Tuesday, February 11, 2014

When Legalizing Marijuana Should Be Considered

By James Spann


Lobby groups in support of legalizing marijuana have confronted authorities and policy makers with the incredible benefits such an move would have on the society. Their argument is that the drug should be removed from the criminal justice system and proper regulations be put in place. The idea is to have a policy and legal framework like the one that regulates sale and consumption of alcohol.

At the face value, the economic, medical and health benefits of cannabis include expanded revenue avenues for families and taxes for governments. It could be taken as a lucrative cash crop that will create employment in farming, sale and distribution. The economy will experience life changing ripple effects either directly or indirectly. Cannabis has continued to thrive underground which has led to widespread destruction of lives and conflicts with the law. Legalization will reduce the instances of conflict and enable the governments to take control of the industry instead of leaving it to criminals and cartels.

Governments use immense resources that are considered a waste in fighting its growth and use. There are other more deserving areas like enhancing law and order or fighting social crimes. The time spent dealing with cannabis related court cases would be use to clear legitimate backlog. Farmers are more creative on ways of spreading its benefits without the fear of authority.

There are a number of medical reasons for using marijuana that are a product of extensive research and testing. They have been given by reputable institutions with necessary safeguards regarding quantities and frequency of use. At the fore of the debate is the reduction in suicide rate with as much as ten percentage points. It is used to cope with stressful situations and thus keep a person away from suicidal thoughts.

Depression ranks high among the health reasons for using marijuana. It helps to prevent depression by pushing back the onset of panic attacks and anxiety. This gives a person the psychological strength to handle difficult situations. Other conditions that can be managed using cannabis include suicidal ideation, schizophrenia and psychosis. There is a personality element in mental health which has lead to different reactions to the same medication.

Answering the question should marijuana be legalized requires an evaluation of information coming from economists and medical researcher in renowned world universities. They have advocated for development of policies to guide access and use of cannabis instead of criminalizing it. It should be used with active prescriptions only. Other social support structures like health care must be provided to prevent misuse. Tests are ongoing to determine dosage in different situations.

The danger posed by legalizing marijuana in a haphazard manner emanates from the tendency to turn it into a recreation tool. The effects of such a move include addiction which has far reaching social and economic implications. There is a recorded discrepancy between the effects of marijuana on men and women at a certain age. A comparison of the long term effects of alcohol and cannabis is in favor of cannabis.

Legal cannabis has a psychological effect to the users. Elimination of the criminal aspect means that users are no longer guilty and are therefore able to follow prescription. They can use it in the right places, right quantities and at the right time. This helps in reforming a society that is used to hidden or underground use. The health status of the persons using the plant can be monitored easily.

The use of marijuana in pain relief has caused a stir in the industry. This has made authorities more receptive to the push for legalization. This will create an entry point for policy makers and regulators to develop friendly policies that will lead to beneficial growth of the industry. It can be used on foods and drinks instead of the conventional smoking option which is linked to harmful health side effects. Legalization prevents abuse and hands control of the industry to government organs instead of criminals and cartels.

Stress reduction remains the single most reward that cannabis has given the society. Eliminating stress means the possibility of many more benefits. It leads to more productivity if the environment is stress free. It also reduces the possibility of disease attack because stress causes low immunity.

Legalizing marijuana is a debate that is spreading in different corners of the world. The entry of renowned universities and scholars is bound to add impetus to the push. Fronting of health and economic benefits adds legitimacy to the debate making it worthwhile.




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