The legality, legitimacy, and morality of legalizing the use of cannabis have long been a subject of debate over the years. It will intrigue your curiosity in determining how much drug usage should be authorized and which age groups are most suited to the exception. Examining marijuana reveals various advantages and disadvantages of its use; hence, acute, intelligent, and reasonable judgment will strengthen support for or oppose its decriminalization.
Despite the adverse consequences of smoking weed, such as; hallucinating, panic, short-term memory loss, chronic anxiety, cognitive impairments, and lowered situational awareness, the consumption of marijuana should be encouraged, particularly in medical contexts for anesthetic reasons. It has been ascertained that cannabinoid oil is an ideal pain killer for medical purposes. Since pain is the primary reason for getting a medical prescription for marijuana, all states should welcome the medical benefits of the natural plant. Doctors frequently prescribe marijuana to relieve pain caused by cancer, migraines, or diseases such as nerve discomfort.
A lot of people may be curious about how the medication is used and what dosages are appropriate. Medical cannabis, on the other hand, can be vaporized (heated till active chemicals are produced, but no fumes are created), eaten (usually in the form of cookies and candies), smoked, and lastly consumed as a liquid excerpt. Whichever sort of prescription is chosen, it will completely cure the ache.
Doctors may also prescribe marijuana to treat muscular spasms commonly induced by seizure disorders, multiple sclerosis, Crohn’s disease, nausea caused by cancer therapy, and loss of appetite and weight caused by terminal illnesses like HIV. According to Laura Borget, a PharmD at the University of Colorado, cannabis is a substance that impacts pain and inflammation. It is achieved by altering the molecules in the body that cause pain, causing them to operate effectively, hence eliminating the pain. The FDA has authorized THC, a major component in marijuana, to help alleviate nausea and increase appetite. There are two prescriptions available: Marinol (dronabinol) and Cesamet (nabilone).
Irrespective of the campaign to decriminalize cannabis, certain rules and restrictions must regulate its legalization. It is because its excessive usage causes serious adverse effects such as hallucinations. Nobody knows what the drug’s adverse effects are because it is not completely regulated like other FDA medications, but it is critical to set consumption limits. For example, when taking it, one has no idea about its purity, cancer-causing potential, potency, or adverse effects. There is a need to introduce permits for approved prescriptions, and only those with a doctor’s recommendation should be able to use medicinal marijuana. The age aspect should be considered since doctors would not prescribe medicinal marijuana to eighteen-year-olds and below. Pregnant women, individuals with heart conditions, and anyone with a history of mental illness should also refrain from using medical marijuana. Apart from the medicinal aspect, which needs to be the primary justification for the decriminalization of marijuana, the civil liberties of the majority of individuals should be protected. Every citizen of the United States should be able to express their views freely. According to opinion polls, the majority of residents support the liberalization of the substance. For ages, the plant continues to be smoked, and most users assert that it is a natural herb with no reported fatalities (Lynne et al., p1505). A survey of people’s perspectives at (DEBATE.ORG) reveals that sixty-three percent favor the initiative to legalize marijuana, while thirty-seven percent oppose it
However, it is striking that among the thirty-three percent, a few of them somewhat favor the campaign, quoting from one anonymous discussion, “It is unfair to anyone who does not require it. Marijuana can be used as a treatment for unwell individuals or those who need it; however, using marijuana when you do not need it is considered substance misuse. Marijuana can treat ailments, not for intoxication purposes; why take medication when you are not feeling unwell? Consider this.” The statement elaborates that when a person needs to consume marijuana, their desire must not be violated, so legalization is justified.
According to research, the main hazard of using cannabis is victimizing people for their smoking habits, even when a controlled substance usage has only mild side effects such as skepticism and paranoia. Unlike tobacco and alcohol, which kill over 400,000 people each year, cannabis has no history of causing such mortality and has never caused chaos. Hence, its legalization will force the deadly drug lords out of the market, allowing for rationality and the safety of people. Another debater at (Mr0strich8020) remarked that they found it absurd the state uses billions of taxpayer money each year incarcerating harmless cannabis users. Marijuana legalization would put dangerous drug gangs out of business, leading to reduced violence and crime.
Decriminalizing cannabis will boost the country’s income. Legal marijuana has the potential to generate millions, if not billions, of dollars in taxes. It would be realized from approved farming and dealing that would, in turn, increase national revenue (Cerda, p.24). The legalization of marijuana has the potential to increase U.S taxation to an estimated $225 billion. Colorado’s tax income was recorded as $67,594,323 in 2014, and it had risen year after year to $109,002,969 in January of 2018. Hence when cannabis is authorized, the United States will flourish greatly.
On the contrary, cannabis is addictive. According to studies, up to one-tenth of users acquire dependency over time (Debating Europe). When you stop using marijuana, you may experience withdrawal, panic attacks, and irritability. Weed addiction affects more than half of the 7.3 million persons in the U.S. who are categorized as having an illegal substance dependency or abuse—having it legalized means that more persons will consume it, including children, and that more individuals will get hooked.
Regardless of how divided opinions may be regarding the decriminalization of cannabis, it is clear that the benefits of this natural plant, such as its use for anesthetic reasons and financial benefit generated from legalized marijuana, outweigh the perceived disadvantages of the drug. Hence, every state should support the legalization of cannabis.
Works Cited
Cerdá, Magdalena, et al. “Medical marijuana laws in 50 states: investigating the relationship between state legalization of medical marijuana and marijuana use, abuse and dependence.” Drug & Alcohol Dependence 120.1 (2012): p 22-27.
Debating Europe. “Arguments For And Against Legalising Cannabis – Debating Europe.” Debating Europe, https://www.debatingeurope.eu/focus/arguments-legalising-cannabis/#.YOiC3DNR3IU. Accessed 9 July 2021.
Ketcham III, Max Lee. Illicit Drugs: Should they be legalized? Can technology and regulation make them safer?. Diss. 2016.
Lynne-Landsman, Sarah D., Melvin D. Livingston, and Alexander C. Wagenaar. “Effects of state medical marijuana laws on adolescent marijuana use.” American journal of public health 103.8 (2013): p. 1500-1506.
Mikos, Robert A. “On the Limits of Supremacy: Medical Marijuana and the States’ Overlooked Power to Legalize Federal Crime.” Vand. L. Rev. 62 (2009): 1419.
