Marijuana Legalization: The Unethical Approach

Marijuana Legalization: The Unethical Approach

It is of no surprise that the marijuana legalization has come about in the media everywhere. For many years the issue has been strongly debated, and it has been a tough debate. Most of the United States considered and are still considering legalizing marijuana for medical and recreational use by adults. Yet, different controversies have come into existence as well. Arguments in favor of and opposition to legalization are clear in news media and also other sources. These argue that increasing the availability of marijuana through legalizing recreational and medical use of marijuana will create opportunities for illegal use, marketing, and abuse by minors (Alain, and Samuel 1). In the article “Legalization of Marijuana: Potential Impact on Youth,” it states that the “editors of The Lancet have concluded that ‘cannabis per se is not a hazard to society but driving it further underground may well be’.” The opposing sides of this statement suggest that cannabis is not different than any other drug and shares just as many features. In a survey conducted in 1995, about 31 percent believed that marijuana should be available for prescription usage, 18 percent favored the legalization in general and the other 50 percent thought the possession of marijuana should be limited or even illegal. However, there are some significant advantages for legalizing marijuana, and it has attracted supportive opinions among several citizens in the United States of America. Proponents of policies that support the legal possession of small amounts of marijuana claim that it is a safe drug. They insist that criminal sanctions against personal use and possession of it, is worse and that the penalties that deny marijuana users rights to enjoy it for recreational purposes are unnecessary (Alain, and Samuel 2). Those who are opposing the legalization of marijuana for both medical and recreation use argue that it is not a stable drug. They argue that marijuana affects psychological disorders, as well as health disorders. With this being said, the legalization of marijuana use in either medical or recreational use will trigger social, economic and health risks thus increasing foreseeable cost.

Legalizing cannabis is not an ethical approach towards providing medical solutions. According to Drug-Free America Foundation, Inc (1) marijuana is not scientifically proven as a method for providing safe and effective medication. Marijuana is associated with having hundreds of compounds that are harmful to human health, thus legalizing it is allowing open access to endangering public health as well as patients who are suffering from chronic illnesses (Drug-Free America Foundation, Inc, 1). According to Silvia et al., (26) legislation of medical marijuana laws is associated with increasing marijuana use among adolescents and adults. However, there are several risks associated with legalizing marijuana, including the influence to make people to easily fall into the temptation of abusing drugs and increasing drug-dependent individuals in society. Creating an opportunity where people can access illegal drugs, influences the use of drug patterns (Silvia et al., (27). The adverse effects of allowing marijuana use for both recreational purposes and health purposes may affect the economy through generating changes in the supply market, which then leads to lowering prices for marijuana.

Medical Marijuana Laws have led to increased numbers of patients registered for using marijuana drugs. Patients registered for medical marijuana drugs have increased after laws regarding marijuana, cultivation, and possession were proposed and became effective laws (Silvia et al., (28). The increased registration is an indicator of diversion of major purpose for registration. Most of youths and adults divert the use of non-medical purpose for recreation, thus increasing risks among those who need to use the drugs. Legalizing the use of marijuana for any purpose increases the availability of the drug across states. This rampant increase of medical marijuana also increases the sale among illegal street markets. Which these drugs are sold through the Internet as well as other black markets (Silvia et al., (28). Medical marijuana has increased incidences where some of the drug leaks illegally in the community leading to recreational use of marijuana towards adults and adolescents. On the other hand, it is said that marijuana contains some essential medical components along with some health hazard substances. However, separating harmful components from the valuable compound has provided certain essential medicinal benefits. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in marijuana is one of proved medical extract approved by Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a stimulant drug for boosting appetite as well as controlling nausea for patients who are undergoing chemo and radiation treatment. The Drug Policy Alliance (1) argues that Marijuana has been applied throughout the world for many years providing several medicinal benefits. The Drug Policy Alliance point of view explains that marijuana is effective and an efficient medication for treatment of several illnesses. With this information of medical advantages associated with marijuana, people began to change their opinions about allowing others to use the drug for medical purposes. According to a statistical analysis provided by the Drug Policy Alliance, since 1990, 70 to 80 percent of public members support the legalization of marijuana for medicinal purposes.

