Marijuana Should be Legalized - Argumentative Essay

Introduction

The efforts to legalize the use of Marijuana in the United States have been raging over the past several years. Currently, nine states in the U.S have legalized cannabis for recreational use. These states are Nevada, Colorado, Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Nevada, California, Vermont, and Massachusetts. The fact that these states have decriminalized marijuana for recreational use has ultimately geared more chaos. The controversial issue has seriously attracted media attention and drawn both the advocates and critics into the unending debate. While the supporters of the problem regularly quote revenue production as the reason why marijuana should be legalized, critics cite the adverse effects linked with its addictive use.

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Thesis: Legalizing and regulating marijuana in the country has several health benefits and is likely to boost the economy.

Explanation of Reason #1

Marijuana contains proven medicinal properties that are beneficial for patients who suffer from a variety of diseases and ailments. Both scholars and scientists are constantly searching for solutions to health problems. The discovery of cannabis as a plant that cures numerous health challenges facing many people today has greatly been helpful. It is a common understanding among the advocates of the debate that good health equals excellent opportunities and improved quality of life. The presence of medicinal properties in marijuana defines its topmost benefit to many, given its effectiveness to treat several health issues and medical conditions (Barcott 38). For instance, medical marijuana is used to offer relief from severe pain. Most of the traditional pharmaceuticals used for pain relief have been unhelpful to many people. Thus, the introduction of medical marijuana in the healthcare has dramatically transformed the quality of life for many who suffered while using other drugs. The availability of antioxidants in the plant has been helpful to reverse different types of cancer and assist patients to recover quickly. Several ailments are treated using medical marijuana and these include; depression, dementia, Alzheimer, body cramps, joint pain, and arthritis among others.

Opponent's Response to Reason #1

Regardless of the many health benefits that medical marijuana provides in the healthcare sector, critics still insist that its legalization would bring more negative health risks among the users. There exist negatives to the extended use of the drug. Critics argue that legalization brought mass availability and increased utilization of the drug in the society. The result of legalization has been highly linked with the following problems. It affects the chemical sense of balance of the regulatory system of user's brain, and in so doing interfering with the aptitude to cope with daily life (Caulkins & Kilmer 29). High consumption gives rise to an increase in anxiety, paranoia, anger, and violent outbursts. In most cases, such behaviors cause disorder in the society and contribute significantly to the rise of petty crimes. The presence of properties that generate the 'high' linked with its consumption may have severe effects for first-time patients.

Counter Argument

Critics frequently cite that marijuana is unhealthy for the body. However, there is only less evidence that marijuana use causes more danger to the body like the case of tobacco and alcohol, which are freely sold. The claim that increased use of the drug interferes with the chemical sense of balance is vague. The claim perhaps is valid to the use of other drugs such as cocaine and heroin, which directly interferes with human blood and mind performance. The legalization and regulation of medical marijuana imply that patients are given enough amounts to avoid overdose and ensure its practical use in the body (Benyamin 1). Therefore, because of the standard prescription by the licensed dealers, one can presume that first time patients are not likely to experience the 'high' associated with its consumption.

Explanation of Reason #2

Legalization of marijuana is likely to increase tax benefits and consequently boost revenue collection. Cannabis is one of the best selling agricultural products in the country that has the probable to multiply the revenue in any given state. For instance, the state of Colorado has successfully paid their debts, thanks to the taxes collected from the purchase of marijuana in the past 4 years. In fact, the state has been generating enough money ever since it legalized marijuana in 2014. The high amount of funds harvested as revenue has helped the state to improve several elements of its educational system as well as its infrastructure. The Colorado Department of Revenue has recorded a massive benefit of $4.5 billion based on the 4-year sale of marijuana (White 1). The current transformation witnessed in the state of Colorado in the education sector and infrastructure is attributable to the successful legalization of cannabis.

Other states are also scheduling to employ the boost in tax revenue from legalizing the drug to finance projects, which will develop their societies, for instance, repairing roads, constructing new parks, and building extra public services. Undeniably, the economic relief gained from the legalization of marijuana is genuine, and this explains why the advocates are likely to win the debate.

Opponent's Response to Reason #2

Steep expenses are likely to be created for the taxpayers by legalizing marijuana in the society. In that sense, the creation of such costs is expected to outweigh the tax revenue earned from the sale of the drug. The use of marijuana creates more harm to the entire society compared to the individual using it. Some of the typical societal costs of its use comprise of paying for increased medical care, addiction care for the majority uninsured, several victims of drugged driving accidents, high rates of crimes, and adverse effects on health emerging from secondhand smoke (Gogek 19). Indeed, legalization of marijuana would imply adding a harmful substance in the community that has extra costs than the revenue it produces. It would be more important to locate other sources of income, which are safe and not likely to hurt the society at the end.

