Should Marijuana Be Legalized? Essay Example

Problem Statement

The use and abuse of drugs has become an alarming and important social issue in the United States and other countries throughout the world. Research has indicated that this has become a significant business and social problem in the US today.  Estimates range from $30 billon in lost productivity as a direct result of drug abuse at work. Recreational drugs like marijuana remain at the heart of the controversy and the question of the validity of legalising this drug.

Proposal

It is considered that the US Government should seriously contemplate the legalization of marijuana. It is a relatively harmless soft drug and has a number of distinct medical advantages. The medical uses of marijuana on numerous undies can be used to treat a number of illnesses which include pain relief for  muscle spasms, chronic pain, reduction in interlobular  pressure inside the eye, suppression of nausea, relief of internal high-pressure glaucoma, reduction of grew insistent cancer types, paying relief in multiple cirrhosis, and prevention of seizures or epilepsy. These are a few of the medical uses of marijuana that is being put  to use in the treatment of illness. The program is receiving a lot of attention at the moment because of the high cost of pharmaceutical medicines and the lack of  side effects that occur with taking these types of drugs. (Earleywine)

Herbal medicines are becoming more popular because of the known advantages. The big cost advantage is the fact that they do not have to be manufactured and these can be developed locally and as such  cheaper and more convenient. Although there are very few side effects associated with herbal  medicines you do have to be careful with the potency and this means taking a close look at  the ingredients that are included in the herbal medicines that you purchase. The legalization of Marijuana  would eliminate a black market for the sale of this drug, save the US taxpayers millions of dollars per year and save the US Government the expense of trying to administer and control drug abuse in this area.

Proposal links to medical benefits

The use of marijuana has been around for 4000 years and is well-known in terms of its potential capabilities as a mild relaxant and support in relieving chronic pain. The drug has additional properties to and has  the ability to deal with depression and  certain aspects of mental illness. There are also studies that say marijuana can help with reducing blood pressure and as such treating hypertension issues. Nevertheless, the verdict is still out in terms of where the smoking of  marijuana is a contributing effect towards acquiring lung cancer; as already proven in smoking  tobacco cigarettes. The manufactured drugs,  produced by the major pharmaceutical companies,  are mainly obtained  by prescription and are extremely expensive. (Tandy)

Despite the fact that most of these drugs have passed  clinical trials and/or deemed relatively safe for public use nevertheless, they are  known to produce certain side effects and these can vary in levels of severity. The main benefit to manufactured drugs is the fact that they can treat a wide and diversified range of illness and in addition support surgical techniques. All drugs contain an element of risk and as such should not be taken without being under the guidance or supervision of the physician. There are a wide number of freely available over-the-counter drugs and whilst the pharmacist can be extremely helpful in relating the benefit of these types of drugs, you should always be guided by your physician in the precise use of these. There are always advantages and disadvantages between the use of alternate medicines/ herbal remedies and manufactured drugs. These need to be evaluated very carefully and the decision should not be made on cost alone. Despite the advantages of marijuana if this is used to a high degree over a period of time it potentially  may become addictive.  There is also the danger that it may become a platform  from which to move to harder  unsafe drugs like heroin or cocaine. Another  disadvantage of herbal drugs over prescription drugs is that the side effects on normally measured over long periods of time.

Action and Outcome

It is the US Government that needs to take the action in terms of debate and leading the legal reformation to make marijuana a legal substance in the US.  It is considered that this, in general terms, would be a popular move and receive the support of the majority of the populace. Outcome is measured in a number of ways : (i) The reduction of expenditures in crime control over administering the drug (ii) Removal of a black market system (iii) it may encourage people to move away from hard illegal drugs to softer legal drugs like that of marijuana.  This in terms might prove an additional move to reduce the potency of illegal hard drug trafficking in the US. There can be no hard evidence that this will achieve the outcome but a convincing argument to conduct pilot studies.

Consideration of alternatives

Another consideration is legalising a limited amount of the drug for personal use.  This would involve a relaxation of the existing laws but it may prove difficult to control.  Most of the supply would still be provided to individuals through illegal means and as such the Government would still not be able to control the distribution channels of the drug.

Practicalities

The concept of legalizing marijuana would provide a massive boost to the economy as a tax could be imposed on the sale to create revenue.  There is a large user base and this would stop illegal importation from places like Mexico and Canada and thus stem the tide of money leaving the country for this means.   The sale of Marijuana must be made only through properly licensed distributors and appropriate legal regulations and a framework need to support it.  It can be treated similar to tobacco products with warning messages printed on the packages.

Works Cited

Earleywine, Mitch. Pot Politics: Marijuana and the Costs of Prohibition. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2007.

Tandy, Karen P. “Marijuana: The Myths Are Killing Us.” Police Chief Vol 72 (3) (2005): 14-18.