Legalization Of Marijuana – Pros and Cons
The Marijuana Legalization Debate
The legalization of marijuana pros and cons stand at the forefront of recent policy debates, largely due to the success of state level measures in Colorado and Washington. The 2012 elections propelled the nation’s cannabis discussion from the medicinal realm to that of broader recreational use. While public opinion polls show widespread support for medical marijuana, outright legalization remains highly controversial; data reveals roughly 50% of the population favors total legalization as opposed to approximately 75% for medical cannabis. The polarized political climate fuels radical rhetoric on both sides of the issue, which makes it difficult to discern factual arguments from pure propaganda. Here are some common statements from pot proponents as well as prohibitionists.
Bull dog , in pot shop (Photo credit: waltfur)
Pros of Marijuana Legalization
- Increased Revenue – The financial benefits of legalization come in many forms. From taxation to job creation, legal cannabis carries numerous fiscal benefits. Of course, legalization would apply to the hemp plant along with its psychoactive counterpart. Commercial hemp production could potentially revitalize domestic farming, manufacturing, and alternative energy industries.
- Lower Law Enforcement Costs-In addition to the aforementioned economic incentives, legalization would dramatically reduce costs associated with the justice system. Without the burden of prosecuting crimes such as marijuana possession and sale or incarcerating offenders, the government would have more funds for education, substance abuse treatment, medicare, and other worthwhile causes. The federal government in particular would be able to divert DEA resources to fighting truly dangerous drugs.
- Rationality– Marijuana is currently classified under Schedule 1, which signifies a high potential for abuse and zero medicinal value. Advocates consider this approach irrational because there are no documented cases of cannabis overdose. Moreover, a growing body of scientific evidence reveals marijuana’s potential as treatment for glaucoma, chronic pain, and loss of appetite due to chemotherapy, to name a few.Legalization would put an end to decades of roadblocks against research into this relatively benign plant.
- Regulation– Marijuana’s illegal status means there can be no oversight into its production or distribution. Legalization would give the government a chance to step in and establish standards for quality, cleanliness, and the use of pesticides during the growing phase. In short, legalization creates a safer environment for cultivators and consumers alike.
- Respect -The American ideal places important life decisions in the hands of the individual. By chastising marijuana, the government is interfering with the principle of autonomy. Since other harmful substances i.e. alcohol and tobacco, are available for consumption, there is no reason to restrict cannabis use among the adult population.
Cons of Marijuana Legalization
- Higher Crime Rates – Opponents view marijuana arrests as a valuable tool for law enforcement officials. Suspects caught with marijuana are often involved in related violent crimes. Those caught with possession may also have outstanding warrants that would go undetected otherwise. Without the ability to detain marijuana users, police will be unable to offer court-ordered treatment programs that may help addicts regain control over their lives.
- Increased Use– Legalization would result in market saturation and an influx of cannabis themed
Legalization day! (Photo credit: Wirtagraphy)
advertising. The combination would likely produce an increase in cannabis use, which means a larger portion of the public would be susceptible to addiction.
- Driving under the influence – Along the same lines, increased usage leads to more impaired drivers. Marijuana intoxication could be dealt with in a manner similar to that of alcohol, but it’s much harder for police to make their case with cannabis. THC stays in the bloodstream for a longer period of time, so it’s nearly impossible to determine when someone took the fateful toke. Heavy smokers may test positive for up to 1.5 months after abstaining; blood tests also fail to show the level of impairment, a key factor in determining punishment.
- The Gateway Theory– A staple of the anti-marijuana movement, the gateway theory purports marijuana as a stepping stone on the path to harder drugs. Studies show that teens who report smoking marijuana are more likely than their sober peers to experiment with illicit drugs and struggle with substance abuse as adults.Whether marijuana causes these problems or its usage reflects addictive personality traits, marijuana legalization could augment existing tendencies in vulnerable teens.
- Morality– Marijuana legalization sends a message that smoking pot is socially acceptable or even normal. Many prohibitionists see mainstream acceptance as a threat to traditional moral values. Marijuana may contribute to long term health issues, especially in the lungs; releasing a harmful substance to the public simply creates a moral hazard.
