SHOULD MARIJUANA BE LEGALIZED
Abstract.
Marijuana is an ancient drug that dates back in Asia around 500 BC; it comes from the hemp plant Cannabis Sativa. Cannabis has both male and female plants, which help in pollination. Its components are the seeds, flowers, dried leaves, and stem of Cannabis Sativa. In the first writings of Emperor Shen Nung of China, marijuana was used to treat malaria, gout, rheumatism, and absent-mindedness, before it spread to the world. The cannabis plant contains cannabinoids, and the main cannabinoid found in marijuana is delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is the psychoactive chemical that alters the mind. Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol is found on the buds and leaves of the female cannabis. It can be smoked, brewed in drinks like tea, mixed with food like cookies, and vaporized. Marijuana is one of the most consumed illicit drug worldwide due to different beliefs associated with it; the public has gradually accepted the drug as it has proved to be less harmful compared to legalized drugs like alcohol and cigarettes. In the 21st century, many states have adopted the medication compared to the 20th century. It is classified as a soft drug, regardless of, it has affected both the social, economic, and political aspects of human life.
Why should Marijuana be Legalized
Marijuana has affected the social aspect of our livelihood as it is used mostly among the youth and adults; recently, it has been proven that even high school students consume the drug too. Celebrities publicly support the use of pot as it proves to be enjoyable and reliable. The progression of legalization is slow because the male is the prevalent gender that uses marijuana more than women. The bigger percentage that opposes its legalization comes from women. It is used primarily for recreational purposes as it relaxes once body and mind. The drug has acquired several slang terms depending on one’s environment like mary jane, pot, weed, bud, grass, and ganja. These jargon names are commonly used for preventive measures against the authority as it is an illegal drug. Although marijuana is potentially addictive, alcohol and cigarettes have proven to be more addictive and less useful. The world health organization has demonstrated that alcohol kills approximately three million people globally; on the contrary, it is rare to hear that a person has died from marijuana consumption.
Economically marijuana has been widely used in farming discipline and medical discipline. In the prehistoric era, marijuana was cultivated as it grew fast; it was mainly used for medicinal purposes. In china, they used it for relieving pain, antidepressant, antibiotic, and a sedative; during the 19th century, they used it to treat gonorrhea and angina pectoris. In modern society, the legalization of marijuana has increased tax revenues as it has invited foreign and local investors to invest in the plant. Thousands of jobs have been created throughout the states that have legalized it. CItizens benefit from marijuana, either directly or indirectly. It has proved to help cancer patients and HIV patients in relieving pain, managing nausea and weight loss, and it treats glaucoma too. Parkinson’s disease causes neurons in the brain to die, and marijuana has proven to lessen trembling by relaxing the muscles. Food and Drug Administration have endorsed the use of marijuana for two types of epilepsy which are, dravet syndrome and lenno-gastaut.
In the political view marijuana has been the talk of the political class since the 20th century. Harry Anslinger, an American leader, classified marijuana racially and satanically, saying that it destroyed the white women. During the war of drugs, marijuana was illegalized globally, heavy taxes, and penalties were imposed on anyone caught farming or engaging in it. The government taught its citizens the harmful effects of marijuana and even exaggerating its effects. Although, with time, public opinion shifted gradually as people learned the exact impact of the plant. In America, twenty-two states have legalized marijuana. California was the first to decriminalize marijuana in 1996, while Virgin Island was recent to decriminalize it in 2019. The expectation is that marijuana will be legal globally with time. In states that it has been legalized marijuana has its laws which include, the legal age to consume it, and one has to have a license from the authority to operate it for medicinal or recreational purposes.
Conclusion
Every drug be legal or illegal, medicinal or recreation, has its long term and short term effects if abused. Although the public opinion about Marijuana has been sharply divided, time has proven that things can change, once a demonized drug to a helpful drug. Scientific data has given marijuana purpose as it has removed the political ideology that existed before, given contained laws that protect the drug from being abused marijuana. If well packaged and administered to adults in scientifically accepted quantities, marijuana will serve its valuable purpose. Marijuana should be decriminalized globally, as definitive studies have proven the drug has little side effects than other legalized drugs.
References
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Pacher, P., Steffens, S., Haskó, G., Schindler, T. H., & Kunos, G. (2018). Cardiovascular effects of marijuana and synthetic cannabinoids: the good, the bad, and the ugly. Nature Reviews Cardiology, 15(3), 151.
Testa, M., Derrick, J. L., Wang, W., Leonard, K. E., Kubiak, A., Brown, W. C., & Collins, R. L. (2018). Does marijuana contribute to intimate partner aggression? Temporal effects in a community sample of marijuana-using couples. Journal of studies on alcohol and drugs, 79(3), 432-440.