Marijuana Legalization in the US: Pros, Cons, and Future

Marijuana Legalization: Benefits and Controversies

In an article by the New York Times, they mention that Canada has legalized marijuana. This leads to the following question, should the United States follow suit, or is Canada making a mistake? According to drugpolicy.org, the number of arrests for marijuana has plummeted in places with legal marijuana, saving hundreds and millions of dollars of taxpayers money. Not to mention that the total number of arrests for driving under the influence of alcohol and other drugs has declined in Colorado and Washington, the first two states that regulated marijuana for adult use. This means that there is little to no correlation between marijuana legalization and crash rates.

As this report from the Drug Policy Alliance reveals, youth marijuana use has not increased, and there have been reductions in opioid overdose deaths and untreated opioid use disorders. Many people agree with legalization, and many people argue this. I personally agree with making the use of marijuana legal, and I would like to know why there is a percentage of Americans that disagree with the legalization. Charles “Cully” Stimson, the Senior Legal Fellow and Manager of the Heritage Foundation, stated that marijuana is an addictive gateway drug, and it significantly impairs bodily and mental functions. Stimson also mentions that its use is related to increased violence. I plan to introduce the benefits of the use of marijuana, such as treating illnesses, lowering crime rates, and causing businesses to boom.

Global Marijuana Laws: US Divergence

It is considered legal to smoke marijuana in many countries across the world, such as Canada, Mexico, Belize, Costa Rica, Jamaica, and several others. However, it is only legal in eleven states throughout the US. The main question americans are trying to decipher is whether marijuana should be legalized across the US. William Bennett, former director of the National Drug Control Policy, argues that it immediately impairs cognitive abilities and motor coordination, interfering with the smoker’s judgment, driving skills, and other basic abilities(5).

Bennett also announces that it is a bitter irony that as our knowledge increases regarding the harm that smoking marijuana does to our health, public perception of those injuries decreases (5). However, Renee Jaques, associate viral content editor for the Huffington Post, argues that marijuana is much safer than already legalized drugs and that it has a very low risk of abuse for users. Jaques later states that people who go on to use harder drugs also tend to smoke cigarettes and drink alcohol before trying the other substances; plus, with our current stigma on pot, only people who are predisposed to being “outlaw drug users” are going to smoke pot.

Marijuana’s Medical Potential: Sleep and Healing

A factor to take into account when thinking of the benefits of legalization would be how it may help those who may be ill. Marijuana can also assist during difficulty when sleeping as a sleep aid. In an article by the American Cancer Society, it’s explained that different compounds in marijuana have different actions in the human body. For example, they state that delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) seems to cause the ‘high’ reported by marijuana users and also can help relieve pain and nausea, reduce inflammation, and can act as an antioxidant.

The Society also mentioned that a number of small studies about smoking marijuana have found that it can be helpful in treating nausea and vomiting from cancer chemotherapy. Marijuana and cannabis have also been known as effective remedies to help those who are having trouble sleeping. Sian Ferguson, journalist and writer for Healthline, announced that marijuana’s analgesic properties might provide some relief for those with chronic pain, while the antianxiety properties can soothe a stressed-out mind and body. When your mind is at ease, you will be able to get a better rest. So depending on whether you are having a hard time sleeping or may have a sleeping disorder, marijuana could be to your benefit.

Crime Drop: Marijuana Legalization’s Impact

It has been proven in previous studies that the legalization of marijuana has lowered crime rates. Tim Jacobs, the editor for Pacific Standard, states that for most users, pot produces a state of relaxation and euphoria,’ which presumably ‘reduces the likelihood of engaging in violent activities.’ Second, Jacobs expresses that this effect is reinforced if cannabis is a substitute for violence-inducing substances such as alcohol, cocaine, and amphetamines. Thirdly, he explains, “the legalization of recreational marijuana may induce a reallocation of police efforts away from cannabis pushers and consumers, and towards other types of offenses.”

And finally, it ‘may have reduced the role of criminal gangs and small criminals in local cannabis markets.’ Researchers have labeled this first-pass evidence between the legalization of pot and lower crime rates. During a report, Erin Delmore, a reporter for NBC Universal News Group, mentions that even after Colorado legalized the sale of small amounts of marijuana for recreational use on January 1st of this year, violent and property crime rates in the city are actually falling. “According to data from the Denver Police Department, violent crime (including homicide, sexual assault, robbery, and aggravated assault) fell by 6.9% in the first quarter of 2014, compared with the same period in 2013. Property crime (including burglary, larceny, auto theft, theft from motor vehicle, and arson) dropped by 11.1%,” says Delmore.

