The Legalization of Drugs - Rough Draft

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The Legalization of Drugs, Benefit or Risk? (Rought Draft) Sarah Martin BIS, ECPI University 202401E OL ENG120 IO Advanced Composition Professor Melanie Feeley February 12, 2024

Do the benefits of legalizing drugs outweigh the opposition? First, we must narrow down which type of drugs are being discussed. In the Netherlands, they differentiate between soft (marijuana and magic truffles) and hard drugs (cocaine, heroin, etc.) (Admin & Admin, 2022). When people use the term drugs, it is a very broad term because there are so many categories. Recreational use and decriminalization of soft drugs reveal more statistical data than ever before concerning the economic, political, and health benefits however, they are not federally legal. The places where recreational use of marijuana is legalized have a large positive impact on their economies. The use of natural plants has been used for thousands of years by humans, but use has been regulated in more recent history (Bridgeman, 2017). There is still more research to be done concerning the health benefits of marijuana, but we have enough information to reveal that it can benefit certain conditions (Bridgeman, 2017). There are still those who oppose the idea of complete legalization of drugs no matter what drug is being discussed. The opponents say the risks are reason enough to believe are direct ties to abuse and dependency issues, health issues, and sociocultural implications ( Cannabis/Marijuana Use Disorder , 2022). Drug use has a negative connotation associated with it, and there will always be those who oppose the use of them. The prohibition of alcohol did not remove the use of alcohol from society so it will only be a matter of time before the full legalization of Marijuana is legal because this is an issue that affects the United States economically, socially, and medically. When we look at the model set before us with the state of Colorado, and how they have handled the legalization of Marijuana, we see the benefits to the economy. There has been 2.3 billion dollars of tax revenue and 35,000 jobs supported by the marijuana industry in Colorado (Ingold & Ingold, 2022). With this much growth, how could someone be opposed to legalization

when there are so many benefits in different ways. Socially there will always be people who do not accept the concept of “drugs” but once upon a time cigarettes were also not acceptable to everyone and are still not always. The smell is off-putting and makes some people feel disgusted, and the same can be said about Marijuana. That does not defeat the point that people should be able to choose how they live their lives if it is not hurting others. In fact, the number of opioid users declined in 4 states where marijuana is now legal by 7.6% ( Legalized Marijuana Linked to Decline in Opioid Emergencies , n.d.). Concerning autonomy, the use of Medical Marijuana has proven to be extremely effective in helping to reduce symptoms for certain health conditions. Alzheimer’s and neuropathy patients can greatly reduce their symptoms with the use of marijuana (Bridgeman & Abazia, 2017). Their effects are beneficial for many other conditions as well. There are elderly people that can be using natural ways such as THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) or CBD (cannabidiol) which are parts of the Marijuana plant that can be taken orally not just by smoke inhalation, that show benefits (Bridgeman & Abazia, 2017). Over time, people will grow to understand the differences between the psychotropic and non-psychotropic parts of the plants. Something most people do not know is the “Endocannabinoids (eCBs) and their receptors are found throughout the human body” (Bridgeman & Abazia, 2017). Science is still young, but we can benefit from more research about this breed of plants. Opponents to the argument that legalizing drugs, specifically Marijuana would say that economic benefits do not out weight the harm. These critics say the economic benefits are just not there. The industry is still young in the grand scheme of things but there are no billionaires from the Marijuana industry yet. People may have a few stores they own and can become millionaires, but the profit is not there like some may have expected (Luscombe, 2022). This

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industry has produced many people who can work on a small scale but large scale production has not been implemented yet. Although there may not be corporations involved in this industry, it is important to remember the potential for a streamlined process still exists. Even though the economic benefits may not show in one place, they certainly show in another. Canada has proven this point by contributing 15.1 billion toward government coffer not to mention the other revenue produced (Sabaghi, 2022). This kind of funding can help reduce the parts of legalization that are not socially acceptable. Opponents tend to argue that we need to be conscious of the effects of Marijuana on youth. People worry that if it becomes federally legal that we would have to think about the accessibility young people would have to this drug. The concern is valid, and we do need to protect the future generations. Kids will always try to mimic adult behavior, even when the behavior can be harmful. Some teenagers will drink alcohol or smoke cigarettes no matter the risks, in health and legality. We must make our best attempts to protect them from the bad choices they can potentially make. Looking again at Colorado as an example, they have shown where stores have a 99% compliance rating in blocking sales to minors. We do need to keep our youth safe, and it seems the efforts are there; in fact, they improved their compliance standards since 2016 (NORML, 2023). The youth should be protected and that is something most people can agree with. Placing a high standard on protecting young people means that we protect them from the negative effects drugs can have on their brain. This is another argument we encounter with the federal legalization of Marijuana. Studies show the negative impact on the brain of a developing child. The effects can be damaging, but they carry a heavy weight on the physical and psychological effects of a young brain. One study done with an MRI machine showed thinning

