Ending the War on Drugs: Legalisation of Marijuana Essay Example

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The ballot summary allows marijuana use by adults beginning 21 years and licenses state registered stores to regulate and sell marijuana. Following this license, a state exercise tax of 15% is imposed on the retail sale of marijuana products as well as a $9.25 per ounce of marijuana flowers and a $2.75 per ounce of leaves (Caulkins, Kilmer & Kleiman, 2016). The summary places a tax reduction on the medical use of marijuana. According to this ballot summary, packaging, labelling marketing and advertising of the commodity are restricted (Mann, 1997). This is more of to the minors but also authorizes a resentence policy to prior marijuana convictions.

Research, Statistics, and Examples

Been the first state to legalize marijuana use in the United States, the California State had enacted some measures that exempted some patients and caregivers who did the cultivation of marijuana and those who used it for medical purposes that had been recommended to them by physicians (Loyd et 2013). This is either from criminal laws or even doctors. The earlier proposition (215) had been considered as a victory to the turning point in legalizing marijuana (Kamin, 2015). On the earlier years, this proposition had reached the ballot twice in California but had no success. These two attempts were defeated by the voters who sought to decriminalize use of marijuana

The earliest proposition was in 1972 and which had also worked to decriminalize marijuana (Vitiello, 2009). Nearly 40 years have passed and since this time only the proposition 19 reached the ballot on 2010 which was defeated by a 53.5 % of all the total voters who voted No. this prompted the U.S Attorney General of the

time sir Erick Holder to criticize president Obama’s administration arguing that it had to vigorously enforce the controlled substance act (Khatapoush & Hallfors, 2004). Those individuals and organizations that participated in the manufacturing of marijuana for recreational use had to be questioned. This was regardless of whether this acts had been legalized by the state law. This was followed by a fall of the proposition support.

The marijuana spokesperson, Mason Tvert can in arguing that the 2010 initiative had only failed since the voting process can in the midterm election (Kilmer et.al, 2010). Major victories on marijuana legalization were witnessed in Colorado and Washington in the year 2012. This was followed by a successful vote that approved the use of marijuana in Oregon and Alaska in the year 2014 (Arboleda-Flórez, 2008). Following the success of marijuana legalization quests in the four states, the president changed his tune on the recreational marijuana use

Effects of Legalization of Marijuana on Society, Government and Business

If the legalization of marijuana will be allowed by voting for proposition 64, it will lead to a growth in the net state and local tax revenues (Gunther, 2008). An approximate of over $1 billion will be raised as tax revenues from the taxation of marijuana products. It is also expected that the net reduced costs would be reached. Nearly, tens of millions of dollars could be annually raised to the state and local governments (Mann 1997).

The effect of marijuana legalization to the youths and society, in general, is that there is a possibility of increased immoralities and school drop outs (Månsson & Ekendahl, 2013). In addition, the use of marijuana will have adverse effects on

the health of the citizens.;

Proposition 64, that stipulates for Marijuana Smoking Commercials on TV should be voted against as it is expected to operate against recommended moral codes (Weitzer, 2014). In addition, there should be a limit on the number of pot shops that can be placed in a single neighborhood.

Significantly, voting for Proposition 64 tramples local control by permitting indoor cultivation of marijuana next door to schools and playgrounds (Levine, 2003). This will have adverse effects student’s moral and academic statuses.

All citizens in the world should not allow any law about marijuana legalization as it will lead to an increased marijuana-related car crashes as a result of drivers turning impaired (Banys & Cermak, 2016). The same case has been witnessed severally in Washington State after legalizing the use of marijuana for recreational purposes. In addition, steps to be taken upon marijuana legalization should not be based on its success in other states but instead upon the real impacts on California citizens and state in general.

Arguments for Legalizing Marijuana

There are official arguments provided in official voter guide in favor of marijuana legalization Proposition. First, Proposition 64 provides for control, regulation and taxation of adult marijuana use that ends responsible criminalization of marijuana use (Pacula, 2010). Secondly, California Medical Association supports legalization of marijuana because this idea seems to incorporate best practices form to state that has already put a tick on legalization of adult the marijuana use (Månsson j & Ekendahl, M 2013). Thirdly, protects children and creates safe and legal comprehensive system for adult use of marijuana.

Recommendations

Everybody should stand vote against marijuana legalization in order to;

a. Avoid abrupt shift of local tax revenue (Kilmer

et.al, 2010)
b. Protect increased immorality and school drop outs among the juniors
c. Reach the recommended academic and social status for youths (Khatapoush & Hallfors, 2004)
d. Curb possible increase of accidents through car crashes caused by impaired driving

In conclusion, it is clearly evident that legalizing marijuana use for recreational purposes in California would be a cause of major challenges in the state as it has happened in Washington and other states in the USA. All state leaders and citizens, in general, should actively campaign against Proposition 64. Also, all citizens should stand firmly to vote against marijuana legalization initiative come November 18 2016.

References

1. Anderson, D. M., Hansen, B., & Rees, D. I. (2015). Medical marijuana laws and teen marijuana use. American Law and Economics Review, 17(2), 495-528.
2. Arboleda-Flórez, J. (2008). Forum: decriminalization versus criminalization of cannabis. Current opinion in psychiatry, 21(2), 128-130.
3. Banys, P., & Cermak, T. L. (2016). Marijuana Legalization in California: Rational Implementation of the Adult Use of Marijuana Act (AUMA). Journal of psychoactive drugs, 48(1), 63-65.
4. Caulkins, J. P., Kilmer, B., & Kleiman, M. A. (2016). Marijuana Legalization: What Everyone Needs to Know? Oxford University Press.
5. Gunther, R. L. (2008). Searching for California's Illicit Crop: Cannabis sativa.
6. Hawken, A., Caulkins, J., Kilmer, B., & Kleiman, M. (2013). Quasi?legal cannabis in Colorado and Washington: local and national implications. Addiction, 108(5), 837-838.
7. Kamin, S. (2015). The battle of the bulge: The surprising last stand against state marijuana legalization. Publius: The Journal of Federalism, 45(3), 427-451.
8. Khatapoush, S., & Hallfors, D. (2004). “Sending the wrong message”: did medical marijuana legalization in California change attitudes about and use of marijuana?. Journal of Drug Issues, 34(4), 751-770.
9. Levine, H. G.
   

(2003). Global drug prohibition: its uses and crises. International Journal of Drug Policy, 14(2), 145-153.