Legalization of Marijuana in the United States - Research Paper Example

28 March Legalization of marijuana in the United s: Introduction: The debateon the legalization of marijuana or cannabis in the US is as thriving presently as a couple years ago given the particularly riveting and ageless nature of the issue. The mixed uses and variation of effects of marijuana have made its legalization quite controversial. A large majority of population believes that society should seek to discourage casual use of cannabis because it is a gateway drug inducing one to try hardcore drugs later. The official authorities should concentrate on preventing its widespread use by general population and especially by youngsters. However, there is also a giant percentage of public which believes that criminalization of marijuana possession has always been a defeated objective. It is a kind of government objective which has consumed a lot of manpower and valuable limited resources. However still, the government is nowhere close to discouraging the public from smoking marijuana. Basically, this research paper seeks to argue that cannabis should be legalized or decriminalized in the US. The paper will present and explicate multiple reasons to augment the argument that marijuana is a drug with a variety of uses and minor risks. To validate the argument, marijuana will also be compared with alcohol and tobacco as a way of demonstrating how marijuana is so much less detrimental than the latter substances and still looked down upon by the government with such intensity, which is absolutely unjustified. Money and valuable resources continue to be invested for a defeated cause: War on drugs, particularly marijuana, is a complete failure. It has consumed trillions of dollars to date and continues to exert more financial pressure on the American government with every passing day. Prohibition on this drug has affected society very badly because more people are reported or jailed for minor drug offenses and people have to go to extreme measures to get this drug. Many such measures often affect their self-esteem in a very bad way given the circumstances and the places they have to bear to get the drug discreetly. Research also claims that the main reason marijuana often affects users’ lives negatively is not because of the drug really, but “because of the consequences attached with using the drug” (Pitts cited in Millat). Research shows that the US government has wasted a lot of money to keep marijuana from reaching the market in the past. According to an estimate, the US government suffers a total cost of about $10 billion on an annual basis in myriad efforts to make the country free of this drug. On the other hand, the State of California produces legalized medicinal cannabis for total revenue of $14 billion every year (Schwartz). This particular piece of information suggests that if instead of investing in building an exaggeratedly notorious image of marijuana, the US government acts wisely and legalizes this drug, it can tax the revenues and also gain substantial amount of money to spend on social well-being of the public. The costs which the government has to bear annually to criminalize cannabis are not small, but getting bigger every year. Pursuit of marijuana has not declined, but spurred. The criminal activities generated by this pursuit have not declined either, but grown more. Also, respect for law in context of banning marijuana has not strengthened, but weakened (Branson). Legalizing marijuana is not an easy process devoid of any political risks and this is totally understandable. But, the economic benefits offered by this legalization far outweigh any political risks. Research claims that “taxing marijuana could rake in serious revenue for flailing states” (Klein). It is further claimed by Klein that in the US, $68 billion is spent every year on corrections. About one-third of those who are corrected by the law enforcement agencies serve time for nonviolent drug crimes like selling marijuana. As much as $150 billion is spent on policing and courts. Added to this is the astounding fact that nearly half percentage (47.5%) of all drug arrests is related to marijuana in some way. Such insane amounts of money spent every year on criminalizing marijuana are affecting the US nation very seriously in economic terms. “That is an awful lot of money, most of it nonfederal, that could be spent on better schools or infrastructure - or simply returned to the public” (Klein cited in Millat). Like marijuana, alcohol has also been once banned and the US has well seen the negative consequences of that decision. In the 1920s, selling and buying alcohol in the US was officially banned. This put the control in the hands of the Mafia that both produced the alcohol and supplied it to the consumers. In his famous plea in 1925, Mencken said that prohibition of alcohol has not lessened drunkenness in the US, but has only fomented crime and disrespect for the law (Mencken cited in Branson). In the same way, prohibition of marijuana has not led the US and the nation to anything better. However, many worse things have occurred and continue to occur because of this governmental decision. Comparison of marijuana to alcohol and other drugs: Comparing marijuana to alcohol and other drugs is important to demonstrate the significantly less harmful nature of this drug to which such notoriety is attached by the obsessed government. Alcohol can break homes and wreck relationships amidst many other serious offences. This is because of the potentially more destructive nature of alcohol and yet, it is freely available everywhere with the age 21 limit the only step taken by the government to control its chaotic use. Imposing an absolute ban on marijuana is not a smart strategy, but one which has cost both the government and common nation many billions of dollars to date. People can cause more damage to themselves and to society when high on alcohol, but how many marijuana users are known to cause any serious damage to themselves or to society when high on a joint? Millions of Americans with modern and revolutionized way of thinking totally understand one can consume marijuana in “high school, in college, every post-collegiate Saturday night and yet remain a responsible, upstanding, taxpayer” (Eagan). Anyone can get a new and refreshed appreciation for just how many alcoholics there are in the US by visiting clubs or bard even in daytime. This research paper argues that completely understanding the seriously devastating consequences of alcohol and yet legalizing it, while adamantly insisting on banning marijuana and wasting billions of dollars for this purpose annually, is open hypocrisy. Media should get more vocal against this hypocrisy because this is not only unreasonable, but also wrong for the country’s