Legalize Marijuana Nationwidelegalization Of Marijuana Has Become A Co ✓ Solved

Legalize Marijuana Nationwide Legalization of marijuana has become a controversial topic this day in time. It was never a big thing thousands of years ago. There are many reasons why marijuana is frowned upon but also has proved its positive impact on people. The debate about legalizing marijuana surrounds around many different ideas. Although many people think of marijuana as a gateway drug to harder substances, it has been extremely affective helping cancer patients, people experiencing anxiety and depression etc.

According to the 2019 FBI report, the police arrested 545,602 people for cannabis related crimes in 2019. That puts the crime rate 9% higher than violent crimes for 2019. Ben O’Rourke stated, “You have 2.3 million of our fellow Americans behind bars — it’s the largest prison population on the face of the planet. Many are there for nonviolent drug crimes including possession of marijuana at a time that more than half the states have legalized or decriminalized it.†This comment really put things into perspective for me. We have many people getting away with awful, inhumane crimes because of maxed out prisons and overpopulated courts.

Legalizing marijuana would decrease the population in prisons/jails tremendously. We should not have a convicted rapist sentenced less time in prison than someone arrested for marijuana. The journal pioneer has an article written by Ethan Baron where he talks about marijuana charges compared to rapist charges. He states that a person growing 201 pot plants would receive a longer sentence than sentence than someone convicted of raping a toddler or forces a 5-year old to have sex with an animal. How is that possible?

As a country we should not have citizens facing years in prison for possession of a drug that is legal in the state next door. Nor should we have so many awful violent crimes getting overlooked because of so many drug charges. Another benefit of legalizing marijuana is the medicinal benefits it has proven to have. From helping minor aches and pains, to anxiety and depression, and to cancer patients it has worked wonders. If marijuana was legal, it would decrease the number of pills someone has to take.

The CDC states that around 18 women die every day from an overdose of pain pills. Opioid’s are very addictive and not hard to get your hands on this day in time. Researchers state that 10 mg of marijuana is equal to one beer. A Xanax maximum dosage is 10 mg! That does not equal one beer for many.

It would cause a lot of people to overdose if they took an extra by accident or thinking it wouldn’t do anything. There has never been a reported case of marijuana overdose. Researchers say you would have to consume thousands past the limit of THC a human can consume to even come close to overdosing and dying. It truly could save a lot of lives if people could overlook the fact that it’s considered a “recreational drug†to many. It is a safer drug than all of them out there.

Researchers found that it had the lowest mortality rate out of every other drug. One of the medical benefits of marijuana is that it helps with labor contractions, muscle spasms, panic attacks, chemotherapy etc. Marijuana has proven it helps cancer patients, epilepsy, and Parkinson’s experiencing symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, discomfort, pain. It has also proven to help people with scoliosis and glaucoma. Medical marijuana is one of the best drugs for various health conditions across the world.

Medical marijuana is one of the best drugs for various health conditions across the world. It has been proven to be addictive, however less than alcohol, tobacco and pain killers. The government could help their revenue by legalizing marijuana and spending that money on research for horrible diseases killing people. The legal marijuana industry could eventually be a multi-billion dollar industry in the U.S. Now on the contrary, marijuana has long term health effects.

They include respiratory problems, lung cancer, addiction, brain and memory health etc. Long term marijuana use can lead to addiction and curiosity of other drugs.

Paper for above instructions

Legalizing Marijuana Nationwide: A Comprehensive Analysis

The legalization of marijuana has emerged as a prominent topic within American society, evoking strong opinions and heated debates. The discussion encompasses a variety of perspectives ranging from public health implications, social justice issues, economic benefits, and the potential for regulation and control. While marijuana was once universally illegal, it is now legal in numerous states, prompting discussions about nationwide legalization. This paper argues in favor of national legalization, citing social, medical, and economic benefits while addressing the pitfalls of current prohibitionist policies.

Historical Context and Current Situation

Historically, marijuana usage spans thousands of years, with varying levels of acceptance across different cultures. Initially used for medicinal and recreational purposes, marijuana became stigmatized in the early 20th century, leading to its prohibition through legislation such as the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937 and later the Controlled Substances Act of 1970. As of 2023, marijuana is legal for either recreational or medicinal use in more than half of the states (National Conference of State Legislatures, 2023).
Despite individual state-level legalization efforts, federal law still classifies marijuana as a Schedule I controlled substance, indicating a belief that it has a high potential for abuse and has no accepted medical use (Drug Enforcement Administration, 2022). This discrepancy has resulted in numerous arrests related to marijuana possession, contributing significantly to America’s prison population. According to the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting Program, 545,602 people were arrested for cannabis-related offenses in 2019 (Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2020).

