The Current Debate...MARIJUANA?

                                              

The forum “Legalize Marijuana? A Conversation with the Experts,” was very interesting and listening to both sides has led me to take into consideration some important issues that I had no previously considered. With that being said my opinion on the legalization of marijuana remains the same. I am going to summarize the most profound arguments for both sides of the debate.

The best argument that I heard from the experts is that all drugs have the potential for abuse and comes with certain effects. A big topic for the legalization that the panel talked about was making marijuana a schedule 2 drug. Research has shown that there are medical effectiveness of marijuana for pain and increase in food intake for AIDS and cancer patients. To back the previous statement made by an expert, they went on to state that the medication does not have to be effective for everything. By trying to prove the findings for the legalization of marijuana, legal consequences came into play. The experts discussed the involvement of all levels of the government. First and foremost was at the federal level. Even though many states have legalized marijuana the federal government has not. Another topic brought up was the idea of producing and distributing products. Even though most states have legalized marijuana there are many restrictions that individuals have to follow. This was a great argument that was brought up and as an expert stated that there are many ways for which marijuana can be legal, it does not have to be on the extremes that is the four business model and prohibition.

The best arguments for the prohibition of marijuana was based on the aspects we learned about in class. Some were that there is a high potential for abuse. There is no medical use and does not have a proven safety standard. These arguments are based on the fact the marijuana is a schedule 1 drug. Another argument that an expert pointed out that I found interesting and important was that most individuals do not think of are the neurological consequences that using marijuana. As pointed out in the forum, one may not act like a maniac but your mind while on marijuana does not function normally because of the intoxication. If marijuana is safe then it should be like any other vegetable and not on a ballot. There has not been any long term effects of marijuana on chronic diseases and research shows that id taken chronically individuals are about 50 percent at risk of becoming addicted. Experts believe that if many states were to legalize marijuana then adolescents would be affected more because studies have shown that those who use by the age of 15 are 5-6 times at higher risks for becoming addicted than those who use after 21 years.

It is difficult to tell the exact impact that legalizing marijuana may have on the overall public health. This could be better studied if the federal government had a role in the legalization also. The burden would not only be relieved from the states but there could be a common ground on laws that guide what state can and cannot do. With this regulation of marijuana I think that individuals will look at the drug like any other. With all drugs there are going to be complications and dangerous effects because not everyone react the same.