Free The Legalization of Marijuana Essay Sample

The legality of marijuana has been a subject of contention in the United States for a long period of time. The consumption and procession of marijuana is deemed illegal in the United States. Different people have presented their arguments for the legalization of marijuana while a large number are also against its legalization. The common point of argument from both sides is that the legalization of marijuana will transform the United States; however what matters is in what capacity the transformations will be measured so as to deem the legalization of marijuana beneficial (Chepesiuk 26). The United States drug policy places stringent measures against those found consuming or in procession of marijuana. This paper identifies the potential benefits associated with the legalization of marijuana with the main purpose of arguing argue for the legalization of marijuana.

From a personal point of view, marijuana should be legalized, just like any other legal recreational drug. Apart from the recreational benefits of marijuana, there are other unaccounted benefits that are associated with marijuana and the benefits that are missed due to marijuana prohibition. The legalization of marijuana in the United States is subject to various impediments which include intensive lobbying by various organizations against the legality of the drug. In the US marijuana is classified as a schedule I drug and this significantly contributes to its illegality.

Rosenthal and Kubby (55) argues that the states perception towards marijuana smokers depicts a worrying trend, which is mostly based on false assumptions on the effects that are associated with marijuana assumption; the state always declares that the wives and children of marijuana smokers are in danger resulting to majority of the children being posted to foster homes. The false information concerning marijuana is always spread around by the various drug controlling authorities without considering the benefits of marijuana.  What the federal state fails to understand is that marijuana smokers always care and support their families and are directed towards ensuring a better future to their children (Rosenthal and Kubby 58). The state then goes ahead to arrest a marijuana smoker on grounds concerning his choice of recreation. If marijuana is to be illegal, then all the other psychoactive drugs should also be made illegal (Rosenthal 81)

Benefits of marijuana legalization

There are a number of benefits of marijuana ranging from medicinal purposes to recreational purposes.  Rosenthal and Kubby (60) infer the benefits of legalization of marijuana in terms of its medicinal value. Marijuana prohibition in the United States has caused the Americans to pay a horrible price in terms of pain and suffering for those who are seriously ill and would have otherwise been given some medication from the illegal marijuana. In addition, there are minimal health complications that are usually attributed to the use of marijuana, implying that the drug is a solution to the recreational needs without posing significant health risks to the users. The drug policies in the united states assures the Americans that marijuana has no medicinal uses, the fact of the matter is that as long as marijuana remains illegal, the majority of the united states citizens are being denied a vital medicine which could otherwise offer medicals solutions to a number of critical illness and other common ailments (Rosenthal & Kubby 60). Of all the outstanding reasons that are aimed at legalization of marijuana, the medical applications of the drugs outweigh all other arguments supporting the legalization of the drug. Research has revealed that some of the infections that marijuana cures include epilepsy, chronic pain, and insomnia; just to mention a few (Rosenthal & Kubby 50). The medicinal value of marijuana cannot be ignored for the sake of its illegality and the perceptions that are always associated with marijuana consumption. It makes no sense for the state to make a drug with medicinal value illegal at the same time making drugs without any medicinal content legal such as alcohol and tobacco. Marijuana is not any more harmful compared to alcohol and tobacco. At least for the sake of medicinal purposes, marijuana should be legalized (Chepesiuk 147).

Another projected benefit towards the legalization of marijuana is possibly due to the fact the criminal justice system would be free of the large number of culprits that have been caught in procession or consumption of marijuana. People who use marijuana as a recreational drug in the United States are many; and with the stringent drug policies especially towards the use and possession of marijuana, it implies that many marijuana smokers are facing the wrath of the law which ultimately leads to congestion in the prison cells and a strain in the criminal justice system. The correctional facilities in the United States are too full, and adding convicts associated with marijuana usage and procession will only serve to worsen the situation (Rosenthal and Kubby 45). The police efforts and court resources could shift towards the solution of more serious crimes compared to the consumption and procession of marijuana. War against crime in the United States is just an expensive project that always fails, especially war against marijuana. The legalization of marijuana will facilitate the reduction of street justice that is always associated with the drugs. Presently, drug disputes in the streets are solved the primitive way; everyone to carry their own cross which in turn usually results to cyclic street violence (Holland 145).  The legalization of marijuana will therefore serve to eliminate such street violence scenes that are presently a common occurrence.

The legalization of marijuana presents an opportunity for business and source of income for the federal government. Majority of drug money that is related with marijuana always ends up in the hands of illegal drug traffickers. The alcohol and the cigarette industry always serve as a large source of tax to the government and therefore, in the same capacity marijuana should not be an exception. This can only be achieved through legalization of the drug which will facilitate the sprawl of legit marijuana business and a source of income for the involved participants. It is illogical for the government to promote other recreational drugs that are more harmful than marijuana and at the same time make marijuana which is least dangerous illegal (Zuckerman 102).

Conclusion

It is arguably evident that the benefits of marijuana legalization far outweigh the negative impacts. It comes to a double advantage that marijuana can serve the double functions of both medicinal and recreational purposes compared to other recreational drugs that are legal. Marijuana has no health risks compared to alcohol and tobacco, therefore it makes no sense for the United States government to illegalize a less harmful drug and legalize more harmful drugs. There has never been a reported death associated with marijuana. Marijuana should therefore be legalized in order to life better for the majority of Americans. The potential benefits associated with the legalization of marijuana identified in the paper includes its medicinal values, reduce the strain on the criminal justice system due to the war on marijuana and that it can be used as a source of revenue just like other recreational drugs. Basing this, it can be concluded that only effective solution to address the problem of the war on marijuana is to legalize marijuana.

 

Have NO Inspiration
to write your essay?

Ask for Professional help