Nowadays, the use of cannabis is increasing around the world, and it has become a major
discussion among people. It has become more popular among young people, and some want to enjoy the freedom of legalized cannabis. Currently, it is used as a treatment method, and some countries have chosen to legalize cannabis to increase their economy. With the legalization of cannabis products, cannabis businesses that make chemicals, foods, and cosmetics with ingredients derived from cannabis have flourished, and the term “green rush” has also emerged. While cannabis is not an absolute evil, there is also the commonly shared perception that cannabis is harmful. Behind this perception, there are drug kings who once dominated the world’s cocaine business in some countries and have a history of ruining society through illegal cocaine trade. Cannabis has a negative impression as a gateway drug to cocaine or other harmful drugs. Cannabis should be legalized in the entire United States, for it can relieve symptoms of illnesses, decrease the crime rate, as long as there is an understanding of the risk of side effects in order to protect irreplaceable lives.
Cannabis should be legalized in the USA for medical purposes, such as relieving symptoms of illness, which helps save irreplaceable lives. Cannabis can be used to relieve pain caused by intractable diseases and chronic diseases for which no cure has been established. According to Dr. John Collins of London School of Economics, “As public opinion – and that of governments – changes, it seems increasingly likely that other countries will follow, raising questions about how they work together to manage the use and supply of cannabis” (Collins, 2000). There are people in the world who are suffering from the symptoms of their illnesses because there is no silver bullet for them. In the US and Canada, images of sick children suffering from the inability to use drugs that could cure the disease have had a profound effect on public opinion (Collins, 2000). This refers to the fact that children experiencing chronic illnesses, pain from the illnesses themselves or the side effects of their treatment have no other option. Medical marijuana uses marijuana plants or chemicals to treat diseases and conditions and is used for medical purposes (Lava, 2020). Recently, medical cannabis can be used to treat many diseases and can stop cancer from spreading in the body of people who have it. In addition, medical marijuana may be a useful treatment option for Alzheimer’s disease symptoms (Medical Marijuana for Alzheimer’s Disease in Ohio).
Since cannabis is a type of non-fatal plant, it has no strong effect on the human body. For example, people who want to relax take natural products, such as herbal tea. Moreover, it can
protect people from Alzheimer’s disease, and it also helps people who do not have a good
appetite to eat because patients lose their appetite because of illness (Medical Marijuana for
Alzheimer’s Disease in Ohio). Additionally, illnesses, such as dementia, can disrupt everyday
habits. For example, it is easy to forget to eat food, resulting in chronic malnutrition and even
death. Therefore, dementia patients should make a habit of taking cannabis to better manage their behavioral symptoms, including forgetting or not having the appetite to eat and a lack of vital activity, and medical cannabis acts on nerve cells responsible for Alzheheimer’s inflammation (Medical Marijuana for Alzheimer’s Disease in Ohio). For these reasons, legalizing cannabis can prevent people’s disease progression and save lives.
Cannabis should also be legalized to help decrease crime rates, which also plays a role in saving lives. Under federal law, the use of marijuana is a federal offense because
marijuana is a regulated drug law and has not been approved for medical use. In the
U.S., when people smoke marijuana in non-medical or recreational ways, they may get a ticket for their first offense, and if they do it again, they may be sent to prison for six months or more. For example, if people want to purchase cannabis, they will go to a marijuana pharmacy or buy from illegal marijuana dealers. Then, users may get in trouble with dealers who are related to gangs, so users risk their lives just to enjoy marijuana (Dupont, 2016). Therefore, if the U.S. government legalized marijuana, it could lead to fewer crimes, such as murder and robbery, and gang conflicts. Lately, according to the Guardian, the introduction of the medical marijuana law has significantly reduced violent crimes in the American states bordering Mexico because the Mexican cartel’s biggest source of profit is the U.S. marijuana market. According to economist Evelina Gavrilova, “When the impact on crime is very high, it’s obviously better to regulate marijuana and allow people to pay taxes on it rather than to keep it illegal” (Doward, 2018). Numerous cannabis production facilities have been constructed in the US, damaging the profits of drug cartels and having a strong impact on drug trafficking (176). As a result, if cannabis, which is the source of income for the cartel driving the drug war, is legalized not only for medical purposes but also for the decline of drug cartels, it will lead to a decrease in crime rates. The legalization of cannabis promotes a reduction in drug crimes and the withdrawal of drugs, reducing the risk of cannabis users being caught in crime and increasing their chances of not losing their lives.
