Legalizing Marijuana
Marijuana is a type of drug extracted from Cannabis sativa. The drug is commonly found in several parts of the world, especially in the United States of America, where it is produced I large quantities making the country one of the world’s leading producers. Despite the many negative effects caused by the drug, there is a need for legalizing Marijuana. Countries have put severe penalties on individuals found using or possessing the drug due to its effects on memory to those who frequently use the drug. The campaign started a long time ago during the 1960s where the number of marijuana users increased. As a result, they requested changes in the United States laws regarding Marijuana. The Drug Abuse Prevention Act (DAPA) made some changes to federal laws concerning fines and punishment involving Marijuana that is in 1970.
However, in the 1980s, the government put in place other fines and severe punishment for individuals found in possession of the drug. The action has led to continuous changes in the laws concerning Marijuana. However, Marijuana has several benefits, which include stability in the economy; the number of youths using the drug would reduce, reduction in levels of crime, among others. Besides, Marijuana does not have severe effects caused by other drugs such as alcohol and tobacco. For these reasons, there is need for legalizing Marijuana in all countries around the globe.
Administration
There are many ways in which Marijuana is consumed. The common method involves
smoking. The leaves and buds of Marijuana are dried and rolled into a cigar of which the users
inhale smoke from the burning blunt. However, smoking leads to inhalation of many toxic
substances found in Marijuana. For this reason, specialists came up with a safer method of
using the plant. The method involves the use of a vaporizer that enables only steam to come out of
the plant. Users would inhale the steam, which has a small percentage of the toxic substances.
Also, one can consume Marijuana by eating or drinking the plant either directly or mixed in food
substances. Notably, the main component causing one to experience the effects of the drug is THC,
which varies depending on the method used to consume the plant. When consumed orally, it
takes more time for one to feel the effects as the THC has to be absorbed into the bloodstream to
release its effects. On the other hand, smoking would make one experience the effects faster than
when taken orally though the effects would not last for a longer time. Oral consumption prolongs
the effects of the drug, making an individual experience adverse effects for a longer time.
Besides, smoking and use of vaporizer allows one to limit the amount of drug consumed while with
oral consumption, once taken, one cannot limit its amount.
Legalization and Dominance
Since several researchers have found out the several health effects of Marijuana, it’s not clear whether legalization of the drug would lead to its dominance and increased usage or not. Marijuana has led to the emergence of several debates concerning its effects and dominance. In the United States of America, when the country legalized medical Marijuana, they recorded a change in the levels of marijuana use. They found out that individuals use medical and recreational Marijuana more often as compared to the other forms of Marijuana. However, data presented by the Youth Risk Behavior Survey in New Mexico shows a different kind of result. Since the State legalized Marijuana in 2009, there has been a continuous increase in the number of youths who use the drug.
Similarly, the same year, President Barack Obama came up with a memorandum that led to a reduction in the levels of medical marijuana use since the government realized an increase in the number of individuals registering for medical Marijuana at the federal level. However, changes in the use of medical Marijuana at the state level has not yet been recorded in other counties. The long-term effects of legalization of Marijuana have not yet been recorded. The reason why some countries have not yet legalized Marijuana. Besides, there is a need to conduct further studies to prove the effectiveness of the legalization of Marijuana on its prevalence.
Advantages of legalizing Marijuana
Legalizing Marijuana leads to stability in the economy. Medical Marijuana increases the total revenue collected by the United States of America. Come 2025; the government would have gained revenue more than $24 billion from both adults and patients using medical Marijuana. The government uses the revenue to develop other sectors of the economy, such as tourism, real estate, and the transportation sector. Besides, individuals participating in marijuana businesses are required to pay taxes to the government. By doing so, States that legalize Marijuana would enjoy the benefits. An example includes the case of the United States that made $7.2 billion from marijuana businesses in 2016, together with other federal taxes paid to the government. Notably, in Colorado, marijuana business yields more revenue as compared to the revenue raised from the consumption of alcohol. The country made $78 million in its first financial year and later $129 million.
Also, Marijuana leads to reduced abused by youths in the society. According to research conducted by Washington University School of Medicine, “the rates of marijuana use by young people are falling despite the fact more US states are legalizing or decriminalizing marijuana use and the number of adults using the drug has increased.” The reason being that legalizing Marijuana makes the drug available, and the community can effectively expose its advantages and disadvantages, leading to awareness. Youths would not feel the urge to look for the drug as it’s already legal and available almost everywhere. An example includes a study conducted in Colorado and Washington. When the States legalized Marijuana, they have recorded a reduction in the number of youths using Marijuana despite the increasing number of marijuana shops.
Notably, legalizing Marijuana leads to reduced crime levels in society. The reason is that the increased use of Marijuana reduces the consumption of alcohol-associated with increased crime levels. Places where inhabitants use Marijuana have recorded decrease crime rates. Many people usually appear within such areas, increasing levels of security limiting chances of criminal activities taking place. The use of alcohol causes violent activities to be on the rise ten times more as compared to the use of Marijuana. Therefore, legalizing Marijuana would curb criminal activities and violence caused by the drinking of alcohol, which includes domestic violence. A survey conducted by the FBI in Washington found out that after the legalization of Marijuana, there has been a reduction in the number of crimes reported. The report shows clear evidence for the need to legalize Marijuana as crime rates would reduce. Individuals would lead a peaceful life with fewer cases of complaints.
