Economic Analysis: Legalization of Marijuana in Ireland

This research report investigates the economic implications of legalizing Cannabis Sativa (marijuana) in Ireland. It begins by defining the topic, outlining the research aims and objectives, and providing background information on the issues surrounding marijuana legalization. The report explores the potential benefits, such as increased tax revenue and job creation, while also identifying potential risks, including impacts on healthcare and the creation of a black market. A literature review examines the legalization of marijuana on Ireland’s economic status and explores the potential risks. The report also discusses relevant business disciplines and academic areas associated with the topic. It analyzes the experiences of other countries that have legalized marijuana, such as Colorado and Alaska, and evaluates the potential impact on Ireland's economy, considering factors like tax revenue, healthcare, and the regulatory landscape. The report also includes a critical analysis of a text and concludes with a list of references.

Running head: BUSINESS RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
BUSINESS RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author note:

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Table of content
Section 1..........................................................................................................................................2
Description of the research topic.................................................................................................2
Section 2:.........................................................................................................................................2
Aims and objectives of the research............................................................................................2
Background and issues underlying the research..........................................................................3
The justification for the research.................................................................................................4
Business discipline and academic area(s) that relate to the research...........................................4
Section 3: Literature Review...........................................................................................................5
Exploration of the legalization of marijuana on Ireland’s economic status................................5
Identification of the potential risks of legalizing Marijuana.......................................................7
Section 4:.........................................................................................................................................9
Critical Analysis of a Text...........................................................................................................9
References......................................................................................................................................15

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Section 1
Description of the research topic
The topic of this research is the economic impact of Cannabis Sativa on the economy of Ireland.
Cannabis Sativa, which is the scientific name of Marijuana, can be defined as a herbaceous
flowering plant whose origin was in Eastern Asia. Marijuana contains a chemical known as
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) that has been found to block the memory formation of the brain.
Besides that, THC also regulates balance, coordination, posture and reaction time of the
individual who has consumed it. For these negative impacts of the herb, the government of
majorities of the countries across the world along with Ireland has banned the herb. However,
several positive impacts of marijuana have been found in terms of medical purposes. Besides
that, marijuana has the potential to impose several positive impacts on the economy of the
country. Several countries of the Carrabian Island including Jamaica and Alaska has legalized
the consumption of Marijuana for economical purpose. However, in Alaska, the consumption of
the mentioned drug has been limited to one ounce per individual per day. According to the
government of Alaska, legalization of Cannabis Sativa has imposed a highly positive impact on
their economy. Along with that, the drug has shown potential to recover healthcare service users
who are suffering from depression and other psychological issues. It has been reported that better
than expected sales of Marijuana in Washington and Colorado in the year 2016 has resulted in
buoyant tax revenues.
Section 2:
Aims and objectives of the research

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The aim of this research paper is to investigate whether the legalization of marijuana would be
good for the economy of Ireland or not. The objectives of the research paper include:
1. Analysis of the benefits of marijuana on the economy of the countries that have legalized
the mentioned drug
2. Identification of the potential risks of legalizing Marijuana
What will we know once you have completed the research that we do not know now?
Considering the fact that very few numbers of research papers have been conducted on the
impact of legalizing Cannabis Sativa on the economy of Ireland, this research will help the
readers to understand the potential of marijuana to enhance the economy of the mentioned
nation.
Background and issues underlying the research
As being discussed earlier, the high sale of marijuana has enhanced the tax revenues of several
countries across the world. According to researchers, the government of Ireland can ensure a big
hike in the tax revenue by legalizing cannabis. Several pharmaceutical business owners are found
are found to have earned a huge amount of money within a very short period of time (Hajizadeh
2016). Considering the fact that cannabis is not a legalized product, the cost of medal cannabis
products are too high for middle-class health care service users residing in Ireland. In addition to
this, to retain their enhancement in the revenue, the pharmaceutical industries are showing vested
interest to ensure that cannabis is not legalized in the nation. According to the researcher, the
government of Ireland has overlooked and stimulated the creation of a black market and
desolated taxation by making Marijuana illegal (Stone 2014). It is expected that the nation will
be able to enhance its yearly tax revenue by 200 million dollars once Cannabis sativa get

