The legalization of marijuana
The Legalization of Marijuana
For the last fifty or so years it has been a crime to possess, consume, or distribute marijuana. Any rapid change in legislation toward legalization would be impossible in today’s culture. Due mostly to the overwhelming popularity of this drug it could never possibly be legalized. Any
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With no legal restraints on the flow of this drug huge legal quantities would always be available to who ever wanted to use it. This constant availability would encourage over use and reckless use. Social productivity would probably be affected. It is still under debate weather or not marijuana affects performance, but any new change in lifestyle (such as drug use) has been linked to drastic changes in lifestyle.
New users would also be overwhelmed by their use. Every aspect of their lives would be affected, both positive and negative changes would occur. The adjustment to the new changes would cause the new user to make changes in their lives, and this adjustment might be just as detrimental to them as the use of the marijuana.
It is a widely known fact that marijuana is the number one cash crop in America. If marijuana were legalized many people would seize the opportunity to profit from its distribution. Marijuana would become exploited by modern society. Unless the government were to regulate marijuana transactions large corporations would make enormous amounts of money. Like the cigarette industry, advertisements would lure potential users and clutter our visual environment with useless slogans and catch phrases with seductive models scantly clad with marijuana associated apparel.
If the government were to regulate marijuana society would never be completely
Cannabis has been illegal since the Marijuana Tax act of 1934. Yet out of a population of 284 million American citizens, 70 million Americans claim to have smoked cannabis at some point in their lives. Prohibition of cannabis is therefore apparently ineffective at changing the habits of a population, just as prohibition of alcohol was ineffective in 1919-1933. Making otherwise law-abiding citizens fugitives does nothing more than fill the prisons and alienate the populace from their government. In fact the total cost to taxpayers of solely marijuana-related incarceration (in local, state, and federal prisons and jails) of 15,400 people exceeds $1.2 million per year.
It is universally known that the legalization of marijuana comes with certain risks. But none of these risks are not already existing, legalizing marijuana would only help with regulating the usage and the sale of the substance. At the same times it would also have positive effects on the environment including the people. Of course the possible money gain to support schools, infrastructure and to fight criminals would be one of the biggest
Marijuana, a substance that was used frequently during the colonial times, has taken a social downfall in recent times. Although it is still illegal to possess or use for any means by federal law, states like California and Arizona have taken steps in the other direction.
Possibility of addiction is only one of the disadvantages on Marijuana. There are short-term and long-term effects from the use of the drug. The most common short-term effects include paranoia, difficulty with concentration, anxiety, fatigue, and hallucinations. “If you’re not around good people, you will end up having a bad experience and be very paranoid and anxious.” (Daily User One, 2017) This person said that the people you are around and your surroundings in general can also alter how you react to the THC in your system. Other short-term effects that are more dangerous include increased heart rate (which is particularly dangerous to people with heart disease), decreased blood pressure, and damaged blood vessels caused by the smoke. The long-term effects include memory loss, IQ level (due to blood cell lose from smoking), decreased motivation, and ability
People who smoke marijuana tend to be less aware of their surroundings. They slow down mentally and physically. They won’t be able to pay attention in class. This will ultimately make their grades drop. It can also lead to worse drugs such as meth and crack.
Most laws have therefore been put in place to prevent the planting, possession and transfer of Marijuana in relation to these and more effects of the drug. However, laws in some countries have been reviewed with regards to the possession of low amounts of Marijuana. Although this is a great step, it still does not provide a full solution in reducing excess consumption of the drug. This is because most young people who indulge in excessive use of the drug do so as an experiment to get the good feeling of being on the other side of the law. To prevent this, it would be appropriate to legalize the use of the drug without restrictions. This would result in the moderate use if not the total abandonment of the drug when not necessary.
