Marijuana Legalization: Exploring the Economic and Social Impacts

Desklib provides past papers and solved assignments for students. This report analyzes the arguments for and against marijuana legalization.

Whether marijuana should be
legalized or not

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction......................................................................................................................................1
Findings and discussion...................................................................................................................2
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................4
References........................................................................................................................................5

Introduction
The current unit is investigating and discussing issue i.e. whether marijuana should be legalised
or not.’ Marijuana is a brown, green or gray mixture of stems, shredded leaves, dried, follower
and seeds of hemp plant. Marijuana is used for the spiritual and religious purposes, medical
ailments and for altering mind, and sticky black liquid and resinous form are the stronger forms
of the Marijuana. It the most abused drugs in the US according to the National Institute on Drug
Abuse (NIDA) but is legalized for medical or recreational use in many states of the US and but
also the possession of the Marijuana still illegal in the US. The current unit will discuss and
compare different opinions that what different people said about the Marijuana. The unit will
overview and discuss key points for and against the Marijuana.
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Findings and discussion
Arguments for and Against Legalizing Marijuana
At the federal state level, Marijuana drug is categorized in the Schedule I and so it is wholly
illegal and not recognized beneficial for the medical use. There are different opinions are
observed that whether the Marijuana should be legalized or not. There are given below some
reasons that Marijuana should be legal or not.
Reasons that Marijuana should be legalized
Marijuana can help in improving patient quality life: As per clinical data, it has identified that
Marijuana can be very helpful in improving the quality life of patients. The data has identified
that the opioid-related deaths has declined by 6.5% as per data published by the American Public
Health Association. The clinical study has identified cannabis (Marijuana) is much safer and can
be used as an alternative to pain-fighting opioids. GW Pharmaceuticals is looking for developing
cannabinoid-based drug and hence legalization of cannabis (Marijuana) is the game-changing
medical inventions (Sean Williams, 2017).
Majority of the public favors legalization of Marijuana: As per research data, it has identified
that majority of people wants to be legalized Marijuana. As per Gallup's October 2016 survey or
census and CBS News' April 2017 survey or census in the US, 60% and 61% people want
Marijuana to be legalized. Also survey by Quinnipiac University in April, 2017 identified that
94% population is in favour of Marijuana to be legalized but 4% of population opposed the
legalization of Marijuana (Monte et.al, 2015).
New source of revenue and jobs: As per research report, it is also identified that legalizing
Marijuana cloud be beneficial for the economy. It is estimating that cannabis industry will
generate many job opportunities by the year 2020 and hence will opens up various sources of
revenue for the economy. Data provided that around $200 million tax revenue collected from the
sale and consumptions of the Marijuana in the year 2016 (Caulkins et.al, 2016).
Reasons that Marijuana should not be legalized
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Inadequate parameters to police marijuana use: There are also some opinions against the
legalization of the Marijuana because of regulating and controlling use and consumption of the
drug. The study identified that consumption of Marijuana badly impact the once ability to drive.
There are main reasons to argue against the legalization of Marijuana is that lack of proper
regulations and parameters to control the use and consumption of the Marijuana (Pacula and
Smart, 2017).
Environmental and electric grid drains can be vast: If the government gives the green light or
legalized the Marijuana then it may led to have adverse impact on the environment and electric
grid. As per study at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in 2012, it has identified that
around 1% of nation’s electricity usage is accounting in marijuana growing farms that was $6
billion a year. It was also noticed that marijuana growing farms is making adverse impact on the
wildlife and the local environment in the country.
Clinical data also opposed the legalization of marijuana: The clinical data has provided both
for and against arguments about the legalization of the marijuana. The clinical study has found
the marijuana could be dangerous for the health of the people in the country. As per study or
survey published by the Northwestern University, hippocampus in adolescents is oddly shaped
who heavily consumed marijuana at the ages of 16 or 17 for three years of period. Hippocampus
is responsible for the short and long term memory present in of the brain of human (Choo et.al,
2014). The study found that there is reduction of 18% in the long-term memory power those used
or consumed marijuana as compared those who do not used. Therefore, clinical studies identified
that brains of younger adults are adversely affected because of the use or consumptions of the
marijuana.
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Conclusion
The current unit has concluded that there are different opinions and arguments for and against
the legalization of the marijuana. The clinical and other study and data has identified that
marijuana is beneficial or helpful for the health of people and economy growth but also
identified that it adversely impact the economy and health of younger adults. The study has
found that there is decline in the opioid-related deaths after medically use of marijuana and it is
much safer to improve patient quality life. Also marijuana (cannabis) industry played important
roles in generating jobs for people and tax revenue for the government. Apart from arguments in
favour of legalization of marijuana, there are also arguments in against the legalization of the
marijuana. Brains of younger adults are adversely affecting those who used marijuana as
compared to those who do not used. The use and consumption of the marijuana adversely impact
the driving ability of people like alcohol and other drugs.
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References
Books and Journals
 Caulkins, J.P., Kilmer, B. and Kleiman, M.A., 2016. Marijuana Legalization: What
Everyone Needs to Know®. Oxford University Press.
 Choo, E.K., Benz, M., Zaller, N., Warren, O., Rising, K.L. and McConnell, K.J., 2014.
The impact of state medical marijuana legislation on adolescent marijuana use. Journal of
Adolescent Health, 55(2), pp.160-166.
 Monte, A.A., Zane, R.D. and Heard, K.J., 2015. The implications of marijuana
legalization in Colorado. Jama, 313(3), pp.241-242.
 Pacula, R.L. and Smart, R., 2017. Medical marijuana and marijuana legalization. Annual
review of clinical psychology, 13, pp.397-419.
Online
Arguments for and Against Legalizing Marijuana, 2017 (Online) [Accessed Through]
https://www.fool.com/investing/2017/10/22/3-arguments-for-and-against-legalizing-
marijuana.aspx [Accessed on 9th April, 2019]
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