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legalized. Considering the fact that the economy of Ireland is going through a gradual decrement
after the recent recession, this increment in tax revenue is expected to be highly beneficial for the
economy of Ireland. In Colorado, where usage for cannabis has been legalized for medical as
well as recreational purposes, an anon-hallucinogenic component of Cannabis Sativa, known as
CBD are used to treat children with epilepsy or other psychological issues.
The justification for the research
When it comes to legalizing cannabis for enhancement of economy of a nation, several
advantages, as well as disadvantages, can be pointed out. The first and the most lucrative
advantage of legalizing marijuana in Ireland includes enhancement of its tax revenues. For
instance, in the year 2015, Colorado has been found to enjoy more than 135 million dollars in tax
and fee on medical and recreational marijuana. Sales in the state totalled over $996 million
(Glauser 2012). The second advantage of legalizing cannabis Sativa includes more job facilities
for the residence of Ireland. Several states have set up Marijuana nurseries as well as
dispensaries for treating healthcare service users. This, in turn, has not only created job
opportunities but has also imposed a direct impact on the economy of the nations.
Business discipline and academic area(s) that relate to the research
Some of the business disciplines associated with the legalization of cannabis sativa include:
1. The consumers should maintain their production process as per the regulations
regarding any pesticides, fungicides, fertilizers, and other artificial solvents that could
be sustained on the flowers even after the process of cultivation.
2. Potency and dosage of the product must be stated on the packet for novice consumers.

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Section 3: Literature Review
Exploration of the legalization of marijuana on Ireland’s economic status
The beneficial and useful medicinal properties of Cannabis, specifically for pain release
have been acknowledged in several studies. In recent times, the number of nations have
introduced certain significant regulations and programs in order to permit patients to utilize
marijuana in several forms to mitigate the symptoms of a wide range of severe and disabling
diseases. It has been noted that an estimated rate of over 125 million to 190 million people across
the world utilization since 2010 (Ammerman et al. 2015). Such consumption has its occurrence
while the supply and the custody of cannabis that has remained illegal despite certain
jurisdictions that have further introduced supplementary policy strategies such as de facto
directive in Ireland. However, the promotion of legislation of Cannabis has been well-observed
along with the conflicting statements that stated the continuance of the criminal status of
marijuana facilitates several criminal activities and further demands contact with illicit drug
suppliers resulting to the individual possession of certain amounts of cannabis further resulting to
severe losses in taxation and enforcement expenditure (Bifulco and Pisanti 2015). Several studies
have demonstrated the requirement of a methodical and organized assessment of drug policy
options as well as its relevant outcomes. It is further to note that the significance of the role of
economic observation has revealed no significant expenditures and advantages of one legal
alternative over the status quo. Previous research had also assessed the selected results of a
policy change. For instance, the cost effects on the criminal justice system, growth in taxation
revenues, along with the effect on the educational accomplishment. However marijuana supports
claim that marijuana levy licensing as well as the industry could facilitate more revenue
generations in comparison to $8.5 million in government revenue (Lynne-Landsman et al.

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2013). In addition to this, tax revenue protuberances are essentially indecisive as they are reliant
on disputed assumptions about the indefinite effect of black market supply on consumer
stipulation in regulated markets. Furthermore, it must be noted that direct expenditures of
exercising regulation reforms legalizing will result to the increase rate of marijuana consumption
whereby this rise will have direct financial cost in relation to healthcare, social services as well
as criminal righteousness (Ghosh et al. 2016). However the current expectancy of entries in
marijuana demand relies on the nations like Netherlands, Ireland and other regulated foreign
markets whereby adequate information exists in order to obtain the increasing rate of marijuana
that is for example the sensitivity of consumption rates to the shift in the price range. Several
studies demonstrate that the legalization of marijuana preserve for the expenditure in order to
update and reinforce drunken driving regulations as there has been sufficient confirmation that
frequent consumption of such drugs before driving may lead to severe accidents (Crowley et al.
2017). However it is significant to state that the regulation for drinking and driving rules, there
can be an increase in the courts expenditures responsible for the due procedures issues that have
been raised by the conjecture that the continuation of marijuana metabolites in an individual’s
bloodstream are referred as the evidences of intoxication.
It is to be noted that the cost benefit analysis has been conducted in a normative structure
which has explicitly explaining the expenditures and advantages of social regulation across
several domains. The fundamental concept of CBA positions in the idea of Pareto optimality that
is regarded as no individual should be ill-treated under any alternative regulations. For a section
of individuals in the society, greater amount of harm of ill-treatment may result from a policy
amendment; while for the other sections it would reduce the efficiency would reduce
(Ammerman et al. 2015). The collation as well as valuation of expenditures and benefits in the

