Should Marijuana Be Legalized or Not? Essay Example

The legalization of marijuana is a hot topic in the world today, because it is still considered to be an illegal illicit drug. In my opinion, the marijuana should not be legal in any country because of the social ramifications and health implications would be catastrophic. In a study by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (2015) found that teenagers that smoke marijuana become addicted and haves long-term memory impairment that lowered their IQ points from ages 13 to 38. There are health implications connected with the addictive nature that will eventually damaging the health of the marijuana smoker.

The addictive nature of the marijuana and characteristics of marijuana smokers are clearly evident such as altered senses, losing track of time, mood swings and inability to solve problems logically. The long-term health problems of brain damage, stained teeth, red eyes, and raising the risk of lung diseases. In a study by Joshi, Joshi & Bartler (2014) found that frequent heavy smokers of marijuana will develop medical conditions such as chronic bronchitis, airway inflammation, and chronic pulmonary obstructive disease (COPD).

The second reason marijuana should not be legal is based on the premise that legalizing marijuana causes social disruption and corruption to the communities. In Amsterdam, the legal marijuana coffee shops have increase the crime rates. In addition, the entire country of Netherlands children were smoking pot on the premises, thus banned smoking of marijuana on school grounds (Hawkins, 2014). The country has adolescents that are learning the habit of marijuana smoking at schools, restaurants, in homes and any other public setting in Amsterdam. The freedom to smoke marijuana in the city, state or village can destroying modern society.

Argument

The argument for and against the legalization has some compelling arguments however, the debate continues in the public opinion. The monetary value of revenue that could be generated into the country would be a great benefit to society versus the justification for keeping it illegal because it’s causing long term brain damage? The millions that could be spent on public programs for the poor and needy while providing unlimited tax benefits to all cities and states. However, does the financial benefits outweigh the detrimental aspects of marijuana such as drug addiction?

The benefits from the legalization of marijuana would put a stop the career criminal organizations attempting to control the sale and distribution of marijuana. The career criminal enterprises would be out of business the very same day and the millions that would be saved from government funds trying to prosecute them. In contrast, does the one social goal justify allowing children to grow up in society learning to become addictive to marijuana. The pros and cons on the legalization of marijuana bring about some many good points on both sides of the argument however, this argument will continue until well into next millennium.

Opposition

There is opposition that believe marijuana has many benefits to a city or country when marijuana is legalized. The United States war on pot is spending $42 billion each year trying to prohibit a marijuana usage and trafficking unsuccessfully. (Kampia, 2007). In addition, Kampia (2007) found the United States law enforcement agencies spending $10.7 billion and $31.1 billion lost in tax revenues. The government has many gaps in social programs that could utilize these funds for improving the educational system or helping with funding the cure for cancer or providing a needed heart transplant for a baby.

The legal system is breeding long-term criminals with the drug laws such as repeated offenders for smoking marijuana get long sentences feeding the prison system.  The young teenager at the age of 18 may develop a habit of smoking weed however, the young man is an active collect student and works two jobs to support himself. The young man takes his girlfriend to a movie but is speeding leaving the show which caused him to get searched producing one marijuana cigarette. The young man gets sentenced to 60 days in jail and counseling for drug use. The end result the young man has a life of crime he learned from his short stint in lock up. The example is extreme that one marijuana cigarettes leads to a life of crime but the more they get arrested for marijuana the less they can become productive citizens.

The legalization of marijuana would improve the social conditions because law enforcement would no longer have to pursue marijuana smokers because it’s legal. In addition, the law enforcement agency is spending time sending the marijuana smokers to jail while the marijuana dealer’s remain free and getting rich.  The final reason why the use of marijuana should be legal is because alcohol and tobacco should be the logical choice for what should be illegal. The experiment did not work with prohibition of alcohol that now has become the mainstay of the American way. The tobacco and alcohol together is killing more people in the world than the marijuana pot smoker.  In reality, how many tobacco smokers are dying from cancer every minute of the day and the number of people dying from living disease from long-term use of alcohol? There is not comparison to the social implications that legalizing marijuana would shut-down the pot dealers, the court systems would benefit and marijuana problems would be cut in half. The legalization has already been approved in Colorado and the city of Denver has not shut down.

Works Cited

Hawkins,J.(2014,Jan.)5 reasons marijuana should remain illegal. Retrieved from http://townhall.com/columnists/johnhawkins/2014/01/21/5-reasons-marijuana-should-remain-illegal-n1782086/page/2

Joshi, M.,Joshi,A.& Bartler,T.(2014).Marijuana and lung diseases. Current Opinion Pulmonary Medicine Journal. Vol. 20(2):173-9. doi: 10.1097/MCP.0000000000000026

Kampia,R.(2007,Oct). The War on pot: America’s $42 billion annual Boondoggle. Retrieved from http://www.alternet.org/story/64465/the_war_on_pot%3A_america’s_%2442_billion_annual_boondoggle/

National Institute on drug abuse. (2015).What is marijuana. Retrieved from https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/marijuana