The Marijuana Debate. Why Marijuana Must Be Legalized

Essay , 2016 , 9 Pages , Grade: 2

Law - Public Law / Constitutional Law / Basic Rights

This research paper will give justifications for the legalization of marijuana.

Currently, there is an endless debate on whether the use of marijuana should be legalized. However, some few countries have, so far, legalized the use of marijuana: not only for medical use, but for general use just like tobacco. From the scientific as well as economic perspectives, marijuana seems to have enormous benefits, although many people view its benefits from the social perspective which make it appear unethical. Nevertheless, marijuana remain a highly productive ‘crop’ which holds economic and health benefits just like any other Agricultural crop cultivated for its usefulness to human beings elsewhere.

Legalization of marijuana means that the current prohibition on its use in the US Constitution will be lifted to allow public use of the herb and its products. However, the legalization of marijuana may require an overhaul review of the US Constitution because; there are series of enactments and regulations, which prohibit public use of marijuana. Historically, legislations illegalizing marijuana began with the Opium Act of 1908, although this Act was framed as statement. Later on, the Opium Act was amended to demystify its legal implication. Today, there are numerous legislations, which prohibit marijuana use, although some US States have legalized the production of medical marijuana.

Introduction

Research Statement

Usefulness of Marijuana

Economic Benefits of Marijuana

Health Benefits of Marijuana

Environmental Benefits of Marijuana

Conclusion

Works Cited

Introduction

The current debate on the legalization of Marijuana does not seem to end in the foreseeable future, unless consensus is reached unanimously in regard to the economic, health and social benefits of the herb. Marijuana is a drug obtained from a herbal plant known as Cannabis sativa (Booth, 3) . Cannabis sativa is known to grow in almost all the climates around the world. Marijuana has been used by human beings for a long time for various purposes. In the early centuries, marijuana was being used as a drug the same way people use tobacco. However, its influence had not been noted to be so adverse, even though, its addiction effects had been identified. Marijuana became popular as a result of the opium war; a civil war fought by Chinese. It is claimed that soldiers could smoke marijuana before going to the battlefield hence the term Opium war. Afterwards, scientists found opium plant to contain medicinal components in it and began to extract these components for medicinal purposes. At the current moment, opium has a widespread use in the medical field (Smith par. 1).

Currently, there is an endless debate on whether the use of marijuana should be legalized. However, some few countries have, so far, legalized the use of marijuana: not only for medical use, but for general use just like tobacco. From the scientific, as well as, economic perspectives, marijuana seems to have enormous benefits, although many people view its benefits from the social perspective which make it appear unethical. Nevertheless, marijuana remain a highly productive ‘crop’ which holds economic and health benefits just like any other Agricultural crop cultivated for its usefulness to human beings elsewhere.

Legalization of marijuana means that, the current prohibition on its use in the US Constitution will be lifted to allow public use of the herb and its products. However, the legalization of marijuana may require an overhaul review of the US Constitution because; there are series of enactments and regulations, which prohibit public use of marijuana. Historically, legislations illegalizing marijuana began with the Opium Act of 1908, although this Act was framed as statement. Later on, the Opium Act was amended to demystify its legal implication. Today, there are numerous legislations, which prohibit marijuana use, although some US States have legalized the production of medical marijuana. Therefore, this research paper will give justifications for the legalization of marijuana.

Research Statement

Marijuana must be legalized

Usefulness of Marijuana

Legalization of marijuana has numerous justifications, which relatively self explanatory; despite the vehement resistance from some social groups in the United States. The benefits associated to marijuana are overwhelming; thus, an extensive evaluation of the economic, health and environmental benefits will explain the usefulness of the herb and justify its legalization for public use.

Economic Benefits of Marijuana

From an economic perspective, legalized marijuana business appears to highly profitable because; it will generate an enormous amount of revenue. In addition, it will boost the global economy through savings of internal and external costs. Grammy remarks, “marijuana legalization generates substantial tax revenues and create considerable public savings for the federal government and state and local governments” (1). Currently, some US Federal states such as California and Pennsylvania are experiencing enormous economic challenges; hence, legalization of marijuana will boost the economy of the cash-strapped States. Economists estimate the total annual revenue from marijuana to be $14 billion and this amount of money can cater for the current expenditure deficit in the education sector. Miceli argues, “California is one of 10 states allowing the sale of medicinal marijuana and marijuana is already California's biggest cash crop, responsible for $14 billion a year in sales” (par. 2).

Concisely, legalized regulated marijuana will generate tax revenues, improve public savings and scale down the cost of police protection from drug cartels. Moreover, legalizing marijuana will enable the US and other countries to cut the cost of law enforcement. It is also worth noting that, the hemp industry will create numerous employment opportunities for the American population; thus, lowering the rate of unemployment in the country. Economic reports reveal that, the hemp industry will generate $6-$10 billion to the US Government, annually and, this is a significant boost to the US economy (Grammy 2). The hemp industry appears to be highly profitable because; there is an enormous demand for marijuana-derived therapeutic agents, globally. Therefore, legalization of marijuana for medical uses will serve as a significant boost to the U.S economy because; the Pharmaceutical industry will invest heavily in production of cannabinoids. In fact, legalization of medical marijuana will enhance economic globalization; since, pharmaceutical companies in the United States of America will produce cannabinoids in large scale for both domestic and export purposes. It is believed that, the U.S Government will earn an enormous amount of income from marijuana business, more or less, the same way as in the British Columbia. Global economic reports show that the British Columbia receives CDN$34 billion yearly from cannabis business (Thornton 7). It appears blatantly true that the United States of America will benefit significantly from the legalization of marijuana, especially for medical usages.

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• College: Egerton University
• Grade: 2
• Author: Patrick Kimuyu (Author)
• Publication Year: 2016
• Pages: 9
• Catalog Number: V380720
• ISBN (eBook): 9783668592049
• ISBN (Book): 9783668592056
• Language: English
• Tags: economic benefits, health benefits, environmental benefits