Legalization of Marijuana (Essay Sample)

Legalization of Marijuana
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Legalization of Marijuana
Many countries across the globe have criminalized the use and sale of marijuana. However, landmark decisions that have legalized marijuana use and sale in some U.S states have reignited the debate about whether to legalize marijuana or not. On one hand, proponents of marijuana legalization have opined that such an action will regulate marijuana use and sale, reduce drug-related crime and increase tax revenues. Conversely, critics have argued that the legalization of marijuana will seriously inflate the number of drug addicts and the cost of rehabilitating addicts (Jenkins, 2006). Marijuana remains an illegal drug, which causes deleterious health effects and other societal vices. Therefore, it is not prudent to legalize marijuana given its impacts on society.
According to Hall and Degenhardt (2009), Marijuana is an addictive drug. Findings from various studies have exemplified the health effects of marijuana addiction and dependency. First, Clay, Allen and Parran (2008) found out that patients with marijuana addiction and dependency had a higher risk of ICU admission than those who do not use marijuana. Second, the Office of National Drug Control Policy has reported that marijuana complications are the major contributors to emergency room admissions in the United States. Advocates of marijuana legalization have maintained that the drug increases potency among its users. On the contrary, marijuana has predisposed users to the increased risk of emergency care (Hall & Degenhardt, 2009).
The push for marijuana legalization stems from the need to diversify revenue sources (Goldstein, 2010). In contrast, marijuana use affects health and well-being. Nevertheless, marijuana use is associated with crime and loss of productivity (Suchyta et al., 2008). Thus, the cost of treating and rehabilitating marijuana addicts, as well as, the cost of lost work productivity outweigh the revenues from marijuana taxation (Goldstein, 2010). Samuels (2013) has opined that the proponents of marijuana legalization are pushing forward personal agendas. It is inconsequential to accrue large sums of money from marijuana taxes and then use the money to rehabilitate hardcore addicts.
Moreover, policy makers in favour of marijuana legalization hold the view that its legalization will minimize drug-related crime. The focal point of argument is that legalization of marijuana will make policing more organized and efficient (Samuels, 2013). Nonetheless, Goldstein (2010) has contested this school of thought by asserting that marijuana addiction thrusts young people into crime to assuage their thirst for marijuana. On the flipside, marijuana legalization will translate into increased policing and oversight costs. Legalization of marijuana will regulate the amount of marijuana than an individual can possess. Consequently, the government will require more law enforcers to ensure compliance with consumption limits (Suchyta et al., 2008).
The discussions beforehand have highlighted the adverse effects of legalizing marijuana. Among the significant ramifications of marijuana are addiction and dependency. Legalization of marijuana will expand the number of users. Accordingly, health departments and social services will spend large sums of taxpa...