Essay Sample on Marijuana Legalization: Examining Personal Motives

Introduction

Over the recent past, debates on the legalization of marijuana with unusual and contradicting research have continued to escalate. The opposers and proposers on legalization of the Cannabis take into account different perspective, yet when these arguments are critically examined, they narrow down to the personal motive. There numerous articles, journals, and reports that have been published, all having different perspectives of why or why not marijuana should be legalized. It has been noted; however, that a significant number of the supporters argue from the medical and economic viewpoints, while the opposers arguing from the health effects point of view. The greater question is whether the Federal government should be the dictator of the legislation or the citizens be responsible for their actions?

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Nonetheless, the state of New Hampshire is making headlines over the new bill to legalize creational marijuana. The law has caused numerous reactions from both the public and the Congress with some supporting the bill while others opposing it. It is already evident that New Hampshire and the Northeast region is already suffering massive drug-related overdose deaths (Taylor, 2019). Thus, this essay endeavors to examine the benefits and dangers of using cannabis, why it was illegal, and the motivation behind legalization, and the impact likely to be experienced over legalization of recreational marijuana in New Hampshire State.

Historically, marijuana earliest records and use were both for medicinal and recreational purposes. According to the Drug Policy Alliance DPA Marijuana Drug Facts booklet, marijuana earliest record was in China, 12,000 years ago (Drug Policy Alliance, 2016). However, the first medicinal use of the plant dates back 4,000 B.C where it was used as an anesthetic during surgery. Three thousand years later, the plant was first used for recreational reasons in south India and was praised for reducing anxiety (Drug Policy Alliance, 2016). By the medieval time, the crop reached Europe; the Germans used it to minimize birth pains and in relieving toothaches pain. The plant found its way into the United States during the early migrations period and remained to a used drug mainly in the medicinal aspects. However, in1941 the plant was criminalized not primarily from the past event after the Mexican revolution (Drug Policy Alliance, 2016).

America was experiencing an influx of migrations from Mexico. These new 'Americans' came with their culture, language, and traditions (Burnett & Reiman, 2014). Among the traditions was the use of "marihuana" as a relaxant and medicine. It had not been realized yet that the "marihuana" the Mexicans used was the cannabis that had filled most of the drug stores. The foreign term and the threat of the Mexicans increasing population evoked the media to propagate fear to the public of the disruptive Mexican culture and the dangers of these native cultures. To control these new immigrants, the government had to regulate "marihuana." On the hearing of marijuana law in the mid-1930s, there were propagated claims that "marihuana" had the ability to turn people of color into violence and solicit sex from the white communities. Remember that during this period, segregation was at its prime. To prevent such from happening and monitor the Mexicans, the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 was enacted into law, and banned the use or selling of marihuana (Burnett & Reiman, 2014). In 1970s, the law was considered unconstitutional and the Controlled Substance Act enacted in the 1970s that ranked cannabis as a Schedule I drug. This category of drugs were believed to be the most dangerous ad highly addictive.

In polls carried out by the Drug Policy Alliance, there was more public support for the legalization of cannabis since 2004. The institution believes that cannabis was not a Schedule I drug, and be regulated just like tobacco and alcohol (Drug Policy Alliance, 2019). There has been a wide range of support to end marijuana prohibition because it is an association with racial discrimination and the medicinal benefits that are not being utilized. Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey, Khanna (CA-17), and Barbara Lee (CA-13) introduced the Marijuana Justice Act in support of ending the federal prohibition of marijuana. Doing so would be an act of supporting racial justice, and a strategy that will aid in repairing the most devastated communities by the war on drugs such as the Mexicans and people of color (Drug Policy Alliance, 2019). It was also a way of reducing criminal activities, especially drug-related crimes. Violence and corruption. Although by legalizing marijuana, it would create more job opportunities and be one of the most abundant grown cash crops under the rule of law (Drug Policy Alliance, 2019).

Although such states as California, Washington DC, New York, and now the speculated New Hampshire, opioids drugs remain a considerable problem. In N.H, the opioid crisis is getting out of hand, recording the highest per capita death rate from opioid overdoses. The State is pending hundreds of millions of dollars to fight opioids said governor Chris Sununu, who is against the bill to legalize marijuana in N.H (Taylor, 2019).