The government can regulate Marijuana for consumer safety when legalized. The reason being that with medical Marijuana, the government can exercise authority on how to produce and consume the drug. An example includes the production of Marijuana that has fewer toxic substances. The government can also regulate the age limit allowed to use Marijuana. By doing so, individuals would use Marijuana that has undergone laboratory testing to eliminate toxic substances, thus reducing the negative effects of Marijuana. Most countries have put forward such measures, which include Washington State that requires marijuana companies to label marijuana cans with information concerning weed, such as the concentration of THC and warnings. The information allows consumers to know about the drug they use. Besides, in Oregon, Colorado, and Alaska, exposure of Marijuana to children is prohibited. On the other hand, users who use unprescribed Marijuana usually experience many effects of the drug caused by its toxic substances. They fail to identify the concentration of THC and other factors. With legalization, the government can have control over individuals who grow, retail, and distribute Marijuana around the country to ensure they observe safety standards.
Furthermore, legalization of Marijuana would lead to the government dropping some of the policies put in place for Marijuana. They include the arrest of those individuals who use Marijuana. The arrest usually leads to the government spending more money to cater for the arrests and other responsibilities, for instance, the United States usually spend $1.19 billion to $6.03 billion of money each year arresting criminals. Also, the government can use the money to send the arrested individuals into a rehabilitation center. As a result, the government spends more money that could be used to develop sectors of the economy, such as tourism. Notably, Washington realized a decrease in the number of individuals possessing Marijuana illegally from 5,531 to 120. For this reason, the legalization of Marijuana would bring a change in policy enforcement as police would shift their focus on other crimes such as rape.
Legalized Marijuana leads to the creation of more job opportunities. When States legalize Marijuana, there would be the emergence of marijuana industries that manufacture marijuana products, including the pills for medicinal use. Many people will secure jobs in different departments such as manufacturing, transportation, and marketing of marijuana products. By doing so, their living standards improve, leading to better lives. The government can as well increase its revenue through taxation of their salaries. The New Frontier Data report proved the existence of 250,000 new jobs come 2020. Besides, upon legalization of Marijuana in California, there were more than 130,000 jobs created- evidence of how legalization would solve unemployment problems in many countries around the world.
Uses of Medical Marijuana
Medical Marijuana has several uses and benefits. The United States of America uses the drug to treat several ailments. Among them include control of pain. Prescribed Marijuana is used as a pain control drug for many individuals. Although, the drug does not control severe pains such as operations and surgeries. Physicians recommend the drug to cure chronic pains, especially among the aged. Most people prefer the drug to opiates as they can control the dosage without feeling severe effects of the same. The drug only requires little time between 30 to 120 minutes to get absorbed in the body to control pain. Besides, the drug has replaced the function of most Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as Aleve to patients who have problems such as ulcers. Notably, medical Marijuana cures nerve pain and sclerosis. Conditions that can affect individuals for a longer time. Prescription of medical Marijuana would cure the pain and allows the patients to resume their normal routine.
Similarly, medical Marijuana is used as a muscle relaxant. The drug has several advantages over other medicines used as a muscle relaxant. They include leaving the patient feeling well even after withdrawal. On the other hand, antispasmodics and antispastics tend to make patients feel withdrawal symptoms such as hallucinations due to the low amount of the drugs taken into the body. With medical Marijuana, tremors caused by disorders such as Parkinson’s disease can effectively be controlled. Besides, medical Marijuana can be used to treat weight loss. There are different strains of Marijuana that can effectively lead to weight loss due to its contents. The preferred strains are those that contain Tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV) – a substance that acts opposite to the Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) as its appetite suppresses appetite to the users. Examples of such strains include Jack the Ripper, Tangie, and Durban Poison. Most of such strains are found in many areas of Afghanistan. The THCV content tends to prevent the action of receptors responsible for causing a rise in the levels of appetite as well as increasing the rate of metabolism leading to the breakdown of fats to produce more energy.
Furthermore, Marijuana can cure nausea and vomiting experienced by many patients on medication. Several kinds of researches provide evidence of patients complaining about how traditional and other types of medication do not work to cure the effect. However, the prescription of medical Marijuana can effectively cure nausea and vomiting problems. The dronabinol and nabilone- products of Marijuana hinders the binding of dopamine and serotonin, thus treating chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) mostly associated with cancer patients. Likewise, Marijuana can be used to reduce syndromes associated with Crohn’s disease and HIV.
Conclusion
There is a need for legalizing Marijuana in all countries of the world because of the benefits brought by the drug once legalized. The economy would stabilize, reduced cases of use by youths, reduced crimes, medicinal purposes, the safety of the users due to the control, among other advantages. Countries would realize many benefits leading to their growth. An example includes the revenue obtained by Colorado from the marijuana business, which is three times that of alcohol. A clear indication of how Marijuana can be helpful. It’s only the laws hindering such developments from taking place. Let every country legalize Marijuana and experience the effect even if for a year. Besides, countries should aim at legalizing Marijuana and, at the same time, come up with a program to educate the public about the dangers associated with the drug when overused. Citizens would become aware and use the drug responsibly. When they know the associated risks with Marijuana, they can effectively control themselves as well as educate others on the benefits and risks of using the drug. Medical Marijuana has proved to solve many issues in the healthcare sector more than other prescribed drugs. Likewise, there are safety measures put in place for recreational Marijuana to make users aware. ;;;;