Researching Crime and Criminal Justice: Marijuana Decriminalization

This report delves into the multifaceted issue of crime and criminal justice, with a specific focus on the implications of marijuana use and the ongoing debate surrounding its decriminalization. The report highlights the potential negative impacts of drug use, particularly concerning marijuana, by presenting statistical data on drug-related deaths and criminal activities linked to drug use. It provides a background on the growing trend of marijuana use and the varying perspectives on its legalization, referencing the experiences of countries and states that have already legalized the drug. The report also examines the criminological relevance of drug use, emphasizing its impact on individuals, families, and society, with a call for action to control drug use globally, starting with awareness campaigns and international collaborations to decriminalize marijuana and implement stringent measures against drug abuse. The report includes a survey questionnaire designed to gather public opinions on marijuana decriminalization, and concludes with recommendations for global action to address the issue.

qwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqw
ertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwert
yuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyui
opasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiop
asdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasd
fghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfgh
jklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklz
xcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcv
bnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbn
mqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmq
Researching Crime and Criminal Justice
Researching Crime and
Criminal Justice
Campaign File and Survey
15-Mar-18
(Student Details: )
Page 1

Researching Crime and Criminal Justice
1. Overview
1.1. What is the problem?
Drug use is a topic which has garnered a lot
of attention from people across the world.
Some people favour the use of drug and
present that the use of drugs should be
legalised. On the other hand, there are
people who present the notion that drug use
is dangerous, which not only makes a person
ill, but also leads to their death. This
discussion is focused on the latter view and
thus attempts to highlight the problems
associated with drug use, particularly in
context of marijuana.
1.2. What makes this
topic worthy of
investigation?
The increasing use of drugs is the reason
why this topic is worth investigation.
Further, due to certain nations and states
legalizing the use of specified drugs like
marijuana, the health issues surrounding
drug use are posing threat on every nation.
The widespread use of drugs affirms the
requirement of investigating on this topic,
where the drug use and its ill effects are
highlighted. The map presented below
shows the nations seeking treatment for
different types of drugs.
(Source: Eleftheriou-Smith, 2015)
This map below presents the people who
were treated for drug abuse.
Page 2

Researching Crime and Criminal Justice
(Source: Eleftheriou-Smith, 2015)
2. Background
2.1. Background to the
issue
A survey conducted in 2015 showed that
22.2 million Americans had been users of
cannabis. Within this, there was a subgroup
of 4.2 million Americans who had reported
experiencing of symptoms in the past year
which qualified them as having the cannabis
use disorder (NCBI, 2017). The reason why
cannabis or marijuana is deemed as problem
drug for the purpose of this study stems
from the negative effects of it. To establish
this point, the deaths related to drug poising
from 1993 to 2016 in England and Wales
has been presented below. The rising
number of deaths is evidence that there is a
need to curb the use of drugs, particularly
marijuana, if the untimely deaths of the
individuals in England and Wales have to be
ensured.
(Source: Office for National Statistics,
2017a)
Page 3

Researching Crime and Criminal Justice
In 2016, there had been 3,744 deaths as a
result of poisoning in England and Wales
due to legal and illegal drugs (Drugwise,
2017). This was a 2% hike in comparison to
the previous year of 2015. Out of these, 69%
had been owing to drugs misuse. Drug
dependence and drug use are the leading
causes in premature mortality, where 16%
deaths in the individuals in their 20s and 30s
in 2016 due to drug poisoning. Drug
poisoning covers broad spectrum of
substances, which include both lawful and
unlawful drugs, over the counter
medications and prescription type drugs
(Office for National Statistics, 2017b).
2.2. What criminological
relevance does this
topic have?
The use of drug is associated with criminal
activities. It not only impacts the health of
the person using the drugs, but also has an
impact on their friends, family and the
society (Barnard, 2007). To affirm this with
the help of data from US, 80% of the
offenders in the prison of the nation are drug
or alcohol users; 50% if the prison and jail
inmates are clinically addicted; and nearly
60% of the individuals who are arrested for
crimes test positive for unlawful drugs at
their arrest (NCADD, 2015).
3. Concise analysis of the
issue and suggestions
for change
3.1. What are the wider
implications of this
issue?
The reason why this study has been
undertaken is to present evidence against
drug use, particularly in context of the
different nations legalizing the use of
cannabis. These include the Netherlands,
Spain, North Korea, Uruguay, Peru,
Amsterdam, Jamaica, Canada, Portugal and
Page 4

Researching Crime and Criminal Justice
a number of others (Kindland, 2018). The
map below highlights it more properly.
(Source: Jones, 2017)
3.2. What needs to be
changed?
There is a need to change this legality of
cannabis across the globe. This is
particularly due to the deaths associated with
use of cannabis. Along with this, the drug
use also pushes the individuals towards
criminal activities. Marijuana in particular is
very addictive for a number of people.
Where the example of legalization is seen in
context of Amsterdam, one can affirm the
requirement of not proceeding with
legalization of marihuana. Since the nation
legalized pot, it has become a tourist
destination for the potheads across the
globe. However, the citizens of the nation
are now worried that their children are
increasingly getting exposed to weed. This
is particularly harmful as intake of week in
growing years of children can hamper their
growth. A key point worth noting is that
marijuana has worse effects than cigarettes
on mental health. It has also been noticed
that where marijuana is sole in Amsterdam,
it become the centre of crime. So, the claims
of legalizing weed to reduce crime had been
proved wrong (Hawkins, 2014).
4. Summary
4.1. Conclusions and
recommendations for
action
Owing to the various demerits highlighted
through this discussion, it becomes crucial
that the drug use across the globe is brought
under control. This has to start from raising
awareness in England and Wales only,
Page 5

