Marihuana is considered an unlawful substance in many parts of the world despite its increased usage among young people. The debate on whether it should be legalized ought to be approached firstly by considering the reasons why it is such an attraction despite being illegal. It has been scientifically proven that this drug is an effective anti-depressant, pain killer, and appetite booster, among other health benefits.
This fi, findings have been supported by individuals who are recovering from addiction, indicating that these are the factors that drove them to the drug and encouraged them to delve deeper into the habit.
The problem being faced is a result of the substance being considered illegal, meaning there are no laws regulating its production, distribution, and consumption (Goode, 2012). The end product supplied to the market has no standard quality and is, therefore, harmful to human health as evident from the negative effects being experienced by the users.
In my opinion, legalizing Marihuana will give the authorities a chance to regulate its usage, hence preventing misuse. It will also enable them to deal with cartels which control such illegal businesses and which, in most cases, are usually criminal groups. These people have a lot of money since they determine the prices of these commodities while addicted youths are willing to buy at whatever cost to satisfy their cravings.
The result thereof is that the business attracts more young people, especially students who are in dire need of money, but not willing to work for it through legal means (Newton, 2013). Legalizing this drug will make it easier for the authorities to reduce cases of juvenile delinquency since the business will not be such a huge boom.
Marihuana should not only be legalized for medical use, but for everyone who needs to use it just like in the case of alcohol and cigarettes, which are also stimulants, addictive, and life-threatening. These effects have, however, been reduced by having laws, regulations, and standards governing their production, distribution, and consumption.
If the same measures are employed for Marihuana, it will not only be used as a substitute in the medical field, but also as a source of revenue to the government. Such products, referred to as Giffen goods in economic terms, are a good source of revenue since their prices do not affect demand. People continue to consume despite the increase in price and most governments’ bank on such increase their revenue collection.
Therefore legalizing marihuana for public use will mean that the government will have another source of high income. Besides this, it will also raise employment levels in many ways. Firstly, farmers will begin to cultivate the crop without feeling restricted, hence diversifying their output.
Secondly, industries will be established to process the raw material into a consumable product. Finally, distributors and retailers will gain more business from this product. The result will be a boost in economic growth and development, which translates to growth in many other sectors of the economy.
In conclusion, many people regard marihuana as a very harmful substance, but the same goes to anything that is consumed without regulations. Overuse of this substance has in the past caused negative effects, such as psychiatric disorders and in worse cases, death. This is why government agencies are on the run to ensure it is legalized after trying for many years to stop their use without success.
This could be a solution since its consumption will be regulated by subjecting it to high rates of taxation while, at the same time, medical practitioners will be able to use it for its medicinal value (Caulkins, 2012).
References
Caulkins, J. P. (2012). Marijuana legalization: What everyone needs to know. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.
Goode, E. (2012). Drugs in American society. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
Newton, D. E. (2013). Marijuana: A reference handbook. Santa Barbara, Calif: ABC-CLIO.