For a long time now, Marijuana has been regarded to be illegal and even a taboo in the community. Because of the charges related to cannabis that are subjected to people engaging with it, quite a significant number of people are reported to have suffered the unfair consequences related to these charges. However, I hold a contrary view to the illegalization of Marijuana. This is because I understand that cannabis can be of greater significance to society than it has been condemned in the past. Some of the advantages of cannabis that I will explore in this paper entail cannabis being medically proven to be beneficial, recreational advantages, safer regulation through better implementation, and an overall increase of revenue through taxation of products resulting from Marijuana. On the other hand, people who have been convicted of drug abuse are also taking advantage of wanting to be cleared of their records, as noted by (Courtney Vinopal).
The use of cannabis in society is on the rise, and it is expected to rise even further as thirty states have passed laws for its legalization. For several years now, this issue of legalizing cannabis has been an ongoing debate as there are some sects of people who still hold the opinion of its unsafety. However, Marijuana has been proven to be medically fit by close to thirty-eight states, hence pushing for its legalization. According to (The Marijuana Policy Project (MPP)) marijuana has long been regarded to be a natural medicine that was used in ancient Chinese drugs for nutritional and medicinal treatment. Being utilized as a nourishing treatment, it is proven that the consumption of plant parts that are rich in cannabinoids helps treat several diseases like eating disorders, Tourette syndrome, chronic pain or epilepsy, and multiple sclerosis.
The legalization of cannabis will also enhance better implementation of safer regulations relating to its consumption. With the implemented safety regulations, the community gets more educated on Marijuana, hence positively informing the consumers (The Marijuana Policy Project (MPP)). This approach will, in return, enhance better knowledge of the consumers by providing more information relating to cannabis. The information provided may include and not limited to places favorable for the growth of Marijuana and even the relevant materials that can be used in cultivating it. With more states now focusing on its legalization, there are going to be more environmental health experts who will be responsible for guiding society through scientifically proven information on cannabis. For example, chemical solvents emanating from Marijuana, such as propane and butane, are not appropriately labeled and utilized. However, with stricter legal regulations, these chemicals are appropriately labeled for proper use. The implementation of appropriate legal restrictions would imply that consumer protection is greatly improved, and jurisdictions can develop mechanisms that will ideally oversee the general usage of cannabis in the community. In return, this will enhance the improved protection of consumers who are minors through the controls of proof of age, retail location, and requirements on advertisement activities such as those already established in Washington.
The third advantage of legalizing cannabis is the chance of realizing revenue increase through resale of the products. Revenues recognized through the taxation of the resale of products that are made by the use of Marijuana may be beneficial in funding various governmental budgets like education, infrastructure, and even programs for the education of cannabis as a product. According to (The Marijuana Policy Project (MPP)), the revenue realized in taxation of the resale of cannabis and its related products through legalization can be used in measures to lower the cost of law enforcement budgets. The various ways in which revenues collected from the resale of cannabis and its products can be utilized entail permitting use by persons within the prescribed age and implementation of regulations on driving while under the influence of cannabis and its consequences. Moreover, the funds can be used to put tax mechanisms in place and even enforce the provided regulations (The Marijuana Policy Project (MPP)).
Contrary to the legalization of Marijuana attracting significant advantages to both the individual consumers and the society at large, some people who are not fully convinced still have some reservations. For instance, (the Rockefeller Institute of Government) argues that although the use of cannabis has adverse effects, these effects are transient, mild, and non-addicting when rarely consumed. Moreover, some of these adverse effects that are directly related to the use of Marijuana are believed to be disturbances in cognition, predominant fatigued, nausea, dry mouth, and dizziness (Lauren Villa). In this approach, the author notes that some people are still not entirely convinced with the legalization of Marijuana. However, he acknowledges that for it to be legalized and used for those advantageous purposes listed above, it would be more appropriate to have more consumers informed through netter regulation. In addition, (the Rockefeller Institute of Government) notes that without proper legalization of Marijuana through relevant laws, cannabis-related products may bring about several contaminants to the individual consumer. Some of these harmful contaminants entail; chemical solvents, metals, bacteria, molds, and even pesticides. This is because there are many forms in which Marijuana can be consumed, like inhalation or ingested.
In conclusion, I believe it is time that our community fully legalized the use of Marijuana, considering the provided benefits. From the medical perspective, society will benefit more regarding further research and development. Legalizing cannabis will also enhance the realization of safer consumer regulations that will significantly help both individuals and the community. Lastly, the utilization of revenues realized from taxation on the resale of cannabis and its products will enhance more significant revenue generation, ensuring societal development.
Work Cited
Courtney Vinopal. As More States Legalize Marijuana, People with Drug Convictions Want Their Records Cleared | PBS NewsHour. 5 May 2021, https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/as-more-states-legalize-marijuana-people-with-drug-convictions-want-their-records-cleared.
Lauren Villa. Marijuana vs. Alcohol | Is Marijuana Safer Than Alcohol? Oct. 2023, https://drugabuse.com/blog/marijuana-vs-alcohol/.
Rockefeller Institute of Government. In the Weeds. Nov. 2023, https://rockinst.org/intheweeds/.
The Marijuana Policy Project (MPP). Compelling Arguments for Regulating and Taxing Marijuana. June 2023.
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