Over the years since the California State legalized medical and recreational use of marijuana, it has caused a substantial shift in attitudes towards it. Potential problems resulting from approval, growing, dispensation, production and processing, administration, and the adverse health effects are still a new challenge. Although supporters argue that there has been medicinal marijuana use across the different historical events and cultures, the same rigorous approval followed in the production of prescribed medicines should be followed (Wilkinson, 2013). There is also a lack of evidence for therapeutic use. Generally, in the United States, medication drug are highly scrutinized, and multiple tests conducted to evaluate their efficiency and safety for use. While some studies suggest that marijuana, use has been a beneficial component in the treatment and pain relieving in Cancer, HIV/AIDS, epilepsy, and chemotherapy treatments. However, with the unfavorable side effect, there is no clear evidence to justify the use (Wilkinson, 2013).

Marijuana is the only smoked 'medication' which contradict universal campaigns against smoking. There legitimate concerns about the long-term effects caused by smoking marijuana. Compared to tobacco smoking and cigarette smoke, marijuana smoke is three times denser, and results in four times inhaled carbon monoxide, and three-time inhaled tar concentration in lungs (Tetrault et al., 2007). Moreover, marijuana smoking is a leading contributor to lung cancer (Sasco et al., 2002).

Recent studies showed that short-term exposure is linked to bronchodilation. Bronchodilation is a medical complication that results in dilation of bronchi and bronchioles, thus decreasing the resistance of airway and respiratory and increasing airflow to lungs. Physiologic data, experimental research and medical examinations show that long-term cannabis use and especially smoking and vaporization is linked to increased respiratory complications such as obstructive lung disease (Tetrault et al., 2007).

Another reason why creational marijuana use should be utilized is the political and economic effects related to it. Rep. Stephen Pearson, one of the opposers of the bill urged the House to reject the proposal. He argued that the states that have legalized marijuana such as California, and Washington have failed to meet their revenue expectations (TUOHY, 2019). He also added that marijuana remained illegal at the federal level. Moreover, the bill has also caused controversial reactions to taxation. Initially, taxation was set at $30 an ounce; later the bill proposed recreational marijuana for adults 21 and older be taxed at 5 % at the cultivation and levels and 9 % at the retail level. Bill's calculations were outdated, and this could result in serious problems in the future (TUOHY, 2019).

Acute side effects of cannabis present impairment in several cognitive function components. The most robust effects are short-term episodic and memory, decision-making and planning, accuracy, response speed, and latency. Studies reported increased risk-taking and impulsivity (Madras & Hospital, 2015). Less experienced and new users of cannabis experienced stronger intoxicating effects on concentration and attention, which makes them feel fatigued, hangover, extreme thirst, and sweating. Other risks include impairs movement coordination, increased risk of injuries from interference in driving skills or machine operations (Madras & Hospital, 2015).

On the other hand, however, supporters of the bill argued that legalization of marijuana could be a long-lasting solution for the opioid crisis. In a study conducted in 2018, showed that 21% of cannabis use was associated with medication-assisted treatment (Socias et al., 2018). In another review, states that implemented medical marijuana programs had reduced cases of deaths related to opioid overdoses (Bachhuber, Saloner, Cunningham, & Barry, 2014). Nevertheless, NH has the highest death rate of an opioid-related drug overdose. There is no need to add risk by the legalization of recreational marijuana that we do not know what it does to our bodies. Legalization of recreational marijuana is only a Band-Aid solution (temporary) to a severe federal level felony and drug-abuse crisis. Instead, NH should come up with a solution that can help the opioid addict and decrease the death rate.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the legalization of recreational cannabis bill in New Hampshire has resulted in mixed reactions. Counter arguments from both the Senate and the House of representatives escalate as an amicable solution is being sorted. Cannabis or marijuana has long existed, and has been used as a medicinal herb over centuries. However, its illegalization 1937 was as a result of the threats and speculations that it caused people of color to be violent and to solicit sex from the white community. However, with improved civilization and modernization in the production, and use of marijuana progress, and the legalization in most of the states surrounding NH, the final decision lies not on the federal or state government, but to the local people. Approval for medical use to some extent proves marijuana could be useful. However, its therapeutic implications remain a challenge that will require more resource in addition to the opioid crisis facing NH. Thus, I firmly believe that legalizing recreational marijuana will be adding another burden to the already existing one of drug abuse.

References

Bachhuber, M. A., Saloner, B., Cunningham, C. O., & Barry, C. L. (2014). Medical Cannabis Laws and Opioid Analgesic Overdose Mortality in the United States, 1999-2010. JAMA International Medicine, 174(10), 1668- 1673. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2014.4005

Burnett, M., & Reiman, A. (2014, October 8). How Did Marijuana Become Illegal in the First Place? Retrieved from The Drug Policy Alliance: http://www.drugpolicy.org/blog/how-did-marijuana-become-illegal-first-place

Drug Policy Alliance. (2016). DPA Marijuana Drug Facts Booklet. New York: Drug Policy Alliance.