Marijuana Legalization - Essay Example

Marijuana Legalization Introduction This essay expounds more about marijuana (cannabis) and its health benefits and why it should be legalized globally; it supports the idea of legalizing marijuana. Unlike the early 60s when marijuana was not regarded as a harmful herb, today it has turned to be a common substance classified under harmful drugs. It is currently considered as illegal and is very commonly abused. Several names have come up all attempting to heap praise in this plant, some of these names are cannabis, green, dope, Mary Jane, bud, weed, and hundreds more. Below is coverage of some pros of legalizing marijuana with emphasis taking the side of legalizing marijuana. Reasons why users of marijuana end up being perpetual addicts, the essay answers why it should be legalized. Herein also is a practical check on the repercussions of marijuana abuse. Although most people use marijuana for simply the purpose of getting high, it can also be used as a form of medication. Several medical conditions can be controlled through prescriptions of marijuana or marijuana-based products. For instance, take patients suffering from instances of vomiting or nausea, administering marijuana eliminates these health issues. Dating back from the 70s, over 35 states have resorted to legalizing the use of cannabis for medical purposes. Although this paper supports its legalization, marijuana is surrounded by many controversies. In some countries, this herb is used for medicinal value, as a religious artifact, the textile industry and during recreation. Many refer and see marijuana as the billion dollar plant, probably because those in its peddling business leap millions of money from it. If only the medicinal value was to be actualized, states would not hesitate to make marijuana a legal substance as a curative and protective drug. Government surveys done recently indicate that approximately 25 million people in America alone have had life encounters with marijuana. Out of the 25 million, 14 million still smoke regularly regardless of the beckoning jail penalties and gospels against its use. It can be argued that marijuana is way safer than alcohol and tobacco in that 50000 and 40000 people die from alcoholism and tobacco smoking respectively. Numbers do not lie and by comparison, weed is non-toxic and there is no known cause from its death after an overdose. A government of the people by the people must listen and rest its case on the sarcasm around marijuana myths as deviant and fringe activities engaged by the society who lack vision. This is a recreational hub for millions, and there should be an unstoppable vote for marijuana legalization. Thousand of professionals, successful business, federal and state elected officials, have admitted to having used marijuana, they should be in the forefront to legalize it. Who knows the clergymen may also be preaching under the influence when the sermons turn to be best. Man should face the reality and desist from acting as law-abiding smokers who are a subsection of the crime triangle as government resources go to waste. What is the difference between marijuana smokers and the non-smokers? There is no difference only that they use marijuana. Just like any other citizens, they work to earn their livings, raise families, ensure crimeless neighborhood and contribute in the society. These are the same people who get arrested after smoking marijuana cigarettes as they relax, leaving those taking alcohol smiling. In the actual traditional Hinduism, marijuana was present in their religious activities that date back as early as 1000 BCE and mostly in rituals that observe the Shiva goddess. To add to that, Holi is the other festival where marijuana was served as a beverage known as bhang. There is enough evidence that not only is marijuana offered to the holy beings, it is also consumed by worshippers forming integral parts. If marijuana was phased out, this would imply that traditional Hinduism would be outlawed. There are upcoming religions such as Rastafarians, who are considered by the supreme courts as holy religions that uphold the use of marijuana. A respected figure in this religion once said that marijuana acted as a symbol of freedom where he suggested that the more people took marijuana, the higher their chances were to bring down the oppressive rulers. Policy makers should consider the countries where marijuana has already been legalized as a litmus paper to indicate the expected results. Take Switzerland for instance, the crime rate is on the rise opening up to other drugs, it can be depicted to as a bridging drug that easily invites the use of other substances. Legalization advocators refer to marijuana’s medicinal as a way to conceal their real motive. In real sense, marijuana can be argued to trigger more brain activity which can be attributed to the alpha waves. These waves bring relaxation, increases creativity and foster meditative moments that underlie the feeling of being high. It can be argued that proponents have had it glued into the mind of men that marijuana causes partial and permanent memory impairments, unlike the real deal. Legalization of marijuana is estimated to possibly lower the cost of controlling its use in the illegal states by approximately 50%. Look