strict laws due to it being a schedule 1 drug. Behind alcohol and tobacco, marijuana is the third most accepted recreational drug. The United States of America’s current marijuana policies do not reflect the reality that almost one third of the entire country’s population supports the legalization of marijuana. This vast majority of support is due to marijuana’s numerous health and economic benefits. The legalization of marijuana can provide numerous health benefits for hundreds of in need patients, promote economic growth for community development, and is a safe alternative to other recreational drugs and alcohol.

Marijuana has found medical legalization in 21 states, as well as the District of Columbia (Ludlum, Ford). It’s uses vary from pain relief to relaxers. Only two states, Washington and California, have legalized recreational marijuana. As with many illegal drugs, a large problem is the control of it. Marijuana is still on the streets of states who ban its use outside of the medical field. Because of this, the United States has invested a large sum of money to combat it. According to Dr. McNamara, it is estimated that the government spends $15.5 billion dollars for drug control. In addition, he states that the states spend nearly $30 billion on drug war related costs.

A cost analysis concern of a tax that would undoubtedly be asked is “Would all of the fetal defects, loss of workplace productivity and increased traffic fatalities outweigh any potential profits”? The Food and Drug Administration could also regulated quality control of marijuana and its by-products and provide consumers with a safer reliable product. Perceivably the most supportive reason for believing a rescind of drug prohibition laws will not lead to a vast increase in drug abuse is the fact that we have learned from our past experiences of prohibition and that a consumption tax would efficiently limit consumption rates, especially among younger users (Nadelmann 1989). The long-term effects of marijuana use are far less understood, however ample studies are concurrently being

Recreational marijuana has quickly become one of the nations most discussed issues, as several states have moved to legalize recreational marijuana use. As a substance and alcohol abuse counselor trainee, I believe that recreational marijuana use is an important issue for a wide variety of reasons, including both economic and political explanations. Not only has science proven that THC, the chemical found within marijuana, is less problematic than legal substances like alcohol, but it has been found to improve health conditions for several serious illnesses within our society. For me, however, legalization goes far beyond the health implications that arise, as the economy could surely use a boost.