Americans' Changing Attitudes Toward Marijuana Legalization - Essay Sample

Introduction

American citizens have changed their attitudes towards the issue of marijuana. According to Schinke, Schwinn, Hopkins, Gorroochurn, & Wahlstrom (2017), in 1969, 12% of the Americans backed up the legalization of marijuana. 60% of Americans support the legalization of marijuana, a number that has increased steadily since 2000 (Schinke, Schwinn, Hopkins, Gorroochurn, & Wahlstrom, 2017). Regardless of the changing trends, marijuana has continued being illegal at the federal level, with the arguments surrounding it not having changed in recent years. The case that supports the need for national legalization is that cannabis is low-risk, and for most users, it gives them harmless pleasure. Proponents of legalization also claim that the drug markets have greater risks compared to the legal and regulated counterparts. The actions of law enforcement are meant to prevent manufacture, ownership, and trade. Most of the policies that have been introduced mean that the use of marijuana and the subsequent trials are racially motivated. The racial aspects of these actions by law enforcement officials have reduced the chances of success.

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The common cases against the legalization of marijuana nationally are that it increases the chances of Cannabis Use Disorder and increasing use by minors. Others also claim that they lack enough knowledge of the potential risks of marijuana to justify its nationwide legalization. However, these arguments do not cover two key points. The first point concerns the practicality of cannabis prohibition, which is not enforceable. The choice that people have is not the availability of cannabis, but rather whether its manufacture and use should become legal (Cerda et al. 2017). The second reason concerns the compactness of cannabis which ensures its ease of smuggling. The states that have higher taxes or restrictions on marijuana are filled with products from states that have looser restrictions. While the very fact that marijuana is harmful is a case for continuing the prohibition of the drug, the possibilities of reversing the present trends are remote, for political and operational reasons. The legalization of marijuana has numerous benefits to the economy, fighting crimes, and ensuring a better future for the youth in the United States.

Pros of Legalization of Marijuana

The legalization of marijuana boosts the economy. The marijuana industry in the United States, both medical and adult-use, could be more than $24 billion worth of revenue in 2025 (Crooke, Khan, & Striley, 2017). Banking, tourism, construction, transportation, and real estate are among the industries that would benefit from the legalization of marijuana. In 2016, the legal cannabis industry produced $7.2 billion, adding to millions of dollars spent on federal taxes by marijuana businesses (Crooke, & Striley, 2017). The economic advantages realized from the legalization of weed have already been clear, with the first states changing their legal positions about the drug. The legalization of marijuana promises a big push for economies of states and big revenues for both federal and state governments. Establishing marijuana dispensaries and nurseries is the first action for states voting for medical marijuana. Not only would this create jobs but also improve economic activity in these regions. In cases of states such as Nevada and California, where these infrastructures already exist, the economic effect is quantified with the maturity of the sector. At the same time, the legalization of marijuana would increase investment opportunities.

Marijuana legalization provides the chances of increased advantages to economies on both the national and local scale. It also secures the investment portfolios of investors in the nation. While marijuana is illegal at the federal levels, it is challenging for investors to maximize the industry's growth. The number of marijuana-linked organizations trading on the public stock exchange is multiplied, while the investors are also having the option of working through the exchanges of over-the-counter. Most of these businesses have realized success in countries such as Canada. Therefore, if marijuana becomes legal nationally, marijuana organizations have the freedom to list their stocks on every U.S. trades (Crooke, & Striley, 2017). In return, the listing would improve liquidity and access to many investors. If the rates of growth for marijuana space continue, there are possibilities that investors develop increased interest in this industry.

The legalization of marijuana also helps in saving money. Whenever considering the economic advantages of legal marijuana, it is imperative to assess the funds that are saved and the generated revenue. Presently, the enforcement of federal marijuana accrues huge finances. A report produced by the American Civil Liberties Union in 2013 ascertained that the costs were $3.6 billion yearly (Chadi, Weitzman, & Levy, 2018). The implementation of legal cannabis in most states means there are reduced costs of implementing the laws. If marijuana is legalized nationally, the costs will reduce considerably. At the same time, the removal of marijuana from the controlled substances' list means that there will be fewer cases that involve substance abuse, effectively reducing incarcerations while saving on costs. The legalization of marijuana also promises the benefits to medical consumers of products obtained from cannabis. With the increasing legalization of marijuana in different parts of the nation, there are higher chances the prices drop because of commoditization. The approach of commoditization would ensure that legal marijuana is regulated for the safety of clients. People purchasing cannabis from the streets do not have any means of knowing whether or not what they are using is has toxic elements. Once there is the aspect of legalization, the government is better placed in enforcing regulations and laboratory principles to ensure they are toxin-free. For instance, Washington laws demand health warnings, labeling and quality assurance for goods for the consumers.