Marijuana Taxation: Transforming Lives

Taxation in the marijuana industry can improve the quality of life. In an article by Alison Felix on the economic effects of the marijuana industry in Colorado, she mentions that the state of Colorado collected more than $247 million from the marijuana industry in 2017 alone. Of the money that is collected each year, the first $40 million of the collections is dedicated to the construction and improvement of schools through Colorado’s Building Excellent Schools Today program.

In an analysis by New Frontier Data, it was concluded that if marijuana was to be legalized completely in all 50 states, it would create a combined federal tax revenue of at least $131.8 billion between 2017 and 2025, according to Katie Zezima in an article from the Washington Post. The study also calculated that it would also lead to an estimated amount of one million new jobs by the year 2025. These new jobs would help decrease unemployment rates throughout America.

In an article by Jennifer Calfas from time.com, she posits that the state of Colorado dedicated $105 million from the tax revenue collected from marijuana sales in the 2016-2017 fiscal year went toward the “Marijuana Tax Cash Fund,” which helps in creating housing programs, aids in mental health programs in jails and contributes to health programs at local middle schools. Taxation on marijuana nationwide would lead to many opportunities for improvement of life in America via new and better schools, job creation, and housing programs that help with homelessness.

Marijuana’s Future Impact: Adaptation and Opportunities

Of all of the numerous positive side effects of using recreational marijuana, there is a great demonstration of what’s coming next for the future of this generation as well as how they adapt to new ways and accept old taboos. This natural Lucius vast herb has been around for millions of years and is not going away anytime soon. For many years it has been shown to have a wide variety of health benefits, and so many other countries have legalized it, yet they have little to no negative drawbacks. By making the decision as a country to legalize the use of marijuana in all forms and types, we capitalize on the infinite amount of tax revenue and regulation of all marijuana products. When we make marijuana more safe and attainable for every U.S. citizen, we lower any possible unknown health risk.

By allowing other specific locations to have marijuana assessable, we create a tough spot for specific law enforcement. However, with the possible legalization of marijuana on the national scale, other questions may arise; for example, would there be penalties if someone continually privately produces, sells, or distributes? What if a person is found under the influence at the job? Would there be miscommunications or stereotypes that play a role in society?

All of these questions create many arguable debates that would need to be answered throughout the levels of government. By creating a movement so large and allowing different liberty to the people of the United States, of course, with any major development, the creation of jobs is something that can only bring positive feedback to the workforce of America. With more cash flow from the money people earn from created jobs, we open the doors to a better economy and more economic stability. Not only does marijuana create jobs and employment opportunities, but it decreases the crime rates of specifically violent cases and treats those who are ill or permanently uncomfortable.

References:

Gonchar, Michael. “Should Marijuana Be Legal?” NYTimes.com. The New York Times. 18 Oct. 2018. Web. 27 Nov. 2018.
“From Prohibition to Progress: A Status Report on Marijuana Legalization.” Drugpolicy.org. The Drug Policy Alliance. 22 Jan. 2018. Web. 27 Nov. 2018.
Stimson, Charles. “Why We Shouldn’t Legalize Marijuana.” Heritage.org. The Heritage Foundation. 9 July 2012. Web. 27 Nov. 2018.
Bennett, William J. Going to Pot: Why the Rush to Legalize Marijuana Is Harming America. Center Street. 3 Feb. 2015. Print. 27 Nov. 2018.
Jacques, Renee. “This Is Why Marijuana Should Be Legal Everywhere.”
TheHuffingtonPost.com. The Huffington Post. 7 Dec. 2017. Web. 28 Nov. 2018.
“Marijuana and Cancer.” Cancer.org. American Cancer Society. 16 Mar. 2017. Web. 28 Nov. 2018.
Ferguson, Sian. “Can You Use Cannabis To Restore Your Natural Sleep Cycle?” Healthline.com. Healthline. 20 Feb. 2018. Web. 28 Nov. 2018.
Jacobs, Tom. “Legal Pot Is Linked to Less Crime.” Psmag.com. Pacific Standard. 9 Apr. 2018. Web. 28 Nov. 2018.
Delmore, Erin. “Study: Marijuana Legalization Doesn’t Increase Crime.” MSNBC.com NBCUniversal News Group. 15 Apr. 2014. Web. 28 Nov. 2018.