Research Paper on "Risks in Legalizing Marijuana"

Research Paper 5 pages (1757 words) Sources: 5

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Risk of Legalizing Marijuana

On November 2, 2010, the California voters will have the opportunity to become the first state in the United States to legalize the sale and possession of marijuana. The California Secretary of State, Debra Bowen, declared that petitions gathered by the legalization backers totaled 694,248 signatures, which were over 161,000 more than needed.

What are the consequences behind the legalization? What are the issues being faced from the political, social, and law enforcement standpoint as well as the potential for abuse? This paper will examine the facts behind the legalization of marijuana and the possible outcome. This paper will attempt to show that legalization of marijuana does nothing in the way of benefitting society as a whole.

California is set to be the first to legalize with approximately 56% of the Californians favoring the legalization for social consumption and the taxing of the sales (Whitcome, 2010). The current charge, for the simple possession of an ounce or less of marijuana, is a misdemeanor which carries a $100 fine; under the new initiative, that would be legal for anyone over the age of 21 years old. People would be able to grow small amounts for their own usage in their homes.

What represents the war on drugs in the United States? The war on drugs in the United States has increased the prison population to between six and ten times the rate of any Western European country and ranks us second to Russian in terms of people in prison per every 100,000 people (Legalization of marijuana, 2010). The Nation Office of Drug Control Policy is spending more than $19 billion a year in the effort to end the drug business in the United States (the War on Drugs, 2001). The loss' in terms of missed work days, hospital stays, and especially crime from the usage of drug costs the United States taxpayers billions more.

In the early 70's, President Richard Nixon declared the use of drugs as 'public enemy number one' and fought to stop the importation of narcotics, into the United States, through enacting laws. President Ronald Reagan took a more physical militant stance on the drug wars. The constant advent of the drug scene has lead to stronger drugs and the number of junkies and addicted children has increased constantly. Crack has ruined the lives of vast amounts of people and the hunt for the 'high' causes the user to seek newer drugs to try to find their next 'fix.'

To understand the scope of marijuana and the risks behind the use of it; the following information was obtained from the Drug Enforcement Agencies (DEA) website:

"Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug in America today. It contains known poisons and cancer-causing chemicals that are stored in users' fat cells for up to several months. Marijuana users experience the same health problems as tobacco smokers, such as bronchitis, lung cancer, and asthma. Some of the effects of marijuana use also include increased heart rate, dryness of mouth, reddening of the eyes, impaired motor skills and concentration, and frequent hunger. Extended use increases risk to the lungs and reproductive system" -Information from the DEA Web site (Information…, 2001).

According to the Partnership for a Drug-Free America's survey in 2001, teenagers that realize the harmful effects of marijuana are dramatically lower than ever (War on Drug, 2001).

The laws associated with drugs have been enacted to first stop the sale of drugs and when that did little to stop the war; the lawmakers tried to slow and stop the epidemic by charging the users themselves. The laws were enacted to stop the crimes of robbery and theft that users were doing to get more drug money. Drug use in the workplace results in the loss of time and production even if the user does go to work. Most miss the next day or days depending on the drug or drugs taken and the amounts.

Politicians could lose key votes since the majority of Americans are against legalizing marijuana. The political backlash for the supporters could be bad if they find out that legalization caused