States such as Oregon, Alaska, Washington, and Colorado all passed into law regulations that prevented the exposure of children to marijuana, such as child-resistant packaging. The legalization approach gives the government the chance of setting age restriction for consumers, licensing and regulating the whole marijuana supply chain. The supply chain of cannabis is made up of retailers, testing laboratories, growers and distributors. Enforcing marijuana prohibition is racist since the most affected are the people of color. There are racial differences in enforcing laws on cannabis. Although black and white people use cannabis at the same rate, a black individual is thrice as likely to be arrested for abusing marijuana (Chadi, & Levy, 2018). While there is not a lot of information that separates cannabis offences from other violations of drug laws, it is apparent that cannabis is not a major factor for incarceration. However, it is a major factor in the arrests, with over half a million individuals arrested yearly for simple possession. The users of marijuana who are Latino or black are at higher risks of arrests compared to white peers because they live in dangerous neighbourhoods that are filled with crimes. Therefore, the policy on marijuana is part of the vice. Regardless of the sharp decline in prices per hour, the sector has increased to an extent where it is the nation's largest illicit market. Efforts towards enforcement need control of the illicit market.

Cons of Legalization of Marijuana

The legalization of marijuana results in high costs for society and taxpayers. The effects of abuse of cannabis are felt more by society than the individual abusing the drug. The societal implications for using cannabis include payment for an increased visit to emergency rooms, increased medical care, and addiction treatment for uninsured individuals. The major argument is that the legalization of marijuana increases the presence of harmful substances in the street, which costs more than the generated revenue. At the same time, legalizing marijuana increases its abuse among teens, which often involves adverse outcomes. The numbers of 12 to 17-year-olds who abuse cannabis are higher in each legal marijuana state compared to the countrywide average (Pacula & Smart, 2017). Marijuana is very dangerous for the youth since the human brain is not developed fully up to 25 years. Some of the negative impacts on teens abusing marijuana include impaired memory in the short term, reduced concentration, problem-solving, and attention span, which all affect learning. Other identified effects include the alterations in motor coordination, control, tracking ability and reaction time. These effects lead to unintended injuries, deaths and poor school performance.

The legalization of marijuana would significantly increase traffic accidents and deaths. In Colorado alone, the traffic deaths related to the use of marijuana increased by 62% (Feeney & Kampman, 2016). The commercialization of marijuana would increase the number of impaired drivers on the road, making the problem worse than it already is. After the legalization was approved in Washington, the number of fatal crashes increased considerably. Undeniably, cannabis is very addictive. Therefore, its legalization will increase the dependency rates on the drug. Heavy users who relinquish using marijuana could suffer from withdrawal symptoms such as depression, nausea, anxiety, stomach pains, chills, and insomnia. The National Institute on Drug Abuse estimated that nearly four million Americans had met the diagnostic criteria for marijuana use disorder such as dependence, addiction, or abuse (Feeney & Kampman, 2016). At the same time, the legalization of marijuana would benefit organized crime and the black market. The law enforcement agents claim that legal marijuana is an increased chance of widening the black market. Cartels reduce prices that are charged for state-licensed traders. Presently, cartels are trading in drugs such as heroin for marijuana, which opens the way for human and drug trafficking. The local officials claim that Mexican cartels have increased the growth of marijuana under cover of legal operations.

The legalization of marijuana increases mental health problems. Cannabis raises the risks of developing depression, schizophrenia, and related psychiatric disorders. Scholars have identified that recreational smokers of marijuana demonstrated abnormalities in the volume, density and shape of specific areas of their brains. Smoking marijuana results in damaged lung tissues and causes respiratory problems (Neener, 2016). Smoking marijuana damages the liver, which are five times the effects of tobacco. Marijuana has five times as much concentration of carbon monoxide compared to tobacco. Therefore, there are increased risks of stroke and heart attacks after smoking marijuana. The bottom line is that the legalization of marijuana harms businesses as it causes lost productivity and preventable accidents (Neener, 2016). The cultivation of marijuana affects the environment, leading to soil erosion, river diversion, destruction of habitat and deforestation. Cannabis plants need twice the volume of water required for growing tomatoes or grapes. Neener (2016) states that taking water directly from streams and rivers reduce the availability of water for agriculture and affects wildlife species.

A Case Study of Canada

The legalization was a campaign promise, and Canadian consumers like the idea. Statistics Canada Group has shown that the sales of recreational cannabis hit $104 million (Armstrong, 2019). Legalization is an election promise which liberals kept, and there is no opposing...