of the prefrontal cortex (Friedman, 2023). This kind of damage is important to recognize, and it should be something to consider. Although this is a crucial aspect, we must understand that this is not the end of the conversation. With any drug, even one that is socially acceptable like alcohol, it carries its risks. We must consider the full benefits of legalization. Although we have curious or mischievous youth, there are ways we can navigate this area. We can educate the youth on the impacts that can happen when they engage in the use of drugs at a young age. We have already done this with tobacco and alcohol, and it can and will be effective with Marijuana. Youth tend to make better decisions when we empower them to do so. We can manage the risks, but that does not overpower the benefits. In conclusion, the debate surrounding the legalization of drugs, particularly marijuana, brings many issues to consider including the economic, social, and health benefits. While opponents emphasize the potential risks associated with drug use, including abuse, dependency, and adverse health effects, the proponents argue for the significant benefits that legalization could bring. These benefits include economic growth, improved medical treatment options, and increased autonomy for individuals. The regions that have legalized marijuana, such as Colorado and Canada, offer examples of the potential benefits and challenges of legalization. Some of those benefits include substantial tax revenues and better regulatory measures to protect public health and safety. As time passes, and we conduct more research, it becomes apparent that both opportunities and challenges of drug legalization exist, but there are more rewards than risks. We can foster informed dialogue and evidence-based decisions so that society can navigate the complexities of the federal legalization of Marijuana and focus on public welfare and societal rewards.

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Works Cited Admin, C., & Admin, C. (2022, February 27). Drug FAQs – Are drugs legal in Amsterdam? - We Are Amsterdam . We Are Amsterdam -. https://weareamsterdam.com/are- drugs-legal-in-amsterdam/ Bridgeman, M. B. (2017, March 1). Medicinal Cannabis: History, Pharmacology, And Implications for the Acute Care Setting . PubMed Central (PMC). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5312634/#:~:text=Cannabis %20is%20a%20plant%2Dbased,Romania%20has%20been%20described %20extensively . Cannabis/Marijuana Use Disorder . (2022, June 30). Yale Medicine. https://www.yalemedicine.org/conditions/marijuana-use- disorder Ingold, J., & Ingold, J. (2022, November 9). What have we learned about the arguments for and against legalized marijuana in the past 10 years? The Colorado Sun. https://coloradosun.com/2022/11/08/marijuana- legalization-arguments-for- against/ Legalized Marijuana Linked to Decline in Opioid Emergencies . (n.d.). UPMC | Life Changing Medicine. https://www.upmc.com/media/news/071221- drake-cannabisrcl Bridgeman, M. B., & Abazia, D. T. (2017, March). Medicinal cannabis: History, pharmacology, and implications for the Acute Care Setting . P & T : a peer-reviewed journal for formulary management. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5312634/#:~:text=Cannabis %20is%20a%20plant%2Dbased,Romania%20has%20been%20described %20extensively Mosher, Clayton J., and Scott Atkins. In the Weeds : Demonization, Legalization, and the Evolution of U. S. Marijuana Policy , Temple University Press, 2019. ProQuest Ebook Central ,

http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/ecpi-ebooks/detail.action? docID=5652115 . Created from ecpi-ebooks on 2024-02-03 18:06:30. Sabaghi, D. (2022a, November 8). Canada’s legalization of cannabis has contributed $43.5 billion to national GDP . Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/dariosabaghi/2022/02/23/canadas- legalization-of-cannabis-has-contributed-435-billion-to-national-gdp/? sh=48de6a9e349c Produced by the Marijuana Policy Project. (n.d.). Itʼs a Fact: Marijuana is Safer Than Alcohol . MarijuanavAlcohol. https://www.leg.state.nv.us/Session/77th2013/Exhibits/Assembly/JUD/ AJUD725Q.pdf Ferguson, S. (2019, March 8). Your beginner guide to marijuana strains . Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/beginners-guide-to- marijuana-strains#Different-types-of-strains Grinspoon, P. (2021, September 24). Cannabidiol (CBD): What we know and what we don’t . Harvard Health. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/cannabidiol-cbd-what-we- know-and- what-we-dont-2018082414476 Luscombe, B. (2022, June 21). The Economics of Legal Weed Don’t Work . TIME. https://time.com/6184704/legal-marijuana-economics/ Sabaghi, D. (2022, February 23). Canada’s Legalization Of Cannabis Has Contributed $43.5 Billion To National GDP . Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/dariosabaghi/2022/02/23/canadas- legalization-of-cannabis-has-contributed-435-billion-to-national-gdp/? sh=6225cc2a349cLinks to an external site. N. (2023, October 20). Colorado: Compliance Check Data Confirms That Retailers Aren’t Selling Marijuana to Minors - NORML . NORML. https://norml.org/blog/2023/10/20/colorado- compliance-check-data-confirms- that-retailers-arent-selling-marijuana-to- minors/ Friedman, R. A. (2023, January 30). Ask a Doctor: How does marijuana affect the adolescent brain? Washington Post.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2023/01/30/marijuana- adolescent- brain-development/

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