Banning and Legalization of Marijuana Essay Example

laws(Anderson, & Rees, 2014). The court argued that the law violates the federal controlled substances Act because the drug is considered dangerous and its sale and use is forbidden. The use of marijuana for medication is, however, under the dominion of other alternative drugs resulting in several clinical studies to verify the issue.

The ban is difficult to explain or justify with the voters questioning the matter and pushing for legalization. Patients testify to the benefits of using marijuana although the list of federal law considers the drug to be dangerous with no medical benefits. It is a contradicting issue since the popularity of the drug increases with time since it was prohibited. Some cultures even regard it as harmless fun. The legalization is mostly driven by the media and reinforced by politicians but scientists, physicians, and doctors remain silent.
A survey conducted in the U.S showed that people who supported the use of the drug were 53 percent as opposed to the 44 percent that did not support. Supporters of legalization argue that the drug is medically helpful and they also believe that the drug is not worse than other drugs which are allowed legally like alcohol and cigarettes, hence, the drug should not be prohibited. Some states that have legalized the drug allow patients with certain ailments like cancer and glaucoma to use the drug(Odabasi, 2014). The supporters also argue that the drug can increase tax revenue with improved regulations; therefore, it would be a benefit to the government. The opposers, on the other hand, believe the drug is harmful to the users and the society at large. They also believe that if it is

legalized, the hard drugs would have a gateway into the country.

The federal enforcement of marijuana laws are at odds with the states that have legalized the use of the drug leading to the questioning of change in the laws. The citizens are also concerned about the public use of the drug since it would bother most of them. The administration is opposed to the idea of legalizing marijuana since the availability of the drug would be increased as well as the use of illicit drugs. The administration is also concerned about the health and safety issues of all Americans, especially the young people.Using marijuana for medical purposes is a crime under the federal preemption doctrine (Ruschmann, 2003). The new guidelines from the U.S department of Justice directing the federal prosecutors to focus on serious drug trafficking issues came as a shock since they also decriminalized the use of marijuana medically.There is an advocate for the use of medical marijuana from the physicians, researchers, pharmacologists, prestigious medical centers and, universities. A survey from several states that legalized marijuana use showed that there was an increased use of the drug and an increase in abuse to people aged 21 and above (Barcott, 2015). The survey also showed that adult binge drinking was also at an increase and people between twelve and twenty were more likely to test marijuana for the first time after illegalization of medical use.

Economically, legalizing marijuana would be beneficial to the government since it would allow legal distribution and taxation. There would also be a decrease in costs brought by enforcement and incarceration expenses(Barcott, 2015). Marijuana is the most used illicit drug in the

United States despite the costly enforcements. Other benefits could be used withthe money if legalization occurred. The legalization of the drug would increase employment rate, reduce the demand for marijuana, increase the taxation rates and therefore increase on potential government revenue tax. The incarceration and enforcement costs would decrease and social issues like rehabilitation programs would also reduce.

According to Odabasi, (2014),a study done in Washington, legalization of marijuana has led to a decrease in the level of marijuana offenses and related convictions. Marijuana crimes have reduced up to 63 percent and crimes related to marijuana have also decreased to 81 percent. Washington is saving a lot of money previously used to enforce marijuana laws. The rate of other crimes has remained stable compared to violent crimes that have reduced greatly. The marijuana revenue taxes add up to 83 million and the money is being used to fund marijuana abuse prevention and programs on treatment. The youth and adults are also educated on drug abuse through community health care services with the tax revenue from marijuana. There are academic research and evaluations on marijuana effects and legalization which are funded by the revenue collected from marijuana taxes.

The number of traffic fatalities is constant even after legalization and use of the drug among youths have also not changed. The citizens continue to support legalization with 56 percent approving the law with only 37 percent opposing which has a decrease of seven points. 77 percent of the voters believe the new law has had a positive or no impact on their lives.

According to a report in Colorado, there were 32 percent increase in traffic related fatalities and an

increase in hospitalization and visits to the emergency room as well as an increase in pot usage among youths between twelve and seventeen. There was also an increase in school expulsion up to 40 percent and the report showed that the issues were marijuana related. Exposure to drugs to the young children, an increase in intercepted mails destined for other states and 32 extractions explosions in the lab were other issues that were stated in the report (Anderson, & Rees, 2014).About 25 percent to 40 percent of drug arrests were marijuana related and Colorado was ranked fourth in marijuana use. There was an increase in the use of marijuana among college students up to eight percent.

Conclusion

Marijuana was prohibited in the United States about eighty years ago but citizens have started advocating legalization in the recent years after some states legalized the medicinal use of it. The issue has been a concern for several years up to date. Eliminating the ban has been impossible due to several factors the main one being the federal laws. In case the use of marijuana is legalized, it would lead to both positive and negative consequences to the individual and the state at large.Legalizing marijuana in America would lead to an increase in the tax revenue and decrease marijuana-related crimes. It would also expose kids to drugs and reduce the number of educated children as a result of expulsions and suspensions and increase the admission on hospitals due to marijuana associated problems.

References

• Anderson, D. M., & Rees, D. I. (2014). The legalization of recreational marijuana: How likely is the Worst?Case scenario?Journal of Policy Analysis and Management.
• Barcott, B. (2015). Weed
  

the people: The future of legal marijuana in America.