Pros and Cons of Legalizing Marijuana

Pros and Cons of Legalizing Marijuana

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I have reviewed quite a few articles regarding the pros and cons of legalizing marijuana and I have found that there are more pros listed than cons. I do not want to appear to be on one side of the fence or the other. I just want to give the best information for both sides. Marijuana prohibition began in 1913 in California. Twenty-nine states had banned it by 1931 and the Marijuana Tax Act in 1937, signed by President Roosevelt, was put into place as the federal ban of marijuana. The debate to pass the bill only lasted for about an hour and was solely signed based on a study that was conducted with canines.

In a case where 300 dogs were injected with marijuana in their brains and two of them died. So the drug must be bad. Millions of people like to use marijuana simply for a therapeutic benefit or their own personal pleasure. According to what I have read; the common problem attributed to marijuana is frequent overuse, which can lead to lethargic behavior, but does not have any long-term side effects. It can cause short-term memory loss but only while under the influence. It does not impair long-term memory at all. It does not cause brain damage, genetic damage or damage to the immune system.

However, it has been proven that if smoked on a long-term basis it can cause bronchitis. Consuming marijuana via non-smoking methods can totally eliminate respiratory problems from the drug. Marijuana can be consumed multiple ways. Medical patients use vaporizers, which heat the marijuana to produce a vapor. There are also marijuana-infused edibles, teas, and lotions. The use of marijuana is routine in some cultures for religious practices; Jamaicans drink a marijuana-based tea. Currently California is the only state that marijuana is legal but only for medicinal purposes.

It is used to prevent nausea during chemotherapy treatment, treat some AIDS symptoms, relieve muscle spasms for people with spinal cord injuries as well as treating people with depression. Scientist say that it is hard to establish research on the drug because many people who smoke marijuana currently or have smoked tobacco at some point in their lives. But research states that around 9% of people who use marijuana will eventually meet clinical criteria for dependence. This number is slightly higher among those who start as adolescents.

Marijuana does not seem to produce addiction in itself, but some evidence suggests that there are similarities in the way marijuana and other drugs affect the brain. There is no evidence of fatal overdoses, however, panic attacks or psychotic symptoms while under the influence can be considered non-fatal overdoses. Currently Colorado, Washington, and Oregon are all considering legalizing marijuana under Amendment 64. This Amendment will legalize marijuana for adult use only while regulating and taxing it similar to alcohol and cigarettes.

Underage possession, sales to minors and driving under the influence would all still be illegal and still punishable for those who violate regulations. Sixty-one percent of Colorado voters are in favor of the legalization as long as it is regulated. The Amendment seeks to legalize it in the sense of allowing large-scale

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commercial production and distribution for profit and not just for medical use. If legalized, it is projected to produce in the upwards of $60 million a year in revenue.

The fears of the legalization include: the dangers of secondhand smoke would increase with the more widespread use; it would increase the chances of the drug falling into the hands of kids; it could send a message to kids that drug use is acceptable. Because of drug-related arrests, people feel that they are better taken off of the streets to prevent them from committing a more serious crime. On the other hand, supporters look for potential tax revenues, reduced enforcement cost, more room in the court systems for those who have committed a more serious crime and the potential for elimination of racially discriminatory enforcement practices.

Legalization may also bring product differentiation since producers try to avoid the classic problem of competition. Joe Messerli (September 6, 2011). Should Marijuana be Legalized Under any Circumstances?. [ONLINE] Available at: http:/www. balancedpolitics. org/marijuana_legalization. html. [Last Accessed October 13, 2012]. Matt Ferner (September 4, 2012). Marijuana Legalization: What Everyone Needs to Know. [ONLINE] Available at: http:/huffingtonpost. com/2012/09/04/marijuana-legalization-research_n_1850470. html. [Last Accessed October 13, 2012].

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