Marijuana Legalization Controversy (Essay Sample)

Marijuana Legalization Controversy Name Institution Course Name and Number Instructor Date The Controversy Surrounding the Legalization of Marijuana The American Dream is here, and every citizen has set their sights on it especially following the legalization of marijuana. Moreover, every citizen is keen to avoid any threat likely to thwart the opportunity in their pursuit of the American dream. The American Dream is here and none of the liberal-minded citizens of America, young or old, wants to be left out in its attainment. The legalization of marijuana is the ladder that every citizen ought to climb in the realization of the American Dream. All through the United States, there is a controversy surrounding the legalization of marijuana for every citizen, and various bodies have received the news with mixed reactions and opinions. There is a controversy concerning the legalization of marijuana in the United States. There have been conflicting statements regarding the issue in that there are conflicting arguments concerning the mental and health problems and the public safety issues claimed to be associated with the use of marijuana. It is true that for every opportunity that presents itself, there are associated obstacles that one has to trample to seize the opportunity. In this case, the opposing viewpoints are the bottlenecks that the citizens have to avoid so that they achieve the American dream through legalization of marijuana. There are contradicting views about the legalization of marijuana in America. The opposing sides include the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the Psychology Today, the CNBC and the American Society of Addiction Medicine. Some people claim that marijuana is addictive and impacts negatively on the health of individuals and should not be legalized, but if legalized the Americans will benefit more from its positive effects such as increased revenues, improved medication and freedom of choice to use the drug. With the legalization of marijuana, the government adds an economic muscle to itself with the revenues it will get in the process yet some have conflicting viewpoints regarding the drug. Through legalization of marijuana, the government adds to itself the economic muscle necessary for the improvement of the living standards of its people. Through the sale of marijuana, the government can collect taxes as they are the primary source of government revenue. Still, Sevigny et al. argue that the drug has adverse effects some of which they fail to explain further. The fact that some people have opposing viewpoints to the drug means that they are trying to stop the government from raising its taxes. The increased revenue for the government will work towards the elevation of the living standards of the Americans although some still oppose the legalization of marijuana. A technical report prepared by the American Academy of Pediatrics claims that the drug has a psychopharmacologic impact on the youth. This report is an example of an illustration of the controversy surrounding the drug with an opposing viewpoint. Nevertheless, Keppel (2012) acknowledges that the marijuana outlets are not centers of crime as some other sources claim. The legalization of marijuana in America comes with it the freedom that the American citizens could have been waiting for so long now although the American Academy of Pediatrics explains the potential impact on the youth in a different way. The technical report does not have sights on the American Dream but instead divert to the potential impact on the youth. They claim that marijuana stimulates the release of dopamine in the brain to generate the same effect as that of other addictive drugs (Joffe et al, 2004). Freedom is one of the pillars of the American Dream, and the legalization of marijuana is a step forward towards the attainment of the freedom as no citizen will be wary of losing their freedom. The technical report also claims that the legalization will be the factor to trigger the increased use and the predicted rise in costs both socio-economically and health-wise. The freedom of choice of using the drug in itself is one significant way through which the American citizens will exercise their freedom. According to Wall (2011), those states with restrictions concerning the use of marijuana have more cases of marijuana use due to the curtailed freedom Thus, its legalization is the most opportune moment that has come promptly to them, and the misleading opposition should be overlooked (Joffe et al. 2004). The use of the drug allows one to attain that state of the mind for which every liberal-minded citizen yearns, thus its legalization comes as an enormous boost for the American citizens. Still, some bodies oppose the drug claiming its mental effects do more harm than good. Marijuana use enhances creativity, leads to many interesting perceptions and conversations, and above all has very few downsides. The creativity that comes with the use of marijuana serves as a breakthrough the disillusion that people have always been having concerning the drug. On the contrary, Thurstone et al. (2011) claim that labeling marijuana as of medicinal benefits may increase will not change the perception and use. They add that legalization will not be of help as its acceptability may reduce the riskiness of use of the drug. On sampling 80 adolescents, they found out that 48% of them found the drug from someone who has a medical license on marijuana. Thus, the legalization is something that comes at the right time as there is the yearning for the American Dream. As such, its legalization comes as a wake-up call for all the American citizens to get closer to the American Dream Thurstone, Lieberman & Schmiege 2011). In conclusion, over the years, the American citizens have wished to get a...