The legalization of marijuana seems to the way that this country is headed, but it’s not without its detractors. Marijuana is a drug that has been used since ancient times as a substance to achieve a state of mental euphoria. The first recorded use of the drug is in China as early as 2737 BC. In 1545 the Spanish brought marijuana to the New World. In 1611, the English introduced it to Jamestown and was grown as a source of fiber. Marijuana died down a bit in the southern states and did not really catch back on the rise until the 1920’s. Marijuana was not considered a social threat at the time. In the 1930’s the U.S. Federal Bureau of Narcotics (now the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs) pushed to portray marijuana as a powerful, addicting substance that would lead users into drug addiction (Burnett). Eventually leading to the illegalization of the substance in 1937. Some agencies still consider marijuana as a “gateway” drug. It is still illegal to this day. 

“Marijuana” is the American term for dried flowers and leaves of the plant Cannabis Sativa. ‘THC’, or otherwise known as delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, the main psychoactive ingredient in marijuana; one of 483 known compounds in the plant, including at least 65 other cannabinoids(Burnett). As stated in Marijuana Legalization, “While most drugs taken for other-than-medical use can be classified as either a central-nervous-system stimulant (CNS) or CNS depressants, marijuana is neither a stimulant nor a depressant” (Caulkins). By most standards, marijuana is one of the safest substances you can ingest. 

People and institutions like the WHO and NORML are starting to slowly change the way most people view cannabis. Marijuana is the most commonly used illegal drug in the U.S. thus making it a viable economical solution at the state and federal level. As more Americans move towards favoring legalization it’s a sign of how much a change in the narrative about marijuana there has been. The media has been involved heavily in trying to influence such a growing contingent of cannabis supporters. “Much media attention is devoted to the topic, and large pharmaceutical companies hope to make a lot of money treating it. However, it is doubtful that marijuana is addictive in any meaningful sense” (Armentano). Showing us how the “big guys” with all their money and influence push a negative narrative that really does more harm than good. The World Health Organization (WHO) agreed, stating, "On existing patterns of use, cannabis poses a much less serious public health problem than is currently posed by alcohol and tobacco in Western societies” (Armentano). Showing us just bright the light can really be once we’ve seen it. 

As stated by DEA law judge Francis Young, “At present it is estimated that marijuana's LD-50 is around 1: 20,000 or 1: 40,000. In layman terms this means that to induce death a marijuana smoker would have to consume 20,000 to 40,000 times as much marijuana as is contained in one marijuana cigarette” (Young). Cannabis is already a safer and better alternative to alcohol and tobacco. With zero deaths attributed directly to marijuana it makes no sense for it to be vilified and persecuted the way it has. With the increased public perception and such a high usage rate it makes sense to legalize marijuana with its health and economic solutions. 

Legal sale, distribution, and consumption of marijuana would benefit the economy of the U.S. in a variety of different facets. As stated by Kelly Erb for Forbes states, “In addition to sales taxes, Colorado also imposes a “retail marijuana excise tax” of 15% (Erb). When it comes to consumption rates and legalization, it’s hard to determine the exact amounts. Gross portions of our nations revenue could be kept out of drug dealers and cartels hands, instead going to our public works projects, jobs or the national deficit. As stated by NORML a national organization for the reform of marijuana laws, “It is not unreasonable to forecast ultimate consumption at 15 - 30 million joints per day, or 2750 - 5500 metric tons of 6% THC cannabis per year” (Gieringer). Showing that there is a demand and it isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. And those are just forecasts for the beginning who knows how high the profits will rise with proper regulation. 

One of the main pitfalls of the prohibition of marijuana was the consequential outlawing of industrial hemp. It’s a strain of marijuana that lacks the THC that gets you high but, can be made into many different products that will be beneficial. As stated by the Multinational Monitor, “Industrial hemp yields two-to-four times more pulp per acre under cultivation than do trees. Paper made from industrial hemp is also stronger, able to be recycled more times and longer lasting than paper from trees. Helping with the global warming problem and deforestation on an national and global health and economies. 

