Recreational marijuana

Introduction

The legalization of marijuana has a lot of benefits that outweighs the disadvantages. A recreational drug can be defined as utilization of a drug or substance without the permit of a medical expert due to the effects. Most people use recreational drugs due to the sole purpose that they do not contain highly addictive substances. Some of the pros of using recreational drugs, in this context, marijuana stated below.

Pros

Most people support the legalization of Marijuana due to its usefulness in the medical sector. An estimated 84% people claim that the drug has positive medical utilization. Thus, the government should consider legalizing it. To back the claim a medical research proved that smoking pot has medicinal advantages to the smoker (Fisk, Vonasek, & Davis, 2018).

A part from its medical use, statistics shows more than half a million Americans used the drug in spite of the illegality due to federal laws. As result, legalizing it would add to the government revenue through taxation. Taxation will come with legal jobs and income to the peddlers of the drug. Thus, in the long run, it would boost the macroeconomic of the community. This a win-win siutaion between the government and the abusers (Fisk, Vonasek, & Davis, 2018).

Cons

 Opponents of the legalization of marijuana w base their argument on regulation. Legalizing the drug would lead to irresponsible especially among the teen and youths. In addition, they further claim that funds retrieved from legalizing the drug will not overshadow the medical expenses incurred during hospital visits caused by the recreational marijuana. Other effects such as addiction and increase in violent crime together with negative effects caused to the surroundings are some of the major concerns to the opponents. One of the most airtight argument by opponents of legalization of marijuana is that even if the use is medical, the effects remain the same and medical reasons do not shield any patient from exposure to short and long term effects of the drug (Fisk, Vonasek, & Davis, 2018).

Court case that led to the legalization of recreational marijuana

In 2016, the Supreme Court rejected the cases submitted before it by Nebraska and Oklahoma. The cases by the two states were against Colorado. Colorado carried out a referendum. In the referendum, legalization of marijuana became a reality. This occurred in 2012 (Harpin , Brooks-Russel, Ming ,James,& Levisnson,2018).

The Supreme Court threw out the cases brought to it by the two states. The two states suggested that legalization of recreational marijuana by the neighbor state; Colorado would affect their states, as people would sneak it through their borders. Some conservative judges claimed that the court would give chance to the file against Colorado .Nevertheless; the states that had brought forth the case claimed that recreational marijuana has adverse health effects to the user. Safeguarding children at school or any other institution would challenge the state officials. The two sates claimed that Colorado has set a dangerous precedent and that it should proceed with caution not to interfere with the peace of other states and take necessary measures to safeguard its residents against the negative effects of the drug (Harpin, Brooks-Russel, Ming, James, & Levisnson, 2018).

Colorado claimed that it followed due procedure to implement the new law that saw legalization of recreation marijuana. In addition, it took note of the current administration of the time. The Obama management claimed that it lacked proper resources to ban marijuana. Hence, the only option was finding a legal way to legalize it. The   two states still held their position on the case and claimed that the legalized recreational marijuana in the neighboring Colorado continued to cross their borders. This was against the federal laws of the states. Colorado counter claimed the accusation and claimed that the suit was filed on inventive jurisdictions, which deals with cases that avoided low courts. Therefore, the cases filed by the two states needed an open approach and better leadership from the two states rather than rushing to court in protestant with an aim of limiting the rights of another state (Harpin, Brooks-Russel, Ming, James, & Levisnson, 2018).

Statistics on states that legalized recreational marijuana

In the United States of America, nine states have already legalized recreational marijuana. One of the states in Washington D.C. As long as one is, 21 years old and above, theycan2 enjoy the drug with any worry   of arrest. Medical marijuana is legal in 29 states. Support of the legalization for the drug reached an all-time high in the year 2017.A poll revealed that 64% favor the legalization of the drug. The industry since legalization posted an estimated 10 billion dollars. Just to mention a few states. Alaska, Colorado, and California made the drug legal for their residents (Newton, 2013).

Legalizing marijuana went against the norms of the society. As a consequence, the notion of legalizing the drug did not utter well with the public. Moreover, one never knows it would turn out to be the next alcohol and cause for addiction in young adults. The thought scared a lot of people. Even after the public embraced the notion of legalization, it took time for people to get operating license (Newton, 2013).

 

Conclusion

The legalization of recreational marijuana pegs more on perception that the actual passage of law. Even though law may permit, the use of recreational marijuana    cons and pros can always depend on the point of view applied by the user. Therefore, the last decision lies with the user of the drug. It is up to them to interpret the effects and decide which side outweighs the other.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References

 

Fisk, J.M., Vonasek, J.A., & Davis, E. (2018).’ Pot’ Reneural Politics; The Budgetary Highs and Lows of Recreational Marijuana Policy Innovation Politics & Policy 46(2), 189-208 doi:10.11 11/polp 12246.

Harpin S.B., Brooks-Russel,A.,Ming ,M.,James,K.A.,& Levisnson,A.H,(2018).Adolsecents Marijuana Use and Perceived Ease of Access Before and After Recreational marijuana Implementationa in Colorado Substance use & Misuse ,53(3),451-456.doi:10.1080/10826084.2017.1334069.

Newton, D. E. (2013). Marijuana: A reference handbook. Santa Barbara, Calif: ABC-CLIO.