Drug Abuse and Terrorism
The debate on whether or not Marijuana should be legalised for the purpose of medicinal use is a highly emotional one. This is because marijuana has both pros and cons when used for medicinal purpose. The advantages of using medical marijuana include relieving of many kinds of chronic pain, vomiting and nausea arising from various ailments. In addition, patients who use cannabinoids through pills or smoking can have an enhanced immune functions and have even be found to gain weight for ailments like patients. On the hand, the disadvantages of medical marijuana includes addiction when used for long periods, and thus serve as a gateway which lead to experimenting hard drugs like cocaine. It also worsens psychotic symptoms and outcomes in those patients who are diagnosed with psychotic disorders like schizophrenia (Harvard Medical School, 2010).
Legalisation of marijuana may bring about unintended negative effects. Since marijuana trafficking if associated with various crimes, like murder, assault, smuggling and money laundering, legalizing it results to increase in it use and crime related to drugs. Long term usage can also affect the nervous system in a manner that promotes crime (Stimson, 2010). The state of Missouri has considered legalizing Marijuana through a legislation that would legalize cultivation of medical marijuana with restrictions on who could be allowed to use it in the House Bill 2213 which was defeated by the state House. The state should legalize the use of medical marijuana but only by qualified medical practitioners.
Terrorists receive the financial support through selling of illegal drugs, which have a constant demand which is always growing. They use the returns for the purpose of funding the organisations and their activities. The terrorist also obtain funds from charities or non-profit organisations that have characteristics which make them attractive and vulnerable to terrorist who misuse them. They also receive funds from internal sources that include their support networks such as family, obtaining credit or proceeds of businesses which they control (Financial Action Task Force, 2008). In order to prevent terrorism financing, the law enforcement officers should corporate with international community to build political will among all the states to address this as a criminal activity and thus net all the avenues of that serve as sources of the finance (Witkowsky, 2010).
References
Financial Action Task Force, (2008) .TERRORIST FINANCING.11-19. Retrieved from: http://www.fatf-gafi.org/media/fatf/documents/reports/FATF%20Terrorist%20Financing%20Typologies%20Report.pdf
Harvard Medical School, (2010).Medical marijuana and the mind.1. Retrieved from: http://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/medical-marijuana-and-the-mind
Stimson, C (2010).Legalizing Marijuana: Why Citizens Should Just Say No.1 retrieved from: http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2010/09/legalizing-marijuana-why-citizens-should-just-say-no
Witkowsky, A (2010). Preventing Terrorism: Strategies and Policies to Prevent and Combat Transnational Threats: US Department of State. Retrieved from: http://www.state.gov/j/ct/rls/rm/2010/150068.htm