Majority of people have changed their viewpoints about the legalization and have actually preferred it due to, safe and efficient application of cannabis in various diseases such as “cancer, HIV/AIDS, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s disease, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).” Most people feel that the use of marijuana should be permitted to facilitate the debilitation of chronic medical conditions. The Drug Policy Alliance advocates for the use of marijuana as an alternative and effective painkiller to patients who are experiencing extreme pain. According to results and findings of a research that aimed at testing efficiency of marijuana in treating patients, it was concluded that the drug should get applied as a first-line treatment for patients who suffer from painful neuropathy and are not able to respond to other forms of treatments. Other research studies have identified that cannabis has a potential of providing medical benefits because the drug extracted from it has helped in mitigating nausea, loss of appetite, pain, and anxiety (Drug Policy Alliance, 3). Recent research has supported the application of the drug in the medical sector also because supposedly it has the potential of providing a solution to vital diseases. A broad spectrum of medical benefits associated with marijuana includes having compounds that have anti-cancer properties. Allowing legal use of marijuana as a medicinal substance is supposedly paving the way for unlocking cancer treatments. The District of Columbia is another example of who has legalized marijuana for medical use. The District of Columbia laws allow residents to produce and use a small amount of marijuana, however they are not able to create commercial markets. Instead, the recreational marijuana laws create regulated retail markets for marijuana that are similar to markets for alcohol and tobacco. Since, supposedly supporters say that the drug is no different to alcohol and or tobacco. According to Emma, Jeff, Kathryn,  & Colleen, 54 percent of Americans opinions have legalized marijuana use for recreation purposes (80). The political views reveal that 65 percent of Democrats, 61 percent of independents and 36 percent of Republicans support legalization of marijuana for the recreational purpose (Compton, Han, Hughes, Jones and Blanco, 12). Americans are required to make informed decisions on whether to support marijuana use for recreational purposes.  Even though most Americans support legalization of marijuana, adverse effects are expected to affect brain growth and development, like the ability to retain certain memories, reduce efforts towards education attainment, as well as lead to long-term healthcare problems. Legalizing marijuana is associated with an increased rate of cannabis use disorders as well as increasing injury and mortality rates as a result of marijuana-impaired driving. Analysis concerning the legalization of marijuana collected from 2010 to 2014 focused on anti-legalization arguments claiming that the legalization could lead to adverse public health consequences such as affecting youth’s health. For supporters, these Americans consider legalizing marijuana for use by adults during recreation purposes by defending their choices in saying that legalization would benefit the public through reducing health consequences, such as reduction of overdose prescriptions of marijuana-related drugs such as opioid (Beau et al. 24). Or, that the legalization of marijuana for recreational use by adults could prevent issues associated with illegal marketing and abuse. Supporters argue in favor of criminal justice and economic factors. Pro-legalization argued that the potential legalization of marijuana for recreational use by adults because it would reduce prison overcrowding as well, due to disparities associated with marijuana arrests (Beau et al. 24). Legalization is also associated with increasing tax revenue and the creation of new job opportunities too. However legalizing marijuana has more adverse impacts on society, especially to students. The results and findings compiled by Mallie, Joel, and Anthony, on medical marijuana legalization and marijuana use among youths revealed that greater numbers of registered marijuana patients as well as registered marijuana growers preferred legalization of marijuana in both hospitals and recreation use (3). Marijuana users have increased from 2.9 million in 2006 to 18.9 million in 2015 while grower’s rate increased from 3.8 to 11.9 (Mallie, Joel, and Anthony, 3). This data indicates that the majority prefers the legalization of marijuana, rather than not.