Out of most books published about marijuana 96% are about the negatives while only 4% is about the positives or unbiased scientific research. Marijuana has such great potential for medical patients to relieve pain and cope with the side effects of their treatments such as nausea induced by chemotherapy. Contrary to belief marijuana doesn’t kill brain cells, it promotes it. Two things need to be properly understood by the public, better medical research and scientific research of marijuana. Ever since the beginning of the ‘War on Drugs’ the government has limited or controlled the study of marijuana, skewing it. “In 2009, the American Medical Association (AMA) resolved for the first time in the organization's history "that marijuana's status as a federal Schedule I controlled substance be reviewed with the goal of facilitating the conduct of clinical research and development of cannabinoid-based medicines" (Armentano). Today marijuana is medically legal in 28 states and the District of Columbia and its growing every voter’s cycle. That number is growing at a steady pace every voting cycle as more and more people want the change that they see as one of the only way out of a deep national deficit. It will continue to grow as more medical research and information in general is learned about a little plant that was illegalized based on monetary reasons.  

Marijuana can be an aid for many illnesses. It makes it a better option than most pharmaceutical prescriptions. Marijuana can be an appetite stimulant for many side-effects of cancer treatments that unnatural prescriptions just can’t do. It can also be used to treat chronic pain, hypertension, diabetes and osteoporosis (Geiringer). With so many medical treatment options plus cannabis use is not conducive to tobacco-related cancers and other malignancies. This makes a strong case as to why legalization of marijuana seems like the smart choice. Really it should be a personal choice just as alcohol and tobacco, it should be left up to the legal-age consumer what they put into their body.  

One of the false detriments to marijuana and its legalization would be its inherent “addictiveness.” Evidence suggests that long-term marijuana use can lead to addiction and eventually cannabis psychosis. As stated by Nora Volkow, “The number goes up to about 1 in 6 among those who start using marijuana as teenagers and to 25 to 50% among those who smoke marijuana daily” (Volkow). When people who are suffering from addiction finally quit they can become very irritable and upset due to the nature of the withdrawals. It can make cessation difficult and relapse more of a likely possibility. This just goes to show that if marijuana is to be legalized it needs regulation and treatment facilities that you would find for any substance someone can abuse. 

In relation to an increased access to people who should not have marijuana, there would be an increase in the numbers of “stoned” driving and accidents. Like drunk driving it is not a “victimless” crime knowing whether one should get behind the wheel while intoxicated. Unlike alcohol, marijuana is much harder to detect unless the user has been smoking in the vehicle. Marijuana impaired driving can lead to accidents caused by slowed motor functions, lack of focus and lapses in mental judgment. As stated by Asa Hutchinson in the Aspen debate, “If pulled over by the police, there is no field sobriety test for marijuana which can lead to an increase in impaired driving cases” (Aspen). Drunk driving is already a major problem within society today adding marijuana to the mix does not seem like its going to become the problem that alcohol poses. Still, if you’ve been smoking you should not get behind the wheel and avoid giving yourself extra problems.

Though not all things about marijuana are just positive there are some negative sides to it as well. Legalization for the most part fails to recognize that the greatest costs of marijuana are not related to its prohibition; they are the costs resulting from marijuana use itself and its public perception. Prohibition hasn’t necessarily worked but, that future drug policies must be smarter such as monitoring programs and impaired driving enforcement. As reported by CNBC, “Since legalization of marijuana for medical or general use would increase marijuana use rather than reduce it and would lead to increased rates of addiction to marijuana among youth and adults, legalizing marijuana is not a smart public health or public safety strategy for any state or for our nation” (Cnbc).  Legalization can lead to an increase in the number of adolescents getting their hands on marijuana from someone with a card or even a relative. They also go on to predict that with legalization we will see a large rise in pot smokers overall. Ease of access is only one of the potential problems calls for legalization face.

While marijuana is unlikely to be life-threatening at any age, it could still pose serious risks. That’s why I really would like the addition of classes on cannabis. Marijuana use during childhood is especially damaging in terms of reduced cognitive function, including memory issues, learning deficits, and lower IQs, all of which can persist into adulthood. As stated by CNBC, “in 2008, marijuana use accounted for 4.2 million of the 7 million people aged 12 or older classified with dependence on or abuse of an illicit drug. This means that about two thirds of Americans suffering from any substance use disorder are suffering from marijuana abuse or marijuana dependence” (Cnbc). Along with the increased potency of marijuana, these effects become boosted. 

The edible form of marijuana also has its dangers to society that most others don’t think about. Marijuana-related poisonings rose in both Colorado and Washington within their first two years of legalization. Edible forms of marijuana can take from 30 minutes to 2 hours in some cases to “kick in” and could cause some users to over-eat and poison themselves. Edibles can come in all sorts from lollipops, gummi bears, chocolate, to cookies and brownies. You can even boil the stems of the plant into a tea. With all the different kinds of edibles and the fact that they look the same as regular food can make it that much easier for someone to over consume the desired amount of cannabis.

