Legalization of marijuana.

Legalization of Marijuana

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Legalization of Marijuana

The quest to legalize marijuana, also known as cannabis, remains a major public debate since the plant became popular in the early 1900s. Marijuana is a stimulant drug commonly used as a psychoactive drug and usually for medicinal purposes. Consumption of marijuana can lead to feelings of euphoria and increased appetite. Moreover, the consumption of the drug may result in numerous side effects such as brain damage and a wide range of diseases. The legality of marijuana differs from one jurisdiction to another. However, the majority of countries in North America, South America, Europe and Africa have illegalized marijuana. Among the countries that have legalized marijuana include Uruguay, Jamaica, Netherlands and various states in the US like Colorado and Washington. Legalization of marijuana remains a very polarizing topic in the contemporary society. Several groups of people demand the drug to be legalized for various reasons, which include medical purposes.

Proponents for legalization of marijuana argue that the government would benefit a great deal through legalizing the drug. Marijuana is currently under control of drug cartels, which make millions of dollars in the illicit drug business. Legalizing the drug would give the government an upper hand in controlling and regulating its supply and consumption (Burnham, 2011). The government would also collect more taxes from businesses dealing with marijuana. Legalizing marijuana is one way of fighting the drug cartels and winning the war on drugs. Drug traffickers benefit from marijuana and other drugs because of their illegality. If these drugs, and particularly marijuana, were to be made legal, drug lords would be pushed out of business as their profits would reduce significantly (Wells, 2014).

Another reason most people believe marijuana should be legalized is for medical purposes. “There is scientific evidence supporting the fact that marijuana can be used to cure a wide range of long-term conditions including cancer” (Ruschmann, 2009, p. 111). Therefore, the drug should be legalized in order to make it freely available to patients who suffer from these diseases.

On the other hand, opponents for legalization of marijuana refer to the slippery slope argument. They question the extent to which the government would control the use of the drug. Besides, the opponents seek the clarification of the morality involved in legalizing marijuana (Caulkins, 2012). Once the drug is made legal, it would be readily available to the masses, and the government may not be in a position to regulate and control its consumption. Some people argue that it is tantamount to issuing a license to kill. The notion is true because the drug is very lethal to one’s psychology and physiology, which can result in death (Ruschmann, 2009).

In conclusion, the question as to whether cannabis should be legalized is likely to be in the public domain for a long time to come. Davis, a correspondent who covers D.C government and politics has found that proponents for legalization of cannabis hold substantial facts, which justify their quest. They argue that making the drug legal would enable doctors to recommend it for treatment of various ailments (as cited in Washington Post, 2014). Conversely, legalizing marijuana would make the drug widely available and that would lead to overconsumption. In order to eliminate the lethal effects it has on one’s mental and physical health, the discussion on whether to legalize marijuana or not should be approached with the sobriety it requires. Such a stance would enable individuals with divergent views to reach a consensus. This would help resolve the dilemma involving its legalization efforts. While there may never be a point of agreement in the public regarding the issue, the move to either legalize or illegalize marijuana has to be backed up with good arguments and scientific proofs.

References

Burnham, A. (2011). Benefits of legalizing marijuana. Munich, Germany: GRIN Verlag GmbH.

Caulkins, J. (2012). Marijuana legalization: What everyone needs. New York, NY: Palgrave

Davis, A. C. (2014, June 29). Odds are increasing that D.C will vote on legalizing marijuana despite Congress. Retrieved from http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/odds-are-increasing-that-dc-will-vote-on-legalizing-pot-but-congress-a-wild-card/2014/06/29/96d5568c-fe13-11e3-932c-0a55b81f48ce_story.html

Ruschmann, P. (2009). Legalizing marijuana. Illinois, IL: Chicago University Press. McMillan Publishers.

Wells, B. (2014). “Marijuana legalization: Implications for property/casualty insurance”. Journal of Insurance Issues, 37(1), 77-92.