Researching Crime and Criminal Justice
regarding the negative impact caused due to
use of drug. This has to be coupled with
raising awareness at international level,
particularly where the nations are attempting
to legalize marijuana. By presenting the
situation in Amsterdam, along with the
statistics discussed above, the action plan
has to be prepared which can be adopted
across the globe to bring back the status of
marijuana to being a criminal thing. The
recommendation is thus to decriminalize
marijuana across the globe.
4.2. How can change
happen?
As stated earlier, there is a need for action
plan, which is formed with the help of
worldwide agencies, to comprehensively
work on decriminalization of marijuana.
There is also a need to bring forth stringent
measures which can stop the drug abuse
across the borders. Lastly, the help of
agencies also has to be undertaken, to spread
the knowledge regarding the damages
caused due to drug use, which is not on the
individual only, but on the society as a
whole.
5. Bibliography
 Barnard, M. (2007) Drug Addiction
and Families. London: Jessica
Kingsley Publishers.
 Drugwise. (2017) How many people
die from drugs? [online] Available
from:
http://www.drugwise.org.uk/how-
many-people-die-from-drugs/
[Accessed 15/03/18]
 Eleftheriou-Smith, L. (2015) Drug
Addiction: maps show where
cocaine, cannabis, heroin and
amphetamines are the biggest
problem. [online] Available from:
https://www.independent.co.uk/life-
style/health-and-families/health-
news/drug-addiction-the-maps-
showing-where-cocaine-cannabis-
Page 6

Researching Crime and Criminal Justice
heroin-and-amphetamines-are-the-
biggest-a6755741.html [Accessed
15/03/18]
 Hawkins, J. (2014) 5 Reasons
Marijuana Should Remain Illegal.
[online] Available from:
https://townhall.com/columnists/john
hawkins/2014/01/21/5-reasons-
marijuana-should-remain-illegal-
n1782086 [Accessed 15/03/18]
 Jones, W. (2017) A map of all the
countries where weed is legal.
[online] Available from:
https://www.indy100.com/article/ma
rijuana-weed-cannabis-legal-
decriminalise-medical-world-
mapped-7693396 [Accessed
15/03/18]
 Kindland. (2018) All Of The Places
In The World Where Pot Is Legal.
[online] Available from:
http://www.thekindland.com/product
s/all-of-the-places-in-the-world-
where-pot-is-2871 [Accessed
15/03/18]
 NCADD. (2015) Alcohol, Drugs and
Crime. [online] Available from:
http://www.drugwise.org.uk/how-
many-people-die-from-drugs/
[Accessed 15/03/18]
 NCBI. (2017) The Health Effects of
Cannabis and Cannabinoids: The
Current State of Evidence and
Recommendations for Research.
[online] Available from:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/
NBK425740/ [Accessed 15/03/18]
 Office for National Statistics.
(2017a) Deaths Related to Drug
Poisoning, England and Wales.
[online] Available from:
https://www.ons.gov.uk/file?uri=/pe
oplepopulationandcommunity/births
deathsandmarriages/deaths/datasets/
deathsrelatedtodrugpoisoningengland
andwalesreferencetable/current/
Page 7

Researching Crime and Criminal Justice
deathsrelatedtodrugpoisoningengland
andwales.xls [Accessed 15/03/18]
 Office for National Statistics.
(2017b) Deaths related to drug
poisoning in England and Wales:
2016 registrations. [online]
Available from:
https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopul
ationandcommunity/birthsdeathsand
marriages/deaths/bulletins/
deathsrelatedtodrugpoisoninginengla
ndandwales/2016registrations
[Accessed 15/03/18]
Page 8

Researching Crime and Criminal Justice
Research Question for Survey
Questionnaire
Research Question
Should cannabis be decriminalized across the globe?
Survey Questionnaire
1. Are you aware of the drug name marijuana/ weed/ cannabis?
 Yes
 No
 Not sure
2. Have you ever used marijuana/ weed/ cannabis?
 Yes
 No
 Choose not to answer
3. Does anyone in your family or friend circle use marijuana/ weed/ cannabis?
 Yes
 No
 Not sure
 Choose not to answer
4. Do you think legalizing of marijuana/ weed/ cannabis by certain states is justified?
 Yes
 No
Page 9

Researching Crime and Criminal Justice
 Choose not to answer
5. Are you aware of the possible effects of using marijuana/ weed/ cannabis?
 Yes
 No
 Choose not to answer
6. Have you read about people dying, overdosing, or developing cannabis use disorder as a
result of using marijuana/ weed/ cannabis?
 Yes
 No
 Choose not to answer
7. Do you think it is safe for the children to come in contact with using marijuana/ weed/
cannabis?
 Yes
 No
 Not sure
8. Do you think that using marijuana/ weed/ cannabis is linked to criminal activities?
 Yes
 No
 Not sure
9. Do you think using marijuana/ weed/ cannabis is creating problems in your personal life?
 Yes
 No
 Choose not to answer
Page 10

Researching Crime and Criminal Justice
10. Do you think using marijuana/ weed/ cannabis is creating problems across the globe?
 Yes
 No
 Choose not to answer
11. Do you think that the world bodies should be unified decriminalize use of marijuana/ weed/
cannabis?
 Yes
 No
 Choose not to answer
12. Would legalizing marijuana/ weed/ cannabis really solve the problems associated with it,
particularly in light of what happened in Amsterdam?
 Yes
 No
 Choose not to answer
13. For statistical purpose, what is your gender?
 Male
 Female
 Others
14. For statistical purpose, what is your age?
 12-18 years
 19-26 years
 27-35 years
 36-50 years
Page 11

Researching Crime and Criminal Justice
 51-75 years
 Over 75 years
15. For statistical purpose, what is your profession?
 Corporate (salaried)
 Business
 Student (still studying)
 Retired
Page 12