Criminology and Criminal Justice: Marijuana Decriminalization Essay

This essay delves into the ongoing debate surrounding the decriminalization and legalization of recreational marijuana, arguing in favor of its promotion under strict regulations. It examines the potential benefits, such as reduced criminal activity and increased tax revenue, while also addressing co...Read More

Running head: CRIMINOLOGY & CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Criminology & Criminal Justice
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Table of Contents
Introduction....................................................................................................................2
Thesis Statement........................................................................................................2
Body...............................................................................................................................2
Recreational marijuana in moderation should be promoted......................................2
Decriminalization of Marijuana.................................................................................3
Arguments in favour and against legalizing and decriminalizing marijuana.............4
Conclusion......................................................................................................................5
References......................................................................................................................6

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Introduction
Marijuana, scientifically known as Cannabis is a psychoactive drug prepared from the
Cannabis plant which is used both for medicinal and recreational purpose. Even though its
medical use is encouraged and aided heavily by the government, its recreational use is mostly
banned all over the globe. However, very few countries are coming forward to legalize and
decriminalize its possession and recreational use lately; Canada is the second country after
Uruguay to have legalized its recreational use last year (The Conversation, 2019). Most
philosophers, legal or social, have always been vocal and critical about criminalizing the
recreational use of marijuana. It was just a matter of time when the common mass
comprehended the use and benefits of marijuana consumption in moderation and finally
caught up with the philosophical perspectives of the philosophers. For the purpose of this
paper, it is strongly supported that marijuana should not be criminalized.
Thesis Statement
The thesis statement of the paper would be that recreational marijuana should be
promoted with put under strict scanner of regulations and policy so that moderation and
a healthy balance could be maintained. The paper would strictly talk in favour of the
decriminalization of marijuana along with the facts that it should not have been banned on
the first place. The paper would also strive to lay down certain arguments pertaining to the
pros and cons of decriminalization of marijuana.
Body
Recreational marijuana in moderation should be promoted
Referring to the legalization of recreational marijuana in Canada, it is whole-heartedly
supported that marijuana consumption should be made legal all over the globe, given the fact
that it offers immense medicinal benefits along with a drastic reduction of its worldwide

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smuggling. Legalizing marijuana would have a two-fold goal: a) reduction of the criminal
involvement and activity pertaining to the sale of marijuana which includes illegal way of
transporting it cross-country, and b) reduction of the availability of marijuana to the under-
aged, precisely the youths under the age of 18 or 21, depending on the age of adulthood of the
country (The Conversation, 2019). Therefore, it is strongly recommended that recreational
use of marijuana should be encouraged and promoted by the government and the common
people should take the initiative of consuming it responsibly.
However, it is often argued that the sellers and suppliers of marijuana are among the
people who do not have criminal records or who are not associated with organized crime.
Globally, research studies have stated that marijuana consumers source their supply from
social networks or through third party suppliers and not the main seller. Thus it is often
alleged that whether the legalization has a strong corporate market-drive force of
neoliberalism (The Conversation, 2019).
Decriminalization of Marijuana
A collaborative research study conducted by Eric L. Jensen of the University of Idaho
and Aaron Roussell of the Washing State University have held that the racial minority groups
mostly prefer sourcing their stock from the illegal market and unlawful supply chain without
being entangled into the complexities of getting them from the government licensed stores at
a cheaper price and without being registered as a cannabis smoker, even though the particular
province may have been legalized to consume recreational marijuana (Jensen & Roussell,
2016). By such approaches and attitudes or people, it is tough to decriminalize the illegal
selling and supplying of marijuana. However it has been reported that legalization and
decriminalization of the substance has drastically reduced the number of cases of smuggling
that used to be reported earlier (The Conversation, 2019).

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Canada reported that by way of the policy of decriminalization of marijuana, the
country looks forward to lesser number of marijuana related criminals along with a raising
$400 million as tax by selling marijuana in moderation (BBC News, 2019). However, the
country lays down strict regulations pertaining to the selling and supplying of the substance
when it comes to selling to a person under the age of 18, driving while the THC level in the
blood is over 2 ng/ml or when selling marijuana without a license (Canadian Civil Liberties
Association, 2019). In addition, factors like possessing illicit cannabis seed or growing a
plant from an illicit cannabis seed, importing-exporting cannabis without legal authorization
or growing more than four plants can get one arrested in Canada, for the country has
formulated strict regulations to restrict the consumption and keep it at a moderate level.
Arguments in favour and against legalizing and decriminalizing marijuana
The beneficial purposes that are put forwarded by scientists and researchers pertaining
to the legalization of marijuana cannot be overlooked, especially when they vouch for the
reduction of criminal activity and availability of illegal cannabis among the youths (The
Conversation, 2019). Generation of an enormous amount of tax is also a lucrative proposition
that all progressive and modern country looks forward to. It is proposed that the medicinal
benefits of marijuana could help to cure various diseases naturally and organically without
administering any synthetic drugs. In addition, less smuggling activities and subsequently
lesser number of incarcerations pertaining to selling and supply of the substance is a dream
for every country that houses heavy consumption percentage. Therefore, all of such beneficial
factors are speaking in support of the legalization and decriminalization of marijuana.
Counties like the USA are of the view that alike the hike in illegal gambling even
after gambling has been legalized, legalization of marijuana would lead to illegal marijuana
trafficking and nothing more. Apart from such sceptical perspectives, the complex laws and

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stagnant statistical data discourage many counties to avoid legalization of marijuana (CNBC,
2019).
Conclusion
The change in perspective of the common mass along with the legal system, civil as
well as criminal, of the modern States all over the globe could be a silver lining on the dark
cloud of taboos related to cannabis consumption. It is essential to comprehend that discretion
and moderation is the key to a successful evolution for a world with illegal cannabis to a
world with balanced recreational marijuana.

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References
BBC News. (2019). Canada legalises sale and use of cannabis. Retrieved from
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-45806255
Canadian Civil Liberties Association. (2019). 10 things that will still be a crime after
cannabis is legalized - Canadian Civil Liberties Association. Retrieved from
https://ccla.org/10-things-will-still-crime-cannabis-legalized/
CNBC. (2019). Why We Should Not Legalize Marijuana. Retrieved from
https://www.cnbc.com/id/36267223
Jensen, E. L., & Roussell, A. (2016). Field observations of the developing legal recreational
cannabis economy in Washington State. International Journal of Drug Policy, 33, 96-
101.
The Conversation. (2019). What's the real reason the Canadian government legalized weed?.
Retrieved from https://theconversation.com/whats-the-real-reason-the-canadian-
government-legalized-weed-105699