economy. It is no hidden reality that a large number of Americans daily consume alcohol and a variety of prescription drugs to which they have quick access. Such abuse exposes them to different kinds of health risks, but cannabis’s overconsumption is not quite as harmful for the health. A highly comprehensive 2009 study conducted by the US Department of Health and Human Studies revealed that there were about 69.7 million Americans that consumed the products of tobacco, while 4.2 million and 15 million Americans abused the cannabis and the alcohol respectively (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration). This report shows that compared to alcohol and tobacco-related products, consumption of marijuana is the least. This is one of the very potent explanations for decriminalizing marijuana and saving valuable country’s resources. There is no explanation for imposing a pointless ban on cannabis in the US when such deadly products like cigarettes and alcohol are easily purchasable. Cannabis is heavily criticized for its negative health effects but the fact that more than 1000 people in the US die on daily basis because of lung and other health disorders caused by smoking is overlooked (Centers for Disease Control). Also, about 30 people in the US die every day because of their act of drunk-driving (CDC). Legalizing cannabis cannot cause as much harm to the US as is caused by smoking tobacco and drinking alcohol. Potential benefits of making marijuana legal: Following criminalization of alcohol in 1920, research reports that violence became more common in the alcohol industry then it ever was, before or after. Research identifies that “violence was common in the alcohol industry when it was banned during Prohibition” (Miron). Legalization of this drug can reduce the rate of crime and benefit the US in four critical ways. First of all, every year a large number of murders and thefts happen on grounds of sky high prices of drugs. It is the illegal and secretive process of drug smuggling that makes them so high priced. This induces many drug addicts to access the drugs at any cost, even if they have to go to extreme lengths for that. Secondly, another benefit is that legalization of marijuana will most probably very effectively eliminate all illegal ways of dealing with smugglers. Having to deal with smugglers is a matter of shame for many. With legalization, this problem will be solved. Third, drug smugglers benefit from criminalization of marijuana and become the ultimate beneficiaries. In contrast, legalization of marijuana can not only limit their revenues, but also improve the economic condition of the nation by allowing the local community to access the profits associated with this business. Finally, with legalization, all the hype associated with marijuana will evaporate and cash flow can readily increase as well if marijuana is taxed. If marijuana is made legal in the US, the number of yearly suicides and deaths resulting from depression and violence can also decrease. It is a fact that presently, a significant population of prisoners in the US has been jailed for making non-violent drug offenses. As mentioned before, non-violent drug offenses involve marijuana mostly. It is a highly astounding piece of news that because one in every eight prisoners in the US is behind bars for marijuana, taxpayers have to spend “over $1 billion annually to incarcerate pot offenders (NORML). Overcrowding in prisons is a big issue in the US and this issue can be resolved by legalizing marijuana. Overcrowding turns out to be very expensive for the government also and ultimately for the nation. From food to many essential commodities, prolonged and unnecessary stay of prisoners in jails for offenses involving marijuana proves to be extremely detrimental for the economy of the country. Then, the prison conditions are also very harsh, which instead of discouraging the prisoners’ tendencies to use or sell drugs, only strengthen hatred in them for the law and society. This means that adding to the number of prisoners because of ban on marijuana is a total loss for the US, particularly when a significant imprisoned population has displayed the drug offenses of only the non-violent nature. Conclusion: Concluding, the purpose of the above discussion is that current marijuana laws need to be reformed. Easy availability of marijuana following legalization can substantially help in plummeting down the rates of this drug and respect for law can also increase. This is why this research paper argues that legalization of marijuana is fundamental to the elimination of violence from society. This paper does not argue to make marijuana freely available without any conditions. However, legalization with smart regulation the way alcohol is carefully regulated by the government is a reasonable proposal. When many other particularly harmful substances are readily available, singling out marijuana only and lashing out on it incessantly is a highly questionable act. The purpose of this discussion is to support the idea that marijuana, like alcohol, should be decriminalized and yet, its consumption should be controlled in some mature way like the age 21 limit in case of alcohol. Fighting against marijuana is a war which the government can never win. This does not mean that the government should accept defeat whenever an objective is unachievable. This only means that marijuana is nowhere close to being as dangerous as alcohol or many other drugs. This is why investing a lot of time and money in this area, which is a defeated cause, is simply a waste. Works cited: Branson, Richard. War on drugs a trillion-dollar failure. CNN, 07 Dec. 2012. Web. 29 Mar. 2014. Centers for Disease Control. Injury Prevention & Control: Motor Vehicle Safety. cdc.gov, 17 Apr. 2013. Web. 29 Mar. 2014. CDC. Smoking & Tobacco Use. cdc.gov, 14 Feb. 2014. Web. 29 Mar. 2014. Eagan, Margery. JOINT RESOLUTION: TAXING POT JUST MAKES CENTS. Boston Herald, 29 Mar. 2009. Web. 29 Mar. 2014. Klein, Joe. Why Legalizing Marijuana Makes Sense. TIME, 02 Apr. 2009. Web. 29 Mar. 2014. Millat, Caitlin. Media Getting High on Pot Legalization. NBC Washington, 02 Apr. 2009. Web. 29 Mar. 2014. Miron, Jeffrey A. Commentary: Legalize drugs to stop violence. CNN Politics, 24 Mar. 2009. Web. 29 Mar. 2014. NORML. Nearly One In Eight US Drug Prisoners Are Behind Bars For Pot -- Taxpayers Spending Over $1 Billion Annually To Incarcerate Pot Offenders. norml.org, 12 Oct. 2006. Web. 29 Mar. 2014. Schwartz, Carly. Marijuana Market Poised To Grow Faster Than Smartphones. Huffington Post, 11 Apr. 2013. Web. 29 Mar. 2014. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Results from the 2009 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Volume I. Summary of National Findings. samhsa.gov, 2010. Web. 29 Mar. 2014. Read More