Introduction and thesis statement:
This essay talks about drugs and drug use especially marijuana. There have been calls from a section of people from different sections of the world that marijuana should be legalized and sold freely just like tobacco. Some countries like Canada have legalized its use while there are debates in other countries regarding the same. The use of marijuana known among the youths as “weed” has massively spread in recent years to the point that some people seem not to fear the wrath of the law from its consumption. This widespread use is what makes the interest in this topic to be an important one. There is a need to have this conversation and know the implications of legalizing marijuana. It is important to note that at the end of the day it is still a matter of choice. Some individuals will still smoke cannabis sativa even if it is made illegal. There are also individuals that still will not touch it if it was legalized. This is because people have a choice to make and they will always make this choice regardless of the situation.
I am, however, of the opinion that marijuana should be sold but in a controlled manner. What I mean by a controlled way is that it should be sold in places like pharmacies where its use can be controlled by qualified pharmacists. This can help in preventing excessive use of the drug while at the same time making it available for the lovers to have free access to it. Additionally, it can help in ending the stereotype that links individuals who smoke marijuana with crimes (Barger, 2013). However, there are also cons that come with selling cannabis sativa freely. Below, I analyze the pros and cons of legalizing marijuana and selling it in grocery stores along with tobacco.
Most individuals from different parts of the world have been interested in the legalization of marijuana. This interest has also been shown by tobacco companies who will be more than ready to venture into this business. This has led to a shift in public opinion regarding marijuana which has further led to different governments relaxing their laws regarding the criminalization of marijuana (Pacula & Smart, 2017). There are reports that marijuana grown locally is now readily available in grocery stores in Switzerland. This product is aimed at providing an entirely chilled and relaxing feeling rather than getting high at supermarkets (Baum, 2016). Most states in the USA have legalized the sale of marijuana for medicinal use, recreational purposes, or both (Anderson & Rees, 2014).
Body of the paper
Marijuana has been used by people all over the world for several years now. I believe that the consumers of this product can still go on with their activities without so much limitation. A lot of people have derived pleasure from smoking cannabis sativa, and reports have even confirmed that this drug has some medicinal value that may be important to the health of individuals (Adler & Colbert, 2013). Even though the benefits of medicinal marijuana are not conclusive, some positive results confirm this drug can be useful for people with autism, cancer, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder among others. It slows the rate at which cancer cells spread in the body by turning off a gene known as Id-1 (Bostwick, Reisfield & DuPont, 2013). This product is also believed to control epileptic seizures by binding the brain cells that take care of relaxation and excitability (Maa & Figi, 2014). Consumers of cannabis also reported a reduction in the levels of anxiety. However, excessive use of marijuana may raise the levels of anxiety and cause paranoia (Clark, Capuzzi & Fick, 2011).
All the above mentioned medicinal benefits of marijuana make this product one that should be seriously considered for legalization. I believe that there are a lot of benefits of legalizing cannabis sativa, but its use must be regulated because of the apparent dangers of its excessive use. After all, people are still going to use marijuana whether it is criminalized or not because of the ease with which it can be accessed at times.
I believe that there are so many known benefits of marijuana that could be quite important for patients. I say this because I am an aspiring health practitioner who believes in patient advocacy. Every patient needs different options of relieving physical or mental refractory pain (Rezkalla & Kloner, 2014). If marijuana has any products that may control seizure and pain better than the products that are currently available, then it is reasonable that health facilities and health practitioners find a way of incorporating its use for this particular medicinal purpose (Hoffmann & Weber, 2010). This topic needs serious education so that we can appropriately understand the benefits of this drug.
I additionally believe that the government may need a new pathway as a source of revenue. A lot of money is diverted from our government and potentially into dangerous hands through this prohibition. However, legalizing marijuana and selling it in grocery stores gives room for appropriate taxation and a market for this creative enterprise. This is one of the largest cash crops and legalizing it means that marijuana will be brought under the rule of law (Leff, 2013). This will help in creating job opportunities and sourcing for funds in the formal market instead of the illicit market that has become infamous with this criminalization and illegalization.
Reflection:
The correction and court cases due to the use of marijuana consume a lot of government’s funds that could be channeled into other activities. The law enforcement resources can, therefore, be used to ensure public safety. The local and state governments also source for a lot of funds form the taxation of marijuana (“Marijuana Legalization and Regulation”, 2018). Additionally, through legalization, the testing of marijuana products can be made a standard procedure in the markets. Through testing, the public gets additional information and education about marijuana.