Some people are concerned about long-term cannabis use because it has some potentially
dangerous side effects. For example, cannabis can affect IQ and mental function when used
during teens when the brain is still developing, which can affect judgment and lead to accidents, injuries, and loss of life (Lava,2020). This argument refers to the idea that using cannabis from a young age can damage the brain and seriously affect their body in the future. Also, cannabis side effects include panic and fear sensations, hallucinations, and inability to concentrate (Cox, 2019). Certainly, some people believe that cannabis has the effect of suppressing the inflammation of the disease, but at the same time, it makes users susceptible to chronic poisoning. This behavior evokes a feeling of hope due to the effects of cannabis, and it continues to be reused even if the symptoms of the diseases are cured. As a result, chronic use may increase the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Therefore, legalized cannabis can obscure the recipient’s consciousness and induce life-threatening illnesses. Also, some people argue that frequent cannabis use may encourage the use of highly addictive narcotics. Most heavy drug users start with alcohol and marijuana. Early initiation of drug use stimulates the brain to enhance the response to other drugs (Dupont, 2016). This is a typical symptom of drug addiction, which calls for greater stimulation and euphoria. According to Robert Dupont, decriminalisation of marijuana and easy access to drug sources would be creating an increase in usage which would in turn harm public health as well as encouraging the use of much hazardous heroin. (Dupont, 2016). Therefore, the use of marijuana may increase the risk of crime and the risk of using other highly addictive narcotics. Once a person has a sense of well-being, they tend to work hard to achieve it again. For example, if a cannabis user wins a sporting event using cannabis and benefits from euphoria, many of them are more likely to go for a stronger drug to regain their glory.
Establishing marijuana as a legal drug may increase drug abuse rates and increase crime rates. Opponents believe that long-term use is dangerous because cannabis has hidden and dangerous side effects. However, cannabis is less likely to cause illness and less addictive than alcoholic drinks, so some are considering long-term use of cannabis. Except for going out in public, people tended to use marijuana more than drink alcoholic drinks (Americans Perceptions of Alcohol vs. Marijuana, 2000). Regarding cannabis use and drinking while driving, the cannabis user was more willing to drive. Also, breath tests make it more difficult to determine the history of cannabis use compared to alcohol, and driving under the influence of marijuana poses a serious risk, while driving under the influence of drinking is even more deadly (Americans Perceptions of Alcohol vs. Marijuana, 2000). Drinking and cannabis have various effects on the body in the short and long term. However, alcohol has a higher potential risk than cannabis, yet it is legalized and distributed as a luxury item. Thus, it is safe to continue to use cannabis as long as continuous consumption of alcoholic drinks is part of people’s lives.
Moreover, some argue that the legalization of cannabis creates new business. Having a legal market for cannabis trading allows producers, sellers and customers to operate in a secure and predictable trading environment. These new legalities inevitably suppress black market-specific irrationalities under the influence of criminal organizations (Lu, et al, 2019). This new style of the market indicates that there are regulated rules under the law. Therefore, people involved in the black market and those involved in crime will not naturally approach. Another style market that is also gaining popularity is inhaling cannabis like a cigarette; it can be taken in different ways, such as cosmetics, sweets, and seasonings (Fiorillo, 2019). Those who are resistant to the act of smoking can use it in drinks, foods, and beauty products containing cannabis ingredients. Such a business approach has the potential to attract new users and normalize the existence of cannabis. Due to the increasing popularity of cannabis, various industries are investing, and the usefulness of cannabis becomes important accordingly, resulting in huge profits. On the other hand, criminal drug organizations, which are engaged in many illegal businesses, will suffer a catastrophic loss of profits, break up, or become smaller, resulting in a lower crime rate. The media-induced image that cannabis is harmful should be changed. In the United States, the drug problem of young people is left untouched, so cannabis is also imprinted on people’s perceptions as an absolute evil. Moreover, people’s perception of cannabis is ambiguous even if it is effectively used for medical purposes. Cannabis should be made available in supermarkets by legalizing it, requiring consumers to go through an investigation of their personal criminal history, and authorizing purchases. However, those who have a doctor’s prescription are excluded. It is prohibited to sell to those who have a history of joining a criminal organization or have a relevant profession. Similar to alcoholic beverage purchasers, those who are of legal age are allowed to purchase cannabis. People who have had a problem with cannabis when purchasing after the first time, as well as drunk driving, are deprived of the right to purchase. YouTube allows governments and health professionals to recognize the issue and change regulations to resolve cannabis legalization.
Conclusion:
Cannabis should be legalized in the United States to control illness symptoms, reduce
crime rates, while at the same time preserving life and understanding side effects. The advantage of legalizing cannabis can slow the progression of people’s diseases and save lives, promoting drug crimes and drug reductions, eliminating the risk of crime for cannabis users, and increasing their chances of survival. On the other hand, the disadvantage of legalizing cannabis is that it causes brain damage and addiction after long use. It also makes it easier for users to try other drugs. Nevertheless, some opponents believe that alcohol is more addictive than cannabis and feel that it has become a familiar item as cannabis has begun to be used as a household item. To solve this problem, people have to acquire the right knowledge to understand cannabis and promote its legalization.
#References
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