Heavy use among adults seem to be on the rise. From 2006-2014 marijuana use in teens aged between 18-25-year-olds increased from 21% to about a third (31%) in Colorado following legalization. As stated by the Denver Post, “The finding is among a growing body of evidence that marijuana legalization has led to a shift in use patterns for at least some cannabis consumers” (Denver post). Today there are 15.2 million current marijuana users in comparison to 129 million alcohol users and 70.9 million tobacco users (Burnett). Though marijuana use isn’t quite nearly as high as alcohol and tobacco, at the end of prohibition alcohol spiked dramatically. So far there has been no evidence to see huge spikes in teen use but a booming market of “pot-shops”. 

With an increase in use the average person could be affecting the way that their brains are wired and the order of mental processes. Due to lack of research on marijuana we don’t entirely know the extent of the damage that long term use of marijuana causes. What we do know is that everyday use of the substance can cause black lung and slower development of the brain. Marijuana smoke is like that of tobacco, we are inhaling carcinogens that blacken and dirty up our lungs. Smoking marijuana not only increases those risks it also increases risk for respiratory infections, lung hyperinflation and chronic bronchitis. That’s where the different forms of consumption can come in. Smoking can also reduce the lung’s response to infections heightening them. Some studies show that frequent smokers take more sick days and have more health-related illnesses than that of occasional and nonsmokers. There are many different ways for you to consume cannabis that can mitigate the damage from smoking.  

When it comes to the use of marijuana, medical or not, there is no real scientific evidence that marijuana should be used to cope with pain and other than short-term euphoria. But that is starting to change every day as more and more articles and studies are published. As stated by Gregory Bunt,” Additionally, there is no scientific evidence that long-term use of medicinal marijuana is either effective or safe for the treatment of chronic pain... There are many analgesic medications available to patients and physicians that have been proven and established in the practice of medicine, through sound scientific clinical research, to be more effective and safer for the treatment of chronic pain than medical marijuana” (Bunt). This happens when the government doesn’t allow for the scientific study of its illegal drugs it only helps to perpetuate a system of ignorant sheep. This just goes to show that just because a substance makes you feel better doesn’t necessarily make it a medicinal remedy rings hollow to most as most claims are based on recent research or still in the process. 

The vast majority of marijuana users never use another illicit drug, or even become habitual marijuana smokers. Per the President of the Institute of Behavior and Health, “Marijuana use is positively correlated with alcohol use and cigarette use, as well as illegal drugs like cocaine and methamphetamine” (DuPont). This certainly doesn’t mean that all marijuana smokers are going to become meth addicts. Those with addictive personalities should be wary about using drugs n the first place knowing that they could become dependent. It just goes to show that people who smoke marijuana tend to use other illicit substances. Legalization just goes to create a more acceptable view of the substance and a rise in its usage rates making it possible to become the “gateway drug”, but if legalized there would be proper education to help avoid people falling through the cracks. 

Whether it be caffeine in our sodas, nicotine in our cigarettes or alcohol in our beer, there are plenty of responsible users and plenty of irresponsible users that show us what’s good and bad about what we put in our bodies. For every positive, there is always a negative, that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. When it pertains to marijuana there seems to be a lot more positives than negatives and a bigger driving force for legalization than in the past. With the passing of these older, archaic ideals we bring these new laws that can help mitigate the damage done by irresponsible people.

In conclusion, the U.S. must legalize marijuana, at the federal level and the state level. It’s the only logical solution to this recurring argument we’ve been having for decades. Its been illegal for eighty years and people still want it and still are. Together we can create a safe view of cannabis that can help with addiction and classes on the safe way to use drugs. This way everyone can be on the same page and everyone can work out a system that all can agree upon. Marijuana has a lot more to offer than just getting high. Marijuana can provide a little alleviation to our financial woes and dig us out of this nation deficit that seems to be growing exponentially. From fixing public roads to building newer and more efficient buildings. The legal taxation and sale from marijuana can be an invaluable money source that was going straight to the cartels and drug dealers. The other applications marijuana can reach will be making hemp and other fiber materials that might be better than paper or wood. The only things that need to be regulated are the laws pertaining to marijuana around the country and a more open debate on this issue instead of vilifying a substance we don’t know too much about except for the propaganda we have heard from the government for the past few decades. When used and understood properly marijuana can be safer and a better solution to most ailments and other more dangerous substances that could affect our society. Then we can move on to bigger, more pressing issues that this nation needs to solve. 
