Pros And Cons Of Recreational Marijuana

The use of marijuana is quite a controversial topic. Some people believe the use can be helpful, to society, while others greatly disagree. Three of the popular marijuana uses, which are smoking, eating, and vaping, are a great representation of this dispute.

The legalization of marijuana became a heated political subject in the last few years. Twenty-one states in America have legalized medical marijuana. Colorado and Washington are the only states where marijuana can be purchased recreationally. Marijuana is the high THC level part of the cannabis plant, which gives users the “high” feeling. There is ample evidence that supports the argument that marijuana is beneficial. The government should legalize marijuana recreationally for three main reasons. First, I will present two common arguments against the legalization of marijuana and then refute them. Second, I will explain how there is no proof of harmful effects from marijuana and that there are many health benefits prominent. Third, I will describe how legalization would bring in tax revenue for the government. Finally, I will go into detail on how legalization would decrease crime rates.

Based on biological research, statistics of drug use amongst children and youth and the health effects on regular users of marijuana, this paper will argue that marijuana should remain illegal in the United States for recreational use. Arguments for the legalization of marijuana and arguments against the legalization of the drug will be discussed throughout the paper. It will address the biological effects of the drug on the human body, the current laws in place and the effects it has on children, adolescents and adults.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions as reversed President Obama’s 2013 policy that protects legalized marijuana programs from intervention from the federal government. What this does is hands the decision back to each state. Each state’s U.S. attorney will now decide whether to enforce the federal marijuana law. Attorney General Sessions stated that “it is the mission of the Department of Justice to enforce the laws of the United States.” According to General Sessions, the previous policy undermines the rule of law. Currently, individuals that are prescribed medical marijuana and the programs that supply it are protected from federal prosecution by the Rohrabacher-Blumenauer amendment. The amendment expires on January 19, 2018. (Schladebeck & Blain 2018).

There has been growing debate on whether or not to legalize marijuana. As we all know there are many opinions on this topic and many pros just as well as cons. I believe that marijuana should be legalized in the states for medical use and medical use only. Marijuana has many beneficial side effects and can be used for good but also can be used for the reasons as well. As you read this essay I will explain to you the reasons on why marijuana should be legalized, but I will also explain some reasons why it should not be legalized.

Starting with California in 1996, twenty one states and the District of Columbia have legalized medical cannabis. Medical Marijuana users are recommended by a doctor to treat symptoms of illness and other conditions. The two main cannabinoids that can be useful as medicine from the marijuana plant are THC and CBD. THC is used to increase one’s appetite and reduce nausea while CBD is useful in reducing pain and inflammation. CBD also helps control epileptic seizures that are appearing in someone's life. Americans should be against issues of legalized marijuana because clinical data suggests concerns of medically used cannabis, the environmental and electric grid drains could be huge, and studies have proven marijuana will lower users quality

“Legalizing and regulating marijuana could bring the nation's largest cash crop under the rule of law; this could create jobs and economic opportunities in the formal economy instead of the illegal market” (Marijuana Legalization and Regulation, 2014). For example in Colorado after legalizing marijuana, first year sales rained in at $63 million in tax revenues with an additional $13 million for licenses and fees. Marijuana is such a debatable topic and brings so much confusion amongst society. While debating if it should be legalized there are different models and methods used in the framework of the legislation in regards to this topic.

Health is one of the larger arguments that is brought up in both pro and con. Those pro marijuana legalization would say “ Marijuana use has positive attributes, such as its medical value and use as a recreational drug with relatively mild side effects” found in a HIGHTIMES article. The various writers in this article express that marijuana is indeed helpful and effective for those who need it for medical and personal use. However, they do not know that marijuana can also be harmful if abused. Many believe this drug is not harmful, but do not know that marijuana can be an addictive drug. Regular marijuana use can be addictive and lead to worsen behavior, most commonly found in young adults. “According

