Example Of Legalization Of Marijuana Research Paper

Since the early 1970s, when marijuana was included in the list of banned substances, only about a fifth of the US population supported the legalization or decriminalization of drugs. This proportion remained stable until the early 2000s, but has increased dramatically in the last decade. According to surveys, in the autumn of 2013 the number of supporters of legalization exceeded the psychological barrier of 58% of Americans were in favor of free distribution of marijuana.
In fact, those people who support legalization of marijuana offer a number of arguments in favor of this decision. According to their opinion, legalization reduces crime. As in 2010 the United States produced 780 000 arrests related to the dissemination and use of marijuana and nearly 40 thousand people went to jail, people believe that if marijuana becomes legalized there won’t be such a need to act against the law. The legalization of marijuana will reduce the number of people arrested and will save on their imprisonment. In addition, according to supporters of the referendum, the legalization can reduce interracial tension in the states.
Moreover, marijuana is thought to be much safer than other drugs and alcohol.Thus supporters of the referendum believe that marijuana is not as toxic as alcohol and other drugs, and its use does not lead to a socially dangerous behavior. Furthermore, in their opinion, while smoking marijuana can not be a drug overdose. Taking into consideration the fact that legalization can contribute to the increase of tax revenue, it can ultimately lead to the creation of new jobs and development of numerous social structures.
Nevertheless, the process of legalization of marijuana is caused distrust from the part of the citizens as the use of cannabis greatly influences the level of the mental development. What is more, people believe that the use of marijuana impairs intelligence and attention, as well as hindering the teaching teenagers because they become absentminded and forgetful. Even if it does not seem to decrease the level of mental development at once, the use of marijuana causes addiction thus increasing the number of those who are potential marijuana users.
People who resist the marijuana legalization believe that it will significantly expand the number of drug users through advertising grass. In addition, the emerging industry sales of marijuana can swipe at active consumers and strengthen their relationship. Colorado experience shows that about 90% of all marijuana accounts for less than a third of buyers - so people with addiction are the most beneficial to the industry consumers. However, the same data indicate that after the legalization of the number of adolescent drug users remained at the same level.
Nowadays, the situation in the world is the following. The use and possession of marijuana is fully legal only in Uruguay (according to unconfirmed reports, marijuana also virtually legalized in North Korea) and partial circulation is possible in the Netherlands, Canada, the Czech Republic, Portugal, Spain and Israel. Thus, each decides whether to support marijuana legalization or not. All in all, there will always exist those people who support the idea of the marijuana legalization and those who not. Nevertheless, the most significant facts which should influence the government’s decision are the safety of people and after that the development of economics of the country.

References

Ingraham, C. (2014, March 10). A majority favors marijuana legalization for first time, according to nation’s most authoritative survey. Retrieved from http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2015/03/04/majority-of-americans-favor-marijuana-legalization-for-first-time-according-to-the-nations-most-authoritative-survey/
Lachman, S. (2015, March 5). Sheriffs From 3 States Join Forces To Take Aim At Colorado's Marijuana Law. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/03/05/colorado-marijuana-lawsuit_n_6808358.html
Armentano, P. (2015, March 4). General Social Survey: Majority of Americans Say Marijuana Should be Legal. Retrived from http://blog.norml.org/2015/03/04/general-social-survey-majority-of-americans-say-marijuana-should-be-legal/