Marijuana has been illegalized in the
United States for the past well over eight decades. However, a drug has
experienced a fair share of resistance on its illegality within the United
States and beyond (Bonnie, Whitebread, and Farnsworth, 100). A naturally
occurring drug is known all over the world and known for giving its users an
effect commonly referred to as being “high.†It is, however, illegal in almost
every corner of the world. Some countries are stricter about its use and sale
than others are, but it has not deterred the use of the drug. In fact, it is a
drug that almost every youth tries at some point in their, lives. Even some
famous and influential people in society have admitted having used it at least
once. Such examples are Bill Gates, Bill Clinton, Morgan Freeman, and Barrack
Obama among others. The recent past has witnessed an upsurge in the number of
people that support the legalization of marijuana campaigns that have rocked
some States such as Arizona. Those in support of legalization cite the positive
effects of the drug while those that oppose it take a more conservative
approach. Marijuana has had a significant backing with the New York Times one
of the most influential Newspaper Company in the United States support its
legalization (Ford, 65). Arizona is a state that has witnessed the widespread
debate on whether the drug should be legalized and the bill is yet to be voted
on in the next year. Therefore, the proposal below offers the reasons to the
public in support of legalization of Marijuana in Arizona.
Marijuana should be legalized in
Arizona because, its illegalization leads to more social costs than the
benefits that result from the laws. The effects of prohibiting the drug lead to
wastage of resources and ruining of law-abiding citizens whose problem is the
only use of the drug at times for its medicinal value. The police officers use
many resources and huge cost implications on the taxpayers spending time in
arresting, booking and prosecuting the Marijuana users. Arresting a person that
has marijuana for personal use may result in the individual's imprisonment for
years or even spending days in police custody meaning that the state spends
more keeping them in remanded instead of such a person being productive towards
the economy (Bonnie, Whitebread, and Farnsworth, 100). The FBI national figures
for the arrests made on Marijuana alone are an average of 658,000 by 2012 as
compared to 256,000 arrests made of the most destructive drugs such as cocaine,
heroin, and their derivatives (Poindexter). Moreover, the officers and
resources spent on arresting Marijuana users can be spent on handling other
issues that face the nation and the state such as terrorism and ensuring
security.
Legalizing Marijuana in Arizona also
offers an opportunity for making the community safer. It is because, if the
Marijuana is legal, then it will replace the underground business characterized
by the drug. It will mean that there will be no need for cartels that are
mostly violent, but it will open up a chance to control its sale by licensing
the sellers. Moreover, the sale of Marijuana to underage individuals and minors
will also be curbed since its legalization can enable its control and setting
up of restrictions on the legal age of those that can buy it just as is the
case with alcohol (Rosenthal, Kubby, and
Newhart, 130).
Another important reason Marijuana
should be made legal in Arizona and beyond is that prohibition of the drug is
ineffective and does not help but only cause problems. No evidence prohibit the
drug leads to its decreased use. Moreover, several theories suggest that
prohibiting the drug increases the curiosity of the youth who want to test and
know why it is forbidden (Rosenthal,
Kubby, and Newhart, 145). The unintended consequence of prohibiting the
drug is that it has become very popular among the schools in Arizona. Besides,
its illegalization leads to its ease of accessibility since it is not regulated
on who should be sold to and at what point or time. If it were regulated like
alcohol while legal, then its access to the minors would also decrease
considerably.
Marijuana prohibition may also hinder
religious freedom among some individuals and contradicts the liberty and
freedom of the people (Rosenthal, Kubby,
and Newhart, 100). Every individual has a right to do anything they so wish as
long as they do not cause any harm to others. The use of Marijuana has not been
linked to any form of effect on the non-users and hence it should be left as a
case of personal choice just as alcohol and tobacco use. In fact, marijuana use
has less adverse effects as compared to alcohol. Moreover, marijuana is used
for religious purposes among some religions. Just as the Christians and Judaism
advocate for taking wine on some occasions so does Hindus, Rastafarians,
Buddhists and other religions use Marijuana as part of their religious
ceremonies (Rosenthal, Kubby, and
Newhart, 101).
Marijuana prohibition does not make
sense if at all alcohol is legal and its legalization would lead to increased
revenue for the economy just as alcohol contributes to economic growth.
Marijuana is objectively less harmful as compared to alcohol to the individual
and the society, and hence it beats logic why it is illegal while alcohol
remains legal (Berman). It is less likely to result in violence, less
addictive, and less, less damaging to
the human body. Moreover, legalizing the drug would translate to a lot of
revenue in sales and taxes that would significantly bolster the economy of the
state instead of remaining underground and coming in as dirty money that affect
the economy.
In conclusion, legalization of
Marijuana leads to more benefits than the detriments to the people of Arizona.
It would substantially reduce the social costs while at the same time
contribute to the economy. It is because, its legalization would mean it is in
controlled, and hence the government would collect taxes and other revenues
from its production and sale. Furthermore, it has fewer adverse effects on an
individual as compared to alcohol (Berman). Hence, it is illogical to keep it
illegal while alcohol remains illegal. Moreover, it has some religious
advantage and use to some religions and therefore, it denies the fundamental
freedom of worship to such believers. Therefore, the citizens of Arizona should
push for the legalization of Marijuana within the state.
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