at it this way, cost of investigating, arresting, convicting, imprisoning and in rehabilitation centers. This cash could be used to more beneficial projects. Marijuana would also contribute in the producer country’s gross domestic product. Take Holland as an example where $67.5 million in income is the annual collection average from marijuana alone. Basing marijuana legalization from its medicinal perspective is the most likely way of having that actualized. Marijuana’s by-products can be acquired legally in places such as Canada. A greater section of this supporting paper will dwell on individual entities in medicine that if carefully looked into would guarantee marijuana’s decriminalization. Dronabinol (Marinol), is one of the synthetic types of delta-9-THC that was permitted through the FDA in early 1980s. It is presently available for oral dosage. This dose was availed I the market as soft gelatin capsules containing 2.5 to 10 milligrams of active medical elements. Its main purpose is to relieve vomits and nausea resulting from cases of cancer chemotherapies. These capsules aid in boosting appetite lost by chronic HIV patient cases. To control smoking these capsules’ content, they are soaked in special oil, sesame. It got a title as a schedule or category 3 drugs. Although clinical test confirm appetite improvements, no actual weight gain is realized rather than body water. These capsules from marijuana have adverse side effects which include the feeling of being high. Emesis in cancer chemotherapies are dominated by this substance over placebo. However, given that that this by-product is way purer than the actual marijuana, the DEA admits that it also does not pollute the air from smoke that would otherwise have been blown from smoking actual marijuana buds. Nabilone (Cesamet): This is the other synthetic drug, it successfully substitutes cannabinoid that was made by Eli Lilly and later it was eventually by the FDA in the year 2006. It also eliminates treats vomiting or nausea in cancer chemotherapy patients. This substance can be active from 8 to 12 hours. Its side effects are among others, dry mouth, vertigo, drowsiness, euphoria, ataxia, dizziness, concentration difficulties, and low levels in the human body’s blood pressure. Nabilone is very efficient in young children, experiencing reduced chances of side effects. This product has also been proved in the phase 2 trials as one that decreases intraocular pressure. This is so because it is an antianxiety agent (Amar, 2006). As part of the ongoing discussion about marijuana people have began to realize the issues that the real deal behind avoiding to legalize marijuana may be just, but a mere cover up for surreptitious production to conflate industrial hemp with actual marijuana. Delta-9-THC/ (Sativex): in Canada, it was approved as treatment for neuropathic pains or as an alternative. However, it is currently going through pharmaceutical treatment trials for cancer-based pain. Sativex is specially derived from a huge bunch of purposely grown cannabis varieties. It is prepared to a mixture of cannabidiol and delta 9-THC. Its dosing may be more flexible and is in form of sprays (Koch et la, 2005). It is clear that if marijuana was to be used by responsible persons, it would grant even a better reason to legalize it given that it has no significant danger to health as compared to drugs considered legal such as alcohol and tobacco. There exists no credible evidence that marijuana has an addictive element to make it a gateway to other hard drugs. Hundreds of thousands of people who smoke marijuana and pose little or no negative impact on the society face threats by an environment is screaming with penalties and evil characterization. Presently it is to a great extent dangerous to purchase marijuana from black markets, here, quality of marijuana is likely to be distorted as the buyer has no range of products to choose from. Such trades go to extents of causing death where deals go soar. This can all be avoided by legalizing marijuana. Policy makers should wake up one morning and derive ways to decriminalize marijuana and eventually regulate it among adults. This gives the people worldwide a chance to express their freedoms of choice, to either smoke marijuana or not. The same spirit given to tobacco and alcohol ought to be given to marijuana. Before the marijuana tax act in 1937, there were no restrictions to use of marijuana. During this period, I would argue that this law was enacted in a climate that the media and politics had demonized marijuana. If it were to be legalized, one of the criminal entities in its trafficking would be eliminated. It is rather unfair to criminalize marijuana use as criminal, giving false attention even where adults smoke in their homes just as the other person would smoke tobacco, but rather spend government’s money in its crackdown. The whole judicial process is time and finance draining. Do not forget that it stresses good citizens by wrecking their lives and cost them their employment, which could have been avoided in the first place by legalizing marijuana to keep of arrest. References Berlatsky, N. (2012). Marijuana. Farmington Hills, MI: Greenhaven Press. K. Aggarwal, T. Carter, M. Sullivan, (2009). 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