Should Marijuana be legal for public use? (Research Paper Sample)

LEGALIZING MARIJUANA
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Introduction
One of the most contested debates of the recent past regards the legalization marijuana. Several of the states such as Oregon, Washington and in Alaska have already made their mark on the debate. This has generated quite a number of conversations on the same, with several states divided over the issue. There is a sharp divide that has ensued from the various factions of the debate. Those that are against feel that the alcoholic and cigarette smoking problems are enough for the public health and adding cannabis to the list is a bit of a stretch. Part of this faction also feels that marijuana is addictive, is said to have mental implications and has been the reason for decimated lives of most people across the globe. Those in support of marijuana legalization feel that, the drug rakes in millions for the drug cartels in the international markets and legalizations would siphon these to the right economic channels. Most research supporting the legalizations; also indicate that the drug is much safer than alcohol and cigarettes. At the same time the war on drugs is quite expensive for the economy and should instead be taxed to reap the benefits and develop better control (Motel, 2014).
The Controlled Substance
Marijuana, according to the federal law is a controlled substance as per schedule 1. This is the reason that growing, possessing or just being in possession of marijuana has landed quite a number in jail. Other than the fact hat those prosecuted face the punishment for committing a federal crime, violating the federal controlled substances act will also come with its consequences that fall under the federal laws. This means that in the event that one is convicted of having, distributing or growing the controlled substance, they may loose their right to bear arms, loose their homes, jobs, tax benefits and other banking services that would see the person prosper. All these are within the rights of the federal authorities to confiscate and implement the bans (Marijuana and the Controlled Substances Act, 2014).
This has not deterred some of the states to come up with state laws that legalize the use of the drug. In places like California, marijuana is legalized for medical use. More than 20 other states have developed the legal regimes to allow their citizens to enjoy marijuana for medical purposes while others have gone further to make a recreational drug. This has created a lot of conflict between the state laws and the stipulation of the federal laws on controlled substances ( Marijuana and the Controlled Substances Act, 2014).
The Controlled Substance Act
Enacted in the year 1970, the comprehensive drug abuse prevention and control act was designed to facilitate and regulate controlled substances from the point they are manufactured, distribution and use of the same. In this case, the regulation relates to purposes for research, medicine and the aspect of industrial use, such that these substances are not diverted and used for illegal purposes. Based on the potential of a drug or substance to be abused, used for medical purposes, liability of dependence or safety on the same, the CSA places some of the drugs, chemicals (depressants, anabolic steroids, narcotics, hallucinogens and stimulants), and plants under the five schedules. While the substances that are in the second to the fifth schedule have been found to have some medical use while those that are classified in the first schedule do not have any medical purposes recognized, limiting their use (Marijuana and the Controlled Substances Act, 2014). The fact that marijuana falls under the first schedule, means that it has a high potential for abuse and there are no agreed safety uses of the same. However it can be used on bona fide researches that are approved by the government. However there are mechanisms that have been set out in the CSA to add substances to the first schedule remove them or reschedule between the schedules.
State laws conflicting CSA
In conflict with the federal laws, some of the states have reduced the possession charges to small amounts and the offenses classified under civil and state laws. Although marijuana is classified under schedule one, some of the states have now established laws allowing for its use in various capacities. One of the terms that have now become very common among the citizens and the legal corridors is medical marijuana. In the state laws, the doctors recommend for the use marijuana instead of prescribe and the drug is dispensed other than acquired over the counter at the local pharmacies. In most of the cases the medical marijuana has been recommended for patients that are suffering from chronic pain especially due to chronic diseases such as cancer and gout among others. In states such as California, Washington and Colorado, patients and care givers are shielded from repercussions of handling the drugs or recommending them (Marijuana and the Controlled Substances Act, 2014).
Some states have gone further and implemented into law retail marijuana. This means that citizens in these states such as Washington and Colorado have a chance to buy regulated amount of marijuana from certain certified shops, without the medical nexus legally. In an initiative dubbed 502, licensed retailers can distribute and sell marijuana to clients in Washington. This initiative also allows the citizens in Washington DC to be in possession of 72 ounces of infused in liquid, 16 ounces infused in solid products and they can possess one ounce of dried marijuana. However, the citizen would have to be 21 years and above (Marijuana and the Controlled Substances Act, 2014).
Legalization Opinion and debate
The debate on the practicality of legalizing marijuana has been around for quite some time. Opinions on the same have been shifting rapidly over the last few years, with majority of the population opting to for the legalization bid. According to a study conducted by Motel in 2014, more than 52% of the population is in support of legalization of the drug (Motel, 2014). While a significant 45% still want the drug to remain illegal. Across the generation divide, only the silent generation (1928-1945) is not vouching for legalization in large numbers (Ic.galegroup.com, 2011). The rest of the baby boomers, Generation X and the Millennial are supporting the move to legalize the drug in massive numbers. Most of the people also according to the study, believe that taking alcohol is more harmful to ones health that taking marijuana. However, most of the participants also cited that they would be bothered if the legalization would mean that marijuana is used in public. In total, currently about 27 states as well as the District of Columbia, have some form of legalization of marijuana (Motel, 2014).
The Main Concerns
The drug predisposes use of hard drugs
In the past some of the researches have indicated that using marijuana predisposes the user to try out other drugs. As a result most of the people that use marijuana are said to end using the hard drugs once the high on marijuana proves quite low (Murray, 2014). This means that, most of the people that have read the reports indicating the same, would not want the drug legalized as it would increase the chances of the population using the hard drugs such as heroin and cocaine once they are introduced to marijuana.
Exposure to the youths
One of the researches carried out by Khatapoush and Hallfors in 2004 on the effects of legalization, provides some of the most insightful findings. In the study, they evaluated the claims that legalization of marijuana in California, may have sent out the wrong message to the rest of the population when medical marijuana was legalized. Ideally, the study assesses the attitudes of the youths and young adults with reference to drugs after marijuana was legalized (Khatapoush & Hallfors, 2004). The study revisits the fact that the state laws and the federal laws have for quite some been in conflict over the issue. Further the study points out that there critic, who feel that the legalization of marijuana is going to increase the likelihood of youths and young adults abusing drugs (Motel, 2014). According to the findings of the study, there have been wide spread support for the use of marijuana in medical fields and general legalization of the same. However, the authors found there was no relationship between the legalization and the element of influencing the attitudes of the youths and the young adults into using marijuana or other drugs (Motel, 2014).
In another research addressing the aspect of legalization and the influence that is going to have on the youths and drug use, the finding also indicated intriguing result. In the research by Friese and Grube carried out in 2013, tried to establish the true affects that the legalization of marijuana in Montana. According to the findings the aspect of legalizing marijuana has not had significant impact on the use by the youth. The study states that much of the relationship that exists is suggestive and the more research is required to build on the case. However, it also highlights the increased vigor in support of legalization that has come up in the last several years (Friese & Grube, 2013).
Impact on health
One of the main issues related to marijuana is that is considered ne of the most addictive drugs in the market. This means that most of the people that develop the addiction also tend to have some form of dependency on the drug to perform their normal tasks. The potential of an addiction is crucial as, this affects the persons involved at the professional levels and personal levels. This leads to reduced productivity (Friese & Grube, 2013).
Cannabis has also been found to affect the brain and thus affects its functionality. When THC is absorbed into the blood stream, it ta...