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CBA facilitates the comparison and positioning of the outcomes of several various policy options
(Anderson and Rees 2014). It is further to note; the two policies evaluated are known as current
policy (status quo) in Australia and a structured and improved systematic-legalized policy. The
varying concept of Cannabis across the European region, there is a requisite of selecting single
jurisdiction has received immense recognition (Crowley et al. 2017). It is significant to note, that
in recent times, several nations have introduced certain significant laws and patients to utilize
cannabis preparations in several forms in order to reduce or further mitigate the symptoms of
several diseases. Netherlands has gained immense recognition because of the use of enduring
usage of cannabis for both medicinal as well as recreational purposes, whereby physicians have
been able to prescribe the marijuana use for patients.
Identification of the potential risks of legalizing Marijuana
Although the legalization of cannabis has been gathering immense acknowledgement
from several parts of Europe, the Government of Ireland is still dealing with certain debatable
arguments based on the de facto decriminalization of the drug as well as its codification for
medical purposes. With the growing prevalence of cannabis as an illicit drug being used across
the world, the United Nations Drug Conventions since past few years have been encouraging the
prohibitionist approach and further require participants in order to effectively exercise the control
of marijuana that has been considered as a lawful offence under their domestic regulations
(Lynne-Landsman et al. 2013). However, the role of using cannabis has been developed with the
considerate usage of illicit drug consumption. However, a section of policy-makers have
contradicted such approach by further disagreeing that the act of criminalization of marijuana in
Ireland can result in a high-priced as well as unproductive availability or usage regardless to the
fact of its critical monetary expenditure (Ghosh et al. 2016). However, data have been gathered

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from previous researches that some jurisdictions in Ireland along with other regions of Europe
have been efficiently encouraging and at the same time developing a wide range of officially
regulated marker models for recreational usage of these drugs. It has also been observed from
few studies that chronic usage of marijuana in particularly among the adolescents and further
persisting into the stage of adulthood has resulted its consumers to be exposed to greater risks of
developing disorders that may be further lead to severe cannabis dependence syndrome, issues
related to cognitive development along with neurodevelopmental problems in relation to other
frequent consumers (Anderson and Rees 2014). At this juncture, it is significant to note that
persistent cannabis consumption results in causing impairments or disorder related to the mental
health conditions of users. Drawing evidence from other developed nations like the USA,
investigations of legalization of marijuana have assessed that the usage or rather consumption of
cannabis further known as marijuana evaluated between states revealed increased rate of
cannabis usage in states that has supported legalization than the other states. However, similar
studies have observed that chronic marijuana utilization has been correlated to decreased rate of
academic accomplishment, work performance along with social functioning in terms of
relationships whereas severe marijuana consumption has exposed traits related to impairment or
difficulties in driving competency. Enduring usage of marijuana in the states where it has been
legalized has further caused to the declined movement of social class movement, along with a
dose-dependent life with regards to severe economic challenges (Ammerman et al. 2015). It is
essential to note that states which have embraced the legalization of cannabis or marijuana
undergo more situations of cannabis-centric losses that have resulted because of the increased
exposure of such drugs to children or minors along with cases of damaged or weakened decision-
making procedures while dealing with severe intoxication (Bifulco and Pisanti 2015). For

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instance, when Colorado encouraged the legalization of marijuana there had been a rise in
emergency room appointments provided for cannabis intoxication syndromes, burns and injuries
related to marijuana consumptions along with severe cyclic vomiting and anxiety
syndrome(Pacula et al. 2015) As a result, these syndromes have also led to the rise of life risking
accidents and vehicle collisions due to high rate of intoxication and have established limitations
related to degree of intoxications in order to provide proper safety and protection to the citizens.
Section 4:
Critical Analysis of a Text
Full Reference of Peer Reviewed Text:
Cerdá, M., Wall, M., Keyes, K.M., Galea, S. and Hasin, D., 2012. Medical marijuana laws in 50
states: investigating the relationship between state legalization of medical marijuana and
marijuana use, abuse and dependence. Drug & Alcohol Dependence, 120(1), pp.22-27.
1. What review question am I asking of this text?

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The research question is how legalising marijuana can be beneficial or harmful for social health
and national economy.
This text is focus on state level legalisation of marijuana in United State and the potential resultant
changes in economy and social health. Although my research topic is focused on the Irish
economy, this text is helpful to understand the social and economical intervention in legalisation
of marijuana in any country.
The purpose of critically analysing this text is to focus more on global marijuana legalisation and
it resultant consequences to measure the potential impact in Ireland.
2. What type of literature is this?
This literature is a research paper conducted on a stipulated sample size to measure the impact of
legalising marijuana in state level. The focus of this research is analysing the impact on health
issues of teenagers, because the potential growth of any national level economy in future depends
on teenage group. Therefore, the literature is successfully cover the research topic and highly
relevant for being a part of the literature review in this research paper.
3. What sort of intellectual project for study is being undertaken?
a) How clear is it which project the authors are undertaking?

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In this literature the Author has been clearly undertaken a survey based real time field based
research where the data has been analysed through quantitative analysis. Therefore the research
philosophy of literature is realism where the research has been done to find out the resultant
consequences of a particular decision from an exploratory view point.
b) How does the sort of project being undertaken affect the research questions addressed?
As per the result of this research it has been observed that the use of marijuana does not depends
on the economical condition of the regional or national level. However, this risk of increasing
economical discrepancy is not highly related to the legalisation. At the same time the social health
can make the future economy of the country vulnerable.
c) How does the sort of project being undertaken affect the place of theory?
The theory of this text is based on interrelation between the social health and its resultant imact in
national level economy collectively. At the same time this theory is focused on the practical
implementation of this research result.
d) How does the authors’ target audience affect the reporting of research?