Since 1960 Americans offered their suggestions on whether the use of marijuana should get legalized. Statistical analysis shows that public support has increased with time. In the year 2000, only 31% of Americans supported policies that advocated for the legalization of marijuana (Joseph, and Gallup, pp 1). Based on the argument provided by James (23) the current information about a third of Americans say Marijuana should be legalized. The city of Colorado was among the states that are aiming at using laws that discriminate use of small amounts of marijuana for recreational purposes, however the law proposed on 2012 became effective in 2014 (Lydia, 4). More controversies arose in the process with increased sale of marijuana and continuous infusion of marijuana in edibles. Some of the controversial issues that were raised include health effects in products such as brownies and gummy bears. The risks they pose to children include affecting public concerns. The issues raised against legalization of the use of marijuana have declined public support in the state of Colorado (Lydia, 4). According to analyzed data and information, legalizing marijuana for recreational use and legalizing marijuana for medical purposes have similar impacts in the society leading to controversial reactions among members of the public (Mark, and Daniel, 1). Policy makers and public opinions agree that in either case there is a likelihood of encountering fatal accidents, metal, physical, emotional and social implications. Legalizing marijuana could cause health complications and increase the risks of minors accessing drugs. Despite all this, marijuana has some significant advantages in healthcare because it is shown through data, that it is able to help treat cancer, anorexia, AIDS, chronic pain, spasticity, glaucoma, arthritis, migraine, or any other illness (Mark, and Daniel, 1). Its significant to legalize both recreational uses of marijuana to adults can avoid illegal leakage of drugs, or abuse of drugs among users, as well as improving public health.

In conclusion, there is a possibility that legalizing marijuana will be beneficial for both users who intend to use it for recreational purposes or medicinal purposes. Decrease in arrests, illegal usage in states that don’t allow it, and multiple benefits in medical treatments, are just a few of the upsides. Although, the lingering factor of increased drug use among adolescents, abuse of the drug, and the undesirable effects to the development of the brain, still remain as an issue for some states who are currently debating whether to legalize the drug or not. Regardless, the legalization poses more of a risk to the public health and adolescents, than it does a benefit.

Works Cited

Alain Joffe, and Samuel Yancy. Legalization of Marijuana: Potential Impact on Youth. The Committee on Substance Abuse and Committee on Adolescence. June 2004, VOLUME 113 / ISSUE 6

Beau Kilmer, Jonathan P. Caulkins, Rosalie Liccardo Pacula, Robert J. MacCoun, Peter H. Reuter. Altered State? Assessing How Marijuana Legalization in California Could Influence Marijuana Consumption and Public Budgets. 2010.

Compton WM, Han B, Hughes A, Jones CM, Blanco C. Use of Marijuana for Medical Purposes Among Adults in the United States. JAMA. 2017;317(2):209–211.

Drug Free America Foundation, Inc. “The Marijuana Plant Should Not Be Legalized for Medical Use.” The Legalization of Marijuana, edited byNoël Merino, Greenhaven Press, 2016. Opposing Viewpoints. Opposing Viewpoints in Context.

Drug Policy Alliance. “Marijuana Should Be Legalized for Medical Use.”  The Legalization of Marijuana, edited by Noël Merino, Greenhaven. Press, 2016. Opposing Viewpoints. Opposing Viewpoints in Contex

Emma E., Jeff N., Kathryn H., & Colleen B., Preventive Medicine. Public perceptions of arguments supporting and opposing recreational marijuana legalization

James A. Inciardi The Drug Legalization Debate

Joseph C., and Gallup P. Who Supports Marijuana Legalization? Support rising; varies most by age and gender.

Lydia S. Majority Continues to Support Pot Legalization in U.S. 2014

Mallie J. P., Joel W. G. and Anthony B. Medical Marijuana Legalization and Marijuana Use Among Youth in Oregon. 2017 Jun; 38(3): 329–341.

Mark Anderson and Daniel I. Rees The Legalization of Recreational Marijuana: How Likely Is the Worst-Case Scenario? Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, Vol. 0, No. 0, 1–11 (2013).

Silvia S., Christine M., Julian S., June H., Magdalene C., Katherine M., Deborah S., Sandro G., & Melanie W. Drug and Alcohol Dependancy. State Level Medical Marijuana Laws, Marijuana use and perceived availability of Marijuana laws among the General US Population. 2016.