Legalizing Marijuana

Legalizing Marijuana

Marijuana is a hallucinogen; its active property is THC. Marijuana is the most widely used illegal drug in the U.S., and is often the first illegal drug used by teenagers. Some states have legalized marijuana for medical purposes only. From a rational point of view, individuals deserve the right to make choices for themselves. The government only has a right to limit those choices if the individual's actions endanger someone else. This does not apply to marijuana, since the individual who chooses to use marijuana does so according to his or her own free will. The government also may have a right to limit individual actions if the actions show a significant threat to the individual. This argument does not logically apply to marijuana because marijuana is far less dangerous than some drugs which are legal, such as alcohol and tobacco. Legalizing of marijuana would change many things in world today, such as, keeping marijuana illegal is expensive, medical use, hemp, and religious use as well. We could save billions of dollars every year as a nation if we stop wasting money locking people up for having marijuana. In addition, if marijuana were legal, the government would be able to collect taxes on it, and would have a lot more money to pay for effective drug education programs and other important causes. Marijuana can be used as medicine because it helps to stimulate appetite and relieve nausea in cancer and AIDS patients. Marijuana use is less harmful and risky than the use of alcohol, tobacco, and many nonprescription drugs. It is the safest (currently) illegal drug. Marijuana is much less addictive than tobacco or alcohol. Legalization of marijuana would cut down on crime. Because marijuana is illegal, it is difficult to manufacture, and is expensive, so addicts often have to turn to crime to maintain their habit. Legalization would drive the price down and lessen this problem. Currently, much of the crime that goes on is a result of territory disputes between dealers. Legalization of marijuana would hurt organized crime as a whole. If marijuana was legal, the entire transportation of organized crime involved in its manufacturing and distribution would lose any reason for existence because marijuana would be legally produced and sold at a much cheaper price by legitimate companies. Police officers and suspected informants often face retribution by gangs and drug dealers. Legalization of marijuana would simply eliminate the need for dealers and put a stop to all this. Legalization would cut down on corruption in the law enforcement, the government. Officials will no longer be tempted into accepting bribes, and pocketing large amounts of drug money. Another major point is, Legalization would free up resources to fight legitimate crimes. It would end prison overcrowding, as many prisoners are sitting in jails for drug-related convictions. It would free up the court system and the police and allow them to concentrate on other crimes. Fighting marijuana-related "crimes" is costing us tax money. Legalizing marijuana would make it safer for users. One of the main reasons why marijuana is unsafe right now is because it isn't regulated, and its quality isn't monitored by anyone. When people buy marijuana, they don't know for sure what they're getting or where it's been.
One may argue against legalization of marijuana, State cannot be involved with the distribution of substances considered immoral by relevant lots of the population. A substance considered unhealthy cannot be produced and distributed with the help of the state, because the goal of the state is to protect citizens' health and not to expose them to risk. The easy availability of drugs would create new consumers rather than rescuing current ones. Drugs are addictive. They rob the user of free will. A drug user cannot make an informed and rational decision to continue using drugs because the use of the drug eliminates that user's ability to think logically. Drug use is dangerous to persons besides the user, in the rise of health care costs, violence associated with the use of drugs, neglect of children by drug-addicted parents, and other third party effects. The use of soft drugs, such as marijuana, leads to the use of hard drugs (the Gateway Theory).Drug dealers will sell to anyone, including children. Merchants who legally sell alcohol and tobacco are not allowed to sell to children. Many high school students report that it is easier to obtain illegal drugs than alcohol and tobacco. Legalizing drugs will send a message to children that drug use is acceptable.
In conclusion, after reading both sides of the argument on legalizing marijuana, I believe that if marijuana was legal it would make the world a less aggressive, happier place. I think it should be legalized, but controlled a lot better than they control the sale of alcohol. It should be strictly enforced and again an age limit set. Marijuana is not what the world actually makes it out to be. People should not be so judgmental about this issue, they should understand all aspects of the issue before drawing conclusions.