They are five times more likely to steal than those who do not use the drug. Some believe marijuana is a gate way drug that can lead users to consume stronger drugs to achieve the same high once marijuana no longer “works.” Cannabis has its effects both short and long term. Short term effects are loss of coordination and distortions in the sense of time, vision and hearing, sleepiness, reddening of the eyes, increase appetite and relaxed muscles. When these areas of the brain are disturbed, the user has a harder time walking and talking correctly, becoming quite clumsy. It also impacts their ability to drive which is why states like Florida, have not made the drug legal due to the fact they fear more automobile accidents. Heart rate can speed up. In fact, in the first four hours of smoking marijuana, a user’s risk of a heart attack could increase by five times. School performance is reduced through impaired memory and lessened ability to solve problems. The active ingredients in marijuana act in the part of the brain called the Hippocampus to alter the way the information is processed and how memories are formed. This blockage of memory formation can cause cognitive impairment in adulthood if use happens during adolescence. When young people start using marijuana regularly, they often lose interest and are not motivated to do their school work. Heavy pot smokers in studies scored lower than non-users on tests of memory, attention, and learning. The more they smoked the worse they did. Brain image scans of heavy marijuana smokers have revealed changes in blood flow to parts of the brain involved in memory or attention. Researches have also noted differences in the size and shape of the Thalamus, the part of the brain that’s
It is common knowledge that marijuana is a gateway drug, and a large percentage of users have tried or moved onto harder drugs such as cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, etc. Decriminalization of this drug would create a huge dent in criminal activity. You have to look at it like a two-sided coin, you are fixing one thing, but breaking another. Marijuana much like alcohol and cigarettes will get in the hands of young children and create even more problems. Driving under the influence of alcohol is a big enough problem as it is, in reality decriminalizing marijuana is going to create a scenario with even more impaired drivers than there currently
Positive effects are, such as countries can earn more money from the tax paid by the Marijuana industry and they can use that money to improve the infrastructure and public school and health, new jobs are emerging because of the marijuana industry, crime rates also decreased if you legalized the use of Marijuana because the arrests related to Marijuana will decrease and police can concentrate on the other crime. Crime related to property and violation are decreased in Colorado state since they legalized marijuana. London study found that crime rate is decreasing after Marijuana was legalized for a year. It is also helpful for people who really need Marijuana to treat their disease conditions. Negative side effects of legalisation of Marijuana is drug trafficking is increased. Marijuana related traffic accidents, hospitalization will increase. Drug related student suspensions increased.
There are many side effects interconnected to marijuana abuse. It affects social, personal and financial life of a person. Marijuana mishandling leads to affect whole body especially it causes mental illness. Poorer educational outcomes, breakdown with families and friends are the consequences related to marijuana abuse.
Marijuana is the cause of much commotion and debating, as the question of legalization becomes more of an issue. Drugs are a major influential force in countries all over the world today. Legalization is an option that has not had a chance, but really should be given one. Although many people feel that legalizing marijuana would increase the amount of drug use, legalization would benefit for the following reasons: 1)reduction of money spent on law enforcement 2)increase in the countries revenue 3)lessen crime 4)useful in treating certain medical conditions.
One example, feared is that using marijuana could be a gateway to the use of harder drugs, such as heroin, and cocaine. Additionally, using marijuana long term could be dangerous to person’s health, the problem could become an addictive habit to the person. As well as noted that while you are under the influence of marijuana it could impair your thinking because every individual reacts differently to any type of drugs such as marijuana. Moreover, second-hand smoke from marijuana can also be harmful to others. Another disadvantage is that employers can legally fire you if you are under the influence or test positive for marijuana. Many employers feel that being under the influence of marijuana is like coming to work under the influence of alcohol. Being under the influence could also affect your work performance, as well as the employer, could be held liable if there were to be an incident especially in hospitals or oil refineries. Another disadvantage is that legalizing marijuana could send a message to children that drug use is acceptable. Furthermore, if this becomes a law in Texas, many issues that surround this law would punish sellers as well as affect sellers. Marijuana dispensaries cannot deduct ordinary or essential expenses and are obligated to pay taxes on 100 percent of their marijuana gross income because marijuana continues to be a federally controlled substance. Marijuana sellers could also be at risk for tax evasion if they don’t report what they sell and could be at risk for criminal
A number of movements to legalize marijuana have been gaining attention lately. Currently there are 14 states where marijuana is legal for medical use (medicalmarijuana). 41% of U.S. citizens believe marijuana should be legalized (drugpolicy) but others are still concerned about health damage. American society has lost the war against marijuana, and that's okay. We should stop wasting time and money trying to reverse history and instead legalize both medical and recreational use of this mild narcotic widely seen as no more harmful than alcohol.
less dangerous than tobacco and people smoke less of it at a time. Or you can
However, in the early 1980s various states outlawed decriminalization despite marijuana activists having tired to not criminalize the use and possession of marijuana. Research has shown various physical effects of marijuana on the body. Marijuana is considered to relieve pain, nausea, vomiting, and loss of appetite. But, its use does impair memory and cause depression. There are also many social effects of marijuana on society. Some of the social problems of not prohibiting the drug are that its use decreases productivity and cause uncontrollable aggression. Most importantly, marijuana has a large impact on motivation and is easily attainable. People can easily cross-state borders and manage to bring marijuana back to state of residence. All of the legal, physical and social aspects of not legalization marijuana can affect the society in a big manner based on moral grounds.