Counter Argument

A product that has the potential to attract massive benefits in terms of profits or revenue is likely to improve the economy of a state and the country at large. Several concerns have been presented as to who shall receive, control, distribute, tax, and prosecute. It is a common understanding that after legalizing the drug, there must be a body entitled to its distribution, taxation, controlling, and prosecution. Physicians decide the amount of marijuana needed by a patient. Hence, they are accountable for its distribution (Benyamin 1). With every new law comes terms and conditions, thus when there is an infringement, charges apply accordingly. The prosecution is given to those who use medicinal marijuana without physician recommendation. Adhering to such laws would earn benefits while eliminating health risks that may occur from the legalization.

Explanation of Reason #3

Legalized marijuana is regulated for consumer safety and save the amount spent by official's chasings cartels. It is difficult for the people purchasing marijuana on the streets from unknown dealers to know whether it is mixed with pesticides, mold, and other harmful substances, which may affect one's health. Therefore, legalization of the drug will help the government to implement laboratory testing and rules to guarantee that the drug does not contain toxins (Ingraham 1). Several states in the country such as Colorado, Oregon, and Washington have already passed policies to prevent children from exposure to marijuana. Most importantly, legalization would permit the government to define age limits on buyers and to regulate the whole supply chain of the drug, for instance, distributors, growers, and testing laboratories. The government would save more by controlling the legalized marijuana compared to the vast amount invested on officials who chase drug lords without success. Ultimately, legalization is estimated to phase out black markets, reduce crime rates, and wipe out street gangs, thus make the society a better place for all people.

Opponent's Response to Reason #3

Permitting people to access marijuana will increase over-dependence because of its addictive element. When compared to other drugs such as heroin and cocaine, marijuana is somehow less harmful and less addictive. Despite this opinion, it is recorded that the use of marijuana can serve as a stepping-stone to the use of harder drugs. In line with this, there would be an increased number of people attempting to use the drug due to the publicized mutual acceptance and trouble-free access. Daily users who stop consuming marijuana are likely to experience withdrawal symptoms, for instance, anxiety and depression (Ingraham 1). Whether regulated or sold by licensed dealers, the severe effects of using marijuana are likely to hurt the society more and even children are expected to be affected. Addictive users who have enjoyed consuming marijuana sold in the streets would turn into thugs because of lacking a substance that keeps them high. In that sense, the rates of crime would not be lowered by legalizing and regulating the drug in the society.

Counter Argument

It is essential to fight gangs and cartels in the cities to ensure freedom for everyone. This can only be realized by legalizing marijuana because much of the street crimes are mostly linked with the illegal distribution of the drug. Safety and good health is a major concern and a right to every citizen. Licensing dealers has the potential to promote good health for the majority of people who use marijuana.

Conclusion

Several states are considering legalizing marijuana for both recreational and medical use.

With a large number of people demanding medical marijuana to cure their disorders, the country is expected to garner profits due to the taxation of the drug. Therefore, this defines a ground for its economic development. Even though state laws that simply excused eligible consumers of medical marijuana from state trial have constantly endured preemption problems, state laws that positively approve and control medicinal marijuana may bring a challenge to the achievement of the federal goals. In spite of the numerous unsettled queries of preemption, the interaction between federal and state law has provoked a distinctive legal effect.

Works Cited

Barcott Bruce. Weed the People: The Future of Legal Marijuana in America. Time Home Entertainment. Copyright. 2015.

Benyamin Chaya. "Should we legalize marijuana?" The Perspective. https://www.theperspective.com/debates/living/should-we-legalize-marijuana/

Caulkins Jonathan & Kilmer Beau. Marijuana Legalization: What Everyone Needs to Know. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 2016. Print.

Gogek Ed. Marijuana Debunked. Chiron Publications. Copyright. 2015.

Ingraham Christopher. "More and more Doctors want to make Marijuana Legal." The Washington Post. April 15 2016. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/04/15/more-and-more-doctors-want-to-make-marijuana-legal/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.743fbe015d35

White Deborah. "Exploring the Pros and Cons of Legalizing Marijuana in the U.S." ThoughtCo. March 01 2018. https://www.thoughtco.com/pros-and-cons-legalizing-marijuana-3325521