Social Justice Considerations

One of the most compelling arguments for nationwide legalization of marijuana is its potential to promote social justice. The over-policing of marijuana offenses disproportionately affects marginalized communities. A report by the ACLU found that Black individuals are 3.64 times more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession than white individuals, despite similar usage rates (American Civil Liberties Union, 2020). Legalizing marijuana could decrease the number of individuals incarcerated for nonviolent offenses, combat systemic racism in law enforcement, and alleviate the burden on the criminal justice system.
Furthermore, the costs associated with marijuana arrests—including legal fees, loss of employment opportunities, and strained family interactions—are profound. As noted by Ben O’Rourke, the U.S. has the highest incarceration rate globally, with many individuals imprisoned for nonviolent drug offenses, including marijuana. This is particularly egregious when one considers the leniency given to violent offenders (O'Rourke, 2020). By decriminalizing marijuana and fostering a regulated market, society can redirect law enforcement resources toward addressing serious crimes rather than arresting individuals for possession.

Medical Benefits of Marijuana

The medicinal properties of marijuana have gained recognition as substantial evidence mounts regarding its efficacy in treating various conditions. Research indicates that marijuana can alleviate chronic pain, nausea, anxiety, depression, and can even aid in cancer treatments (National Institutes of Health, 2023). According to the CDC, opioid overdoses claim approximately 18 lives a day; however, marijuana has never been linked to a fatal overdose (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022).
Patients who have turned to marijuana often tout improvements in quality of life, reduced reliance on pharmaceuticals, and fewer side effects compared to traditional medications. This shift toward cannabis has the potential to mitigate the opioid crisis by offering a safer alternative for pain management (Volkow et al., 2014). Furthermore, the World Health Organization recognizes medical cannabis as an essential medicine, advocating for access to those in need (World Health Organization, 2018).

Economic Advantages

Legalizing marijuana presents various economic benefits, ranging from job creation to increased tax revenue. As states like Colorado and California have demonstrated, legalized cannabis sales can generate millions in tax revenue that can be used for vital public services including education, infrastructure, and public health initiatives (Mackenzie, 2021). The National Cannabis Industry Association (2023) estimates that the legal cannabis industry could create over 1 million jobs by 2025.
Additionally, legalization could stimulate ancillary industries, including real estate, agriculture, and manufacturing. With projections indicating that the legal cannabis market could exceed billion by 2025, the economic potential is vast (New Frontier Data, 2022).

Addressing Health Concerns

Despite the advantages of legalization, concerns about the long-term health effects of marijuana must not be overlooked. Critics point to potential issues such as respiratory problems, mental health risks, and the possibility of addiction. A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association indicates that while marijuana can have adverse effects, its risk of dependency is lower than that associated with substances like alcohol or tobacco (Budney et al., 2015). Furthermore, research indicates that responsible regulation of marijuana products, including potency control and labeling, can mitigate many of these risks.

Conclusion

Legalizing marijuana nationwide presents a multifaceted opportunity to address social, medical, and economic concerns that plague the community. By dismantling the stigma surrounding marijuana and treating its use with an informed, fact-based approach, the U.S. can promote justice, improve public health, and create significant economic opportunities. The potential benefits—reduction in incarceration rates for nonviolent offenses, an alternative to the opioid crisis, and the creation of a lucrative industry—far outweigh the concerns associated with marijuana use.
As society continues to evolve in its understanding of marijuana, it is essential that legislators and policymakers take note of this changing landscape and expand current legalization efforts across the nation.

References

- American Civil Liberties Union. (2020). The War on Marijuana in Black and White. ACLU. Retrieved from https://www.aclu.org/report/report-war-marijuana-black-and-white
- Budney, A. J., Moore, B. A., Vandrey, R., & Hughes, J. R. (2015). The impact of cannabis use on the development of psychiatric disorders. Journal of the American Medical Association, 313(24), 2493-2494.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022). Opioid Overdose. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/index.html
- Drug Enforcement Administration. (2022). Drugs of Abuse. DEA. Retrieved from https://www.dea.gov/drugs-of-abuse
- Federal Bureau of Investigation. (2020). Crime in the United States. FBI. Retrieved from https://www.fbi.gov/services/cjis/ucr
- Mackenzie, D. (2021). The Economic Benefits of Legalizing Cannabis. Forbes. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidmackenzie/2021/09/08/the-economic-benefits-of-legalizing-cannabis/
- National Cannabis Industry Association. (2023). Industry Facts. Retrieved from https://www.cannabisindustry.org/who-we-are/industry-facts/
- National Conference of State Legislatures. (2023). State Medical Marijuana Laws. Retrieved from https://www.ncsl.org/research/health/state-medical-marijuana-laws.aspx
- New Frontier Data. (2022). The U.S. Cannabis Industry. Retrieved from https://newfrontierdata.com
- Volkow, N. D., Frieden, T. R., Hyde, P. S., & Cha, S. S. (2014). Medication-Assisted Therapies—Tackling the Opioid-Overdose Epidemic. New England Journal of Medicine, 370(20), 1860-1862.
- World Health Organization. (2018). Cannabidiol (CBD): Critical Review Report. WHO. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/medicines/access/controlled-substances/Cannabidiol_Critical_Review_Report.pdf