Question

After recently going over the slides for the nuerotransmitter systems and drug classes, one of the biggest legal debates today centers around the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes, which also leads to the debate on if it should be legalized officially (at least here in California, which just passed). It has already been legalized in Colorado and Washington State, but has yet to catch on in most other states.

A long time ago it was (and still is) considered to be a gateway drug to other, more harsh and addicting, drugs, but research has not supported that claim over the years. There is no doubt that it can produce an addiction, but more of a mental one than a physical one. Furthermore, the medical benefits are showing to be efficient, especially controlling pain in terminally ill patients (cancer, HIV, etc.), and can be beneficial for chronic pain, it even helps with insomnia, by helping one to fall asleep.

That being said, it is also a "hallucinogen" that alters your perception, so do you really want this to be legal on the streets (so to speak)? Please post an initial claim to where you stand on this issue (legalize it or do not) and why you feel that way. The initial post is due on Wednesday before midnight, and I would like you to respond to at least 2 others by Sunday night.

Answer 1

The Use of Marijuana for Medicinal Purposes- Should It Be Legalized or Not?

Marijuana used to be considered a gateway drug to other more harsh and addicting drugs but research says otherwise.Yes, Marijuana can produce addiction but it is more mental then it is physical.The Medical benefits are efficient to control pain in the terminally ill as well as for those with chronic pain and insomnia.Since Marijuana is also a hallucinogen it tends to alter perception and the question comes of whether it is something that should really be legalized or not.

In my personal opinion, I think that Marijuana can and should be legalized. This is because of the research that points towards the good benefits it may have for those who truly need it first and foremost. If Marijuana is illegal then it affects the people who truly need it for their chronic pain,illness or other such related issues, as buying and using a so called illegal drug puts one in immediate danger. Being punished for utilizing a drug for recreational or medicinal purposes seems , in my opinion , a rather harsh way of going about this issue. There are more dire and deeply negative rooted issues in the world that are being overlooked so maybe it would be more beneficial for governments and officials to focus on those issues that are causing more damage than sustainable progress.

Approximately 3.6 million Americans are daily or near daily users.This shows how common cannabis is and how many people have been and still are using the drug for their own purposes be they recreational or medicinal. If an individual is using marijuana in the confines of their own home then I see no reason as to why it bothers many conservatives on the issues of legalizing it. Poeple who use this drug are usually at home in a safe environment where they can be themselves at peace. There are no instances of marijuana ever being to such an extreme that violence and aggression occurs causing an issue in any society or environment. There have not been any instances of serious cases of violence or deaths as well with cannabis. There has been paranoia, psychotic episodes or anxiety but nothing as intense as violence and death. Those who have genetic predispositions or a disorder already may be the ones who need help from mental health professionals but otherwise marijuana use has proven and shown to be a much more safer drug as compared to other ones. With the right amount of correct and informational knowledges on this drug called marijuana individuals,(adults) should be able to make choices for themselves that benefit their well being. Also to add to this point that caring for ones own well being is only beneficial to the individual themselves first and towards society and the rest of the world as well. It has been proven that self care habits and awareness of the self helps people manage their difficult emotions and replace them with better alternatives that are more nurturing that debilitating overall.

Here are some reasons as to why it may be a good idea to legalize Marijuana once and for all:

• Adults should be allowed to make adult decisions about how they choose to relax or have fun without government interference, especially when they’re not hurting anyone.
• Marijuana is less harmful than alcohol and tobacco, which are already legal. Why are substances like alcohol legal when they are one of the most difficult things for people to let go of froma n addictive perspective. Its more easy to buy and consume alcohol the it is to buy marijuana which has a very different effect on the nervous system compared to alcohol. Alcohol tends to make peoples true destructive selves come sout more than the calmer ones in most cases so it doesn't seem like marijuana use will be concluding in destructive behaviours and acts.
• Harvard economist Jeffrey Miron has estimated that marijuana legalization would save between $7.7 billion and $13.7 billion annually. Instead of focusing on the issues that cause the least damage to people and the world it would be more productive to legalize it and help people use more cleaner and quality marijuana products that by buying spiked and experimental street marijuana/drugs that may have detrimental effects on individuals who may look for help through fast and cheap ways.
• Instead of arresting people for marijuana, police officers could focus on serious crimes including rape, assault, and homicide.
• Research indicates that people drink less and alcohol sales drop in places where marijuana is legalized.The amount of crime and violence caused by alcohol use is ten times higher than by marijuana use and alcohol is a factor in around 40% of violent crimes. A shift from drinking to cannabis use will decrease crimes associated with alcohol, such as domestic violence and assault.
• The enforcement of marijuana prohibition is racist because people of color are disproportionately impacted.Even though white and black people use marijuana at roughly the same rate, a black person in the United States is 3.73 times more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession on average. Legalization of marijuana is phasing out black markets and taking money away from drug cartels, organized crime, and street gangs.Marijuana possession convictions can impact people’s ability to get public housing, financial aid for school, loans, and jobs.Racial disparities in marijuana enforcement are widespread and longstanding.Legalizing marijuana would help correct the disparity.
• Legal marijuana is regulated for consumer safety.Once marijuana is legalized, the government is able to enforce laboratory testing and regulations to ensure that marijuana is free of toxins.
• Studies show that drivers under the influence of marijuana tend to be more cautious and take fewer risks than drunk drivers, such as making fewer lane changes and reducing speed. The paranoia element or anxiosness element here is a factor that causes one to be more alert and cautious hence letting an individual take care of how they are going about their day safely without making any damage. As compared to alcohol drivers who are more aggressive, violent and unfit to drive on any level after consuming a specific amount of alcohol.
• Legalizing marijuana results in decreased teen marijuana use. Since marijuana use exploration begins at a young age for many it i important that if our young teenagers are trying it they should be able to do so under legal guidance. Hiding and refraining from adult supervision and exploring drugs with peers who are also still developing mentally and physically would be somewhat non beneficial in case the teen has negative experiences with the drug. If marijuana is legal children who are curious are more likely to ask their parents to give them a try before reaching their adulthood. It is way more better that young individuals experience the recreational purposes safely in the confinements of their own homes which are safer as compared to other possibly dangerous environments. By letting them have their firsthand experience of the drug safely these young teens may be more able to make choices that are informed and more mature overall.
• Marijuana legalization boosts the economy.The legal marijuana industry generated $7.2 billion in economic activity in 2016, and added millions of dollars in federal taxes paid by cannabis businesses.

Countries that have legalized medical use of cannabis:

Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Switzerland, Thailand, the United Kingdom, and Zambia.

Others countries have more restrictive laws that allow only the use of certain cannabis-derived pharmaceuticals, such as Sativex, Marinol, or Epidiolex.In the United States, 33 states and the District of Columbia have legalized the medical use of cannabis, but at the federal level its use remains prohibited for any purpose.