Should the U.S.A. legalize cannabis federally for recreation, regardless of the amount?
Yes Because...
Many Medical Benefits
Symptoms treated with cannabis vary across condition but it's mostly used for pain. Other symptoms include muscle spasms, inflammation, ocular pressure, etc. (which help those with chronic spinal issues, arthritis, and glaucoma). Cannabis is used to address mental health related problems - anxiety, depression, aggression, mania, and other mood disorders. Those with HIV/AIDS or even GI conditions use cannabis to treat nausea and appetite. Overall, cannabis was perceived to provide effective symptoms relief.
Least harmful drug
"...almost all drugs – including those that are legal – pose greater threats to individual health and/or society than does marijuana. According to the Centers for Disease Control, approximately 46,000 people die each year from alcohol-induced deaths (not including motor vehicle fatalities...) such as overdose and cirrhosis. Similarly, more than 440,000 premature deaths annually are attributed to tobacco smoking. By comparison, marijuana is non-toxic and cannot cause death by overdose."
(http://norml.org/library/item/your-government-is-lying-to-you-again-about-marijuana) Improved Regulation & economy costs
|
No Because...
physically/mentally hARmful
Although marijuana isn't as addictive as other hard drugs, it can still lead to dependence. "1 in 10 people in the US who have ever used marijuana become dependent at some time. [Plus,] today's marijuana is much more potent...It distorts perception, reduces motor skills, and affects alertness. When combined with alcohol (not unusual), or even alone, it worsens the risk of traffic accidents"
http://ic.galegroup.com/ic/ovic/ViewpointsDetailsPage/DocumentToolsPortletWindow?displayGroupName=Viewpoints&jsid=f1211d3f40c51425b1d520b632a9cdf0&action=2&catId=&documentId=GALE|EJ3010211285&u=ttsd&zid=0eba4187ea666a23715dde44e552e08f Marijuana's potency has more than tripled over the last 15 years. The high potency has contributed to addiction, direct IQ loss (an 8 point loss for regular users), car crashes, and mental illness. When someone is high, their ability to learn, work, and become an active member of society is threatened. http://www.basisonline.org/2014/10/opposing-viewpoints-on-the-legalization-of-medical-marijuana.html Gateway drug“Early exposure to cannabinoids in adolescent rodents decreases the reactivity of brain dopamine reward centers later in adulthood...this could help explain early marijuana initiates’ increased vulnerability for drug abuse and addiction to other substances of abuse later in life...It is also consistent with animal experiments showing THC’s ability to "prime" the brain for enhanced responses to other drugs For example, rats previously administered THC show heightened behavioral response not only when further exposed to THC but also when exposed to other drugs such as morphine..."
Also, people who are more vulnerable to taking drugs start with readily available substances (marijuana, tobacco, or alcohol) which increases thier chances of trying other drugs. http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/marijuana/marijuana-gateway-drug Employment issues
If marijuana is legalized, the workforce will not be worth more, but less. Workers will be more likely to suffer from poor memory, reduced motivation and emotional problems. There will also be more reports of workplace incidents involving marijuana use. Pot advocates claim that legalization will create jobs, it will cost jobs.
http://time.com/3573394/legalize-pot-you-must-be-high/ |
FOLLOW UP:
Should marijuana use be regulated the same as tobacco use in public?
YES because...
- Better Regulation = "Jurisdictions that legalize or consider the legalization of commercial marijuana should develop, adopt, monitor, and evaluate regulatory schemes for marijuana production, sale, and use that protect and promote public health......A strict, rigorous regulatory response to commercial sales of marijuana should focus on access to and availability of the drug among adolescents, informing and protecting consumers, and protecting third parties and vulnerable populations from the potential consequences of marijuana use (e.g., passive exposure and impaired driving). Regulatory interventions might include but should not be limited to age restrictions; taxation; time and date limitations for sales; potency and quality standardization, testing, and monitoring; advertising and packaging restrictions; place of use restrictions; extension of liability for injury to retailers; labor protections; and continued monitoring and evaluation of regulatory interventions. Many of these interventions are used to control alcohol and tobacco use and could also be used to control the use, misuse, and abuse of commercial marijuana" (APHA).
NO because...
- Increased Availability = greater populations will be more exposed to the use, misuse, and abuse of marijuana
- Passive exposure = there is a concern that children, tenants, and other nonsmokers with be exposed to secondhand-smoke.
Also, protection for the workers who cultivate the marijuana is another concern
-Motor Vehicle Safety
-Health Effects
-Taxation may add to consumer costs and interfere with business interests
-Government Interference = advertising & information restrictions along with required disclosures (warning labels)
Should marijuana use be regulated the same as tobacco use in public?
YES because...
- Better Regulation = "Jurisdictions that legalize or consider the legalization of commercial marijuana should develop, adopt, monitor, and evaluate regulatory schemes for marijuana production, sale, and use that protect and promote public health......A strict, rigorous regulatory response to commercial sales of marijuana should focus on access to and availability of the drug among adolescents, informing and protecting consumers, and protecting third parties and vulnerable populations from the potential consequences of marijuana use (e.g., passive exposure and impaired driving). Regulatory interventions might include but should not be limited to age restrictions; taxation; time and date limitations for sales; potency and quality standardization, testing, and monitoring; advertising and packaging restrictions; place of use restrictions; extension of liability for injury to retailers; labor protections; and continued monitoring and evaluation of regulatory interventions. Many of these interventions are used to control alcohol and tobacco use and could also be used to control the use, misuse, and abuse of commercial marijuana" (APHA).
NO because...
- Increased Availability = greater populations will be more exposed to the use, misuse, and abuse of marijuana
- Passive exposure = there is a concern that children, tenants, and other nonsmokers with be exposed to secondhand-smoke.
Also, protection for the workers who cultivate the marijuana is another concern
-Motor Vehicle Safety
-Health Effects
-Taxation may add to consumer costs and interfere with business interests
-Government Interference = advertising & information restrictions along with required disclosures (warning labels)