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This text is focused on the wider perspective of legalising marijuana involving potential changes
in health. Therefore, it influences the academic knowledge an understanding of integrated
connection between social health and economy.
4. What is being claimed?
a) What are the main kinds of knowledge claim that the authors are making?
From this text the learner can perceive a practice knowledge involving national economy and
legislative policies.
b) How clear are the authors’ claims and overall argument?
The argument that the authors claimed in this text is very clear and understandable from legal and
economical aspect.
d) With what degree of certainty do the authors make their claims?
In this text the Author’s claiming is very strong and tangible from economic, social health and
legal aspect.

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e) How generalized are the authors’ claims – to what range of phenomena are they claimed
to apply?
The critically analysing in this text is to focus more on global marijuana legalisation and it
resultant consequences is not completely negative or irreversible.
5. To what extent is there backing for claims?
a) What, if any, range of sources is used to back the claims?
This research can provide a practice knowledge involving national economy and legislative
policies as a independent and real time data analysis.
b) If claims are at least partly based on the authors’ own research, how robust is the
evidence?
The text does not consist of include cross-checking or ‘triangulation’ of accounts. At the same
time the sample size is not enough to understand the whole scenario of youth activity related to
marijuana.

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6. To what extent are claims consistent with my experience?
My research topic is focused on the Irish economy and in spite of being conducted on the social
environment of US, this text is helpful to understand the social and economical intervention in
legalisation of marijuana in any country.
7. What is my summary evaluation of the text in relation to my review question or
issue?
a) How convincing are the authors’ claims, and why?
The claims by the authors of this literature is highly convincing due to its realistic approach and
real time data analysis.
b) How, if at all, could the authors have provided stronger backing for their claims?
This literature could have stronger argument if it could include the secondary research method to
cover the other perspective on this matter. It could help to support the argument from historical
aspect too.

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References
Ammerman, S., Ryan, S., Adelman, W.P. and Committee on Substance Abuse, 2015. The impact
of marijuana policies on youth: clinical, research, and legal update. Pediatrics, 135(3), pp.e769-
e785.
Anderson, D.M. and Rees, D.I., 2014. The Legalization of Recreational Marijuana: How Likely
Is the Worst‐Case Scenario?. Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, 33(1), pp.221-232.
Bifulco, M. and Pisanti, S., 2015. Medicinal use of cannabis in Europe: the fact that more
countries legalize the medicinal use of cannabis should not become an argument for unfettered
and uncontrolled use. EMBO reports, p.e201439742.
Cerdá, M., Wall, M., Keyes, K.M., Galea, S. and Hasin, D., 2012. Medical marijuana laws in 50
states: investigating the relationship between state legalization of medical marijuana and
marijuana use, abuse and dependence. Drug & Alcohol Dependence, 120(1), pp.22-27.
Crowley, D., Collins, C., Delargy, I., Laird, E. and Van Hout, M.C., 2017. Irish general
practitioner attitudes toward decriminalisation and medical use of cannabis: results from a
national survey. Harm reduction journal, 14(1), p.4.
Ghosh, T., Van Dyke, M., Maffey, A., Whitley, E., Gillim-Ross, L. and Wolk, L., 2016. The
public health framework of legalized marijuana in Colorado. American journal of public
health, 106(1), pp.21-27.
Glauser, D., 2012. The economic effects of legalizing marijuana. Senior Honors Thesis
Submitted to the Faculty of the University of Utah.

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Hajizadeh, M., 2016. Legalizing and regulating marijuana in Canada: review of potential
economic, social, and health impacts. International journal of health policy and
management, 5(8), pp.453.
Lynne-Landsman, S.D., Livingston, M.D. and Wagenaar, A.C., 2013. Effects of state medical
marijuana laws on adolescent marijuana use. American journal of public health, 103(8), pp.1500-
1506.
Pacula, R.L., Powell, D., Heaton, P. and Sevigny, E.L., 2013. Assessing the effects of medical
marijuana laws on marijuana and alcohol use: The devil is in the details (No. w19302). National
Bureau of Economic Research.
Pacula, R.L., Powell, D., Heaton, P. and Sevigny, E.L., 2015. Assessing the effects of medical
marijuana laws on marijuana use: the devil is in the details. Journal of Policy Analysis and
Management, 34(1), pp.7-31.
Stone, D., 2014. Cannabis, pesticides and conflicting laws: The dilemma for legalized States and
implications for public health. Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology, 69(3), pp.284-288.