About Katherine Tattersfield
Humboldt Relief Photographer/Webmaster since 7/2010. Katherine is a professional copywriter responsible for all of the content, including photography, graphics, and text, on the HR website unless otherwise specified. She also handles HR's social communities. She earned her B.A. in Political Science from California State University, Northridge, and works at PrintFirm.com when she's not volunteering for HR. Connect with her on:
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fortunately, we’ll have washington and colorado providing us with empirical data so we can authoritatively evaluate the consequences of legalization, rather than relying on hearsay, myth and conjecture, so far, the main opposition seems to be from those who, not surprisingly, profit from prohibition enforcement, while an
impressive number of scientists, doctors, former police officers and other distinguished public figures are emerging with remarkable evidence in defense of this unjustly accused plant, long held in federal custody, seems the only person not weighing in on the discussion is the guy over at the doj
Yeah, seems as though everyone is on board, but the feds. I heard the latest DEA raids in WeHo involved the DEA, so the outlook doesn’t seem very positive. I’ll never give up hope though, and I trust you won’t either. Stay stoney my friend.
I keep seeing all of these “polls” saying 50+ percent of the public favors legalization. No one asked me for my opinion, so I have to assume there are millions of others who were not asked as well. Typically, the results of a poll are meant to bias public opinion about some topic of interest. It is my guess that the people who conduct these polls carefully select their participants so that they achieve results favorable to the cause they support. I am not in favor of legalization for recreational use, so I suggest that the poll may not be entirely accurate.
I for one, cannot take seriously the droves of pot smokers who keep justifying their recreational use of marijuana as medical. I can’t believe the thousands of college students who simultaneously lit up @ 4:20 pm on 04/20/2010 @ CU Boulder all had to self-medicate at that exact moment. I have done research and I have found that there is evidence that there is some medicinal value for some medical conditions in some patients. That’s great; I am all for cancer patients and those who suffer from other chronic illnesses receiving any level of relief from their symptoms by utilizing any means they see fit. But if marijuana is in fact “medicine” as I hear more and more smokers call it, then it needs to be managed through legitimate pharmacy channels like any other medicine. If it is in fact medicine, then there is currently huge numbers of abuse cases involving people “self-medicating” without any legitimate medical training or knowledge. It’s kind of naïve to believe a MMJ dispensary is all about helping their “patients” when the only help they provide is selling them pot.
I honestly do not care if someone wants to get stoned somewhere that doesn’t impact children or other adults who do not want anything to do with pot, but unlike alcohol which only directly affects the person drinking it, the second hand smoke is a problem for those who do not want anything to do with pot. I unfortunately live in Colorado for the time being and since A64 passed, I have smelled the disgusting odor of pot smoke wafting through my neighborhood. That infringes on my rights and there is precious little I can do about it. Also since A64 passed, there has been a significant increase in cases in Colorado of kids bringing pot into the schools, not only using it themselves, but selling to other students. I also have to make a statement to those of you who believe legalization of use and a domestic supply chain is going to be the dawn of a euphoric society where we can all just buy and sell pot and pot related products and the whole economy will stabilize as a result… If you think the people who now supply the bulk of the pot consumed in this country are just going to stand by and watch their cash flow dry up while legal domestic growers start taking away their profits, I’m afraid you may be high…
Pt, that’s one big ball of wax there.
Of course millions of people do not take part in research studies. Have you ever taken statistics? I doubt it because then you would know that all studies are based on estimates from research conducted on sample populations. More often than not, the samples are selected at random. Besides, Gallup polls are considered a trustworthy source. Your accusations with respect to their data appear baseless.
I see your point about recreational users capitalizing on medical marijuana. Frankly I don’t care why people smoke as it’s none of my business. When we legalize, we will be able to provide for both medicinal and casual users in a safe manner.
Your blanket generalizations about dispensaries come off as ignorant. I volunteer for a collective who provides a lot more for patients than just medication. Most legit shops in the area have compassion programs for patients. These patients usually get free medication, counseling, etc. from their dispensary. I don’t know what things are like in Colorado, but here in the Valley many collectives play a positive role in the community.
As for second hand smoke and your rights, I find it interesting that you complain about the scent instead of a contact high. I love the way weed smells, and I’ve never seen anyone be repulsed by the smell of burning marijuana.So I find that part of your rant difficult to believe.
I consider your characterization of alcohol equally suspect. Secondary effects of alcohol include domestic violence, child abuse, and potentially fatal car accidents. Your problems seems quite trivial in comparison. I can’t stand the smell of the LA RIver aka the Wash in the summer, but you know, I deal. So should you.
We actually agree on the economics angle. I get sick of overzealous pot advocates who swear hemp will save the world as well. Of course, we dislike this approach for different reasons. My objections stem from an unrealistic evaluation of prohibition. I hate to break these people’s spirits because I know their hearts are in the right place. Nevertheless, it’s quite naive to think that the government refuses to accept a massive source of additional revenue on moral grounds. The fact of the matter is that pot would be legal if the powers that be would be able to line their pockets through taxation. I guess it never occurred to these folks that the government makes a lot more money off marijuana’s illegal status than it would collecting taxes.