Another reason why I believe that marijuana should be legalized and sold in grocery stores is that there has not been a single account of death caused by marijuana that has been reported (Fox, Armentano & Tvert, 2013). It is, however, worth noting that there have been several cases of death reported due to a drug overdose. In fact, in 2010 there were around 38, 329 deaths caused by drug overdose that was reported in the United States of America. A huge percentage of the reported deaths resulted from the prescription drug while in the same year additional 25, 000 deaths were caused by the use of alcohol (“This Is Why Marijuana Should Be Legal Everywhere”, 2018). This is proof that the other drugs that are available in the market are more dangerous than marijuana. This makes one wonder why the government has not legalized its use and sales while the other drugs are readily available in stores and markets.
There is also agricultural and environmental benefits marijuana because it is a sustainable crop that is also very resourceful. Several products are produced from marijuana, and it can also be grown anywhere very quickly. It can, therefore, be an opportunity to export and import marijuana with other countries also cultivating this product. These benefits, according to me outweigh the reasons that make this drug to be criminalized and illegalized.
It is, however, important to note that there should be regulations for the use of marijuana to ensure that it is not misused. This regulation can be made possible through the implementation of the Cannabis Act. This act can create a legal framework that is aimed at regulating the production, distribution, and possession of marijuana. One of the main aims that this act can focus on is keeping marijuana out of the reach of youths. This helps in protecting the youth from excessive consumption of cannabis. Another aim of this act is to keep the profits generated from the sale of marijuana from the hands of criminals. All the profits are channeled to the government to help in funding other projects. Finally, the act will protect the safety and health of the public by allowing adults and access to marijuana.
Conclusion
Marijuana should be legalized and sold in stores, but the sale should be regulated to prevent excessive use. The use of marijuana has become widespread in spite of its criminalization. This is proof that people will keep using marijuana whether it is legalized or not. The use of cannabis sativa is all about choice, and not everyone will use it even if it is made legal. It is also important to note that there are several benefits of marijuana starting from medicinal purposes to recreational purposes. Cannabis sativa is good for relaxation, and there is no reason why its sale should not be embraced. Selling marijuana will also fetch a lot of funds for governments through taxation because of the high number of users of this drug. It is also important to note that of all drugs including prescription drugs; marijuana is the one that has never been reported to have caused any deaths. Therefore, there is no point in criminalizing marijuana while legalizing alcohol and tobacco that cause several deaths annually. The legalization must, however, come with regulations to ensure that the drug is kept from the access by the youths especially teenagers. This is because excessive use of this drug causes additional anxiety that may lead to paranoia.
References
Adler, J. N., & Colbert, J. A. (2013). Medicinal use of marijuana—polling results. N Engl J Med, 368(22), e30.
Anderson, D. M., & Rees, D. I. (2014). The legalization of recreational marijuana: how likely is the worst?case scenario?. Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, 33(1), 221-232.
Barger, A. (2013). Marijuana.
Baum, D. (2016). Legalize it all. Harper’s magazine, 24.
Bostwick, J. M., Reisfield, G. M., & DuPont, R. L. (2013). Medicinal use of marijuana. N Engl J Med, 368(9), 866-8.
Clark, P. A., Capuzzi, K., & Fick, C. (2011). Medical marijuana: medical necessity versus political agenda. Medical science monitor: international medical journal of experimental and clinical research, 17(12), RA249.
Fox, S., Armentano, P., & Tvert, M. (2013). Marijuana is safer: so why are we driving people to drink?. Chelsea Green Publishing.
Hoffmann, D. E., & Weber, E. (2010). Medical marijuana and the law. New England Journal of Medicine, 362(16), 1453-1457.
Leff, B. M. (2013). Tax Planning for Marijuana Dealers. Iowa L. Rev., 99, 523.
Maa, E., & Figi, P. (2014). The case for medical marijuana in epilepsy. Epilepsia, 55(6), 783-786.
Marijuana Legalization and Regulation. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.drugpolicy.org/issues/marijuana-legalization-and-regulation
Pacula, R. L., & Smart, R. (2017). Medical marijuana and marijuana legalization. Annual review of clinical psychology, 13, 397-419.
Rezkalla, S., & Kloner, R. A. (2014). Recreational marijuana use: is it safe for your patient?.
This Is Why Marijuana Should Be Legal Everywhere. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/24/marijuana-legalization_n_4151423.html
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