Argument Essay About Marijuana Legalization

You may be asking yourself whether we should legalize marijuana. This article will discuss the arguments for and against marijuana legalization and its impacts on the justice system. You will also learn about the negative consequences of legalizing marijuana why you should. Then, you can use this information to decide whether marijuana legalization is worth the effort. Or when a “how to write my essay on this topic?” question will rise in your mind.

Arguments for medical marijuana legalization

Medical marijuana should be legal because it has been proven to help with various medical problems. Many Americans suffer from multiple conditions that can be relieved by using marijuana. It is also used to treat certain kinds of pain. Unfortunately, it is still illegal to use marijuana recreationally. There are several arguments against its legalization. The American Medical Association and the American Cancer Society are opposed to the use of medical marijuana.

The quality of marijuana available for medical use is a significant issue. Unfortunately, many marijuana products on the market are of poor quality and have less efficacy and worse side effects. As a result, many scientists and activists have asked the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to allow alternative sources. In 2007, DEA Administrative Law Judge Mary Ellen Bittner ruled that a University of Massachusetts project to grow medical marijuana should be allowed to proceed. However, the DEA has not yet acted on Bittner's ruling.

Another issue is the potential for addiction. One study found that people who use marijuana regularly are at a higher risk of becoming involved with other illegal drugs. Moreover, marijuana users are also more likely to abuse prescription opioids. Moreover, legalizing medical marijuana may eventually lead to a more liberal policy toward marijuana.

Adverse effects of recreational marijuana legalization

The legalization of recreational marijuana has had both positive and negative effects. It has increased the number of people 21 years old and older who use marijuana. Interestingly, legalizing marijuana for recreational use has also led to a significant increase in state tax revenues. Colorado, the first state to legalize marijuana for recreational use, reported an increase in tax revenues of more than $1 billion between 2014 and 2019 and reported $266.5 million in sales for the same period in 2018. Some estimates even claim that legalizing marijuana at the federal level will create over one million jobs.

While legalization advocates argue that legalizing marijuana will create thousands of new jobs, the reality is more complicated. It will not only increase the number of people addicted to marijuana, but it will also result in a rise in traffic accidents, deaths, and teen use. Additionally, marijuana will become commercialized, resulting in a burgeoning "Big Marijuana" industry targeting youths and the poor.

Studies have found that recreational marijuana legalization increases the number of emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and urgent care visits. Furthermore, it has increased the number of children needing pediatric care. In January 2015, the Committee on Obstetrics and Gynecology issued Committee Opinion 722 on marijuana use during pregnancy and lactation.

Impact of legalizing marijuana on the justice system

In the past two decades, more than 800,000 Americans have been arrested on marijuana possession charges. These arrests have disproportionately affected communities of colour, causing substantial economic harm. To address this problem, Governor Christie introduced legislation that would treat possession of small amounts of marijuana as a violation, but the legislature did not adopt it.

Proponents argue that regulating the marijuana market will reduce home invasions and violent crimes associated with illegal marijuana. Currently, many residents who live in areas where the marijuana market is unregulated have to install barricades and traps to protect themselves and their neighbours. This makes law enforcement's job more complex, and the gangs that sell marijuana are often a significant blight on neighbourhoods.

In Colorado, the legalization of marijuana has already had some positive effects. In July, over $1 billion in marijuana sales revenue was generated in that state. In addition to funding school construction projects, the state invests in mental health initiatives and homelessness prevention. The tax revenue has also helped fund hundreds of college scholarships. Legalization has also reduced the number of drug-related deaths in Colorado.

Cannabis reform is also linked to restorative justice and racial equity. States that have legalized marijuana are reinvesting in communities disproportionately affected by the drug war.