Of the many social issues that plague American society, the issue over the legalization of Marijuana remains as one of the most controversial topics. Marijuana, also known as Cannabis is the most widely used illicit drug in the United States. According to national surveys conducted by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), “marijuana use rose from 4.1 percent to 9.5 percent of the U.S. adult population in the past decade.” The increase of Marijuana use created an ongoing debate over whether it should be federally legalized or not. Supporters of marijuana legalization emphasize the benefit of marijuana as a treatment option for some life-threatening illness and claims that legalizing the drug will boost the economy

Marijuana is one of the most misunderstood forms of medication. Since there is so much controversy about whether it is harmful or beneficial, there is naturally a fear of unknown side effects(Strickland, CNN). Although supporters of medicinal and recreational marijuana significantly outnumber its opposers, it’s prohibition is just now beginning to waver. Many doctors and officials are still fighting to keep the ban. Little did most of America know, cannabis could be found in most medicine cabinets in the early 1900’s before it became illegal(Reiman & Burnett, Drug Policy Alliance). It has been clinically proven that marijuana is less habit-forming than other opiate drugs, and there is absolutely no risk of fatal overdose(Gupta, CNN). Research proves that the plant is able to treat and cure numerous types of illnesses.

In Stanislaus County at the Gallo Center for the Arts, there was a debate about legalizing marijuana for recreational use. It will be this November for Californians to vote on the ballot. The debate was composed with Sheriff Adam Christianson (against), California Growers Association executive director Hezekiah Allen (for it), Supervisor Vito Chiesa (for it) and Sacramento’s media consultant and panelist Jason Kinney (for it). The only person that was opposing the legalization of marijuana was the Sheriff and for him, it was due to see people in the streets not being able to get out of the addiction. In the panel one facilitator spoke about a research stating that marijuana alone was no addicted, people were addicted when there was another drug involved. The majority of the attendees were for the legalization of marijuana.

There has been a debate over the legalization of marijuana since it was made illegal in the 1920s. There are opponents on both sides of the issue. There are many benefits to the legalization of marijuana, but there are also detrimental effects to society that are caused by marijuana use. These issues need to be debated to determine if the legalization of marijuana would benefit the United States. According to a 2003 Zogby poll, “the government should treat marijuana more or less the same way it treats alcohol: It should regulate it, control it, tax it, and only make it illegal for children.” (Nadelmann, Ethan)

Opponents of legalization will typically admit that some of the arguments presented by proponents are legitimate and persuasive but believe that both the physical and societal results outweigh any right to personal autonomy or economic benefit. They begin by pointing out that any revenue gains that will be achieved by legalization will be completely mitigated by the cost that usage of marijuana imposes on the society. In 2016 alcohol and tobacco imposed a societal cost of almost $500 billion on account of related medical care, loss of life, and workplace productivity. It is also questionable that the government will actually be able to raise the revenues predicted because many growers and distributors sell their products on a cash basis and will not report this income to the state government. They also respond to the arguments related to alcohol and tobacco being legal by stating that marijuana is clearly addictive and allowing it to be legal simply because other addictive substances are currently legal, is like shooting yourself in the left foot simply because you have already been shot in the right foot.

Legalization of recreational marijuana could lead to a growth in people ingesting too much marijuana to avoid serious medical complications. Marijuana will become cheaper if it is legalized. If marijuana is cheaper, than more people will be able to get afford it, and more abundantly: “It is estimated that for each 10 [percent] drop in price, there will be an approximately 3 [percent] increase in the total number of users and a 3–5 [percent} increase in youth initiation,” (Issues in Society: Is Marijuana Harmful?, Introduction: The World’s Illicit Drug of Choice). Studies have shown that you can ingest too much marijuana to be healthy. Furthermore, in 2013, 38 percent of Americans claimed to smoke marijuana, but after it was legalized in Colorado, it increased to 44 percent of Americans. Imagine the massive increase that would occur if the entire country decided to allow recreational marijuana. Marijuana’s side effects can be horrible, as expanded upon in the next point.

Cannabis is becoming increasingly widespread and increasingly common in modern-day society for both recreational use and for medication. The article by Craig Reinarman, ‘Criminalisation, legalisation and the mixed blessing of medicalisation in the USA’ generates many controversial issues of cannabis.