Getting Down to Cannabusiness
Every year, there are more arrests for marijuana possession than for all violent crimes combined in America, yet 10 states have still chosen to fully legalize this drug. Why would they stop prohibiting the use of the infamous Mary Jane? As these 10 states voted for adults who are 21 or older to have the choice of recreationally using marijuana, they set a precedent for the rest of the United States. Is it truly justifiable for American adults to have easy access to a Schedule 1 controlled substance?
Numerous times during my high school’s health classes, my teachers would emphasize the dangers which follow the consumption of this drug. By using highly potent marijuana, or by simply overusing this substance, results can range from getting anxiety to experiencing acute psychosis. THC, a chemical compound found in marijuana, is known for altering “brain areas that regulate balance, posture, coordination, and reaction time,” showing reason for how car accidents can be linked to marijuana use. With marijuana being a Schedule 1 drug, it’s grouped with drugs such as heroin, LSD, cocaine, and ecstasy. Schedule 1 drugs are all characterized as having a high potential for abuse, having no accepted medical use in America, and having severe safety concerns. Still, since marijuana was fully legalized in 1 out of 5 states in the U.S., there must be some benefits to having it become more accessible. Right?
As long as marijuana is a Schedule 1 controlled substance, under federal law, its use, both medically and recreationally, is illegal. Despite this, 34 out of 50 states legalized its medical use, recognizing the benefits of this drug. Not only is it a depressant, but marijuana also acts as a source of pain relief, controls nausea and vomiting, and stimulates appetite. Its ability to reduce anxiety, sedate, and cause a state of euphoria add to why more and more people want to reap the benefits of this drug as it becomes easier to access.
Recently, my civics class reviewed the history behind marijuana prohibition. I was surprised to learn that marijuana became a Schedule 1 drug only after timber and electrical companies convinced the public of the many “dangers” of marijuana. Why? Because they were terrified after learning that hemp could be used as a cheaper and better quality source for producing paper than the trees they used. The use of marijuana for paper would likely lead to a significant cut in their profits. Knowing this, I was still skeptical. Why had the public not learned of this and legalized marijuana since then? Clearly, its prohibition did not stop many Americans from abandoning this drug. Unfortunately for its users, the National Institute on Drug Abuse shared how most of its negative effects come from overusing the drug or using highly potent marijuana. In fact, large doses can result in similar symptoms to psychosis such as hallucinations and delusions. Marijuana had always been publicized as a dangerous drug to use, yet for about 40 years, states are beginning to decriminalize, then legalize it.
Eight years ago, about 4.2 million Americans met the criteria for being dependent or abusing marijuana. In addition to this, about 9% of people who use marijuana are said to become dependent on it. For those who use it daily, 25–50% of people are expected to become dependent on it. Its negative effects on attention, memory loss, and learning can last for days or weeks. Is legalizing marijuana worth jeopardizing the health of Americans using it? Won’t legalizing this drug only lead to an increase in the amount of users?
Unfortunately, after a person becomes addicted to marijuana, they will normally find a way to get more of it as if their life depends on it. With the increase in dependency on this substance, black markets are prospering. Even if the prohibition of marijuana makes it harder for people to access it, people are willing to risk resorting to illegal means to feed their addiction. Since 2006, over 100,000 people have been killed in America’s drug war in the US and Mexico. At the same time, even if people argue that legalizing marijuana could put an end to black markets, this sadly won’t become a reality. Black markets could continue to exist due to other profits from substances such as cocaine, methamphetamine, and heroin, but with marijuana being the most commonly sought out drug, their profits will decline, undoubtedly hurting these organizations.
Today, with marijuana legalized in certain states, Americans are more willing to access this drug legally in comparison to facing the consequences of getting caught with illegally obtained marijuana. These states also have less Americans purchasing black market marijuana with an unknown potency and quality. Selling marijuana with regulation results in Americans aware of the marijuana they are consuming and the confidence that it is “safe” since it is sold under state law.
What other benefits exist for the legalization of marijuana? It’s clear that as marijuana is legalized in more U.S. states, there will be extreme declines in the amount of arrests made concerning marijuana. The aforementioned statistic saying there are more arrests for marijuana than for all violent crimes combined is bound to change in the near future as long as more states legalize this drug. With less people in prison, less government money will be spent on prisoners. With this excess money, an infinite amount of changes could be made in our country concerning more important issues such as improving education or infrastructure, going towards the betterment of our country overall.
Economically, the possibilities with legalizing marijuana are endless. As businesses begin selling marijuana, excise taxes will increase. More and more taxes will be paid for those buying marijuana in a legal matter, helping to benefit each state as they earn more tax money. Those who don’t use marijuana can also be benefitted along with the entire state from the increase in tax money.
The health concerns of marijuana are still dangerous. Though it is not worthy of being called a Schedule 1 controlled substance due to its importance medically, marijuana is still a drug which can become addicting, similar to alcohol and nicotine which are also legalized. More accessibility is likely to result in an increase of users, but it is important that adolescents continue to be educated on the dangers of using this drug. Legalizing may help our country’s economy, but the health of our fellow Americans is still an important issue which needs to be taken into consideration with the legalization of a harmful drug like marijuana.
Whether you enter a state with legalized marijuana, or whether you are voting in your own state concerning its legalization, you will soon be affected by marijuana’s status in society. It is clear that the number of states who have fully legalized this substance will not stop at 10 despite the current beliefs of the federal government. As its legalization spreads across America, it is important to stay educated on this controversial issue since its legalization or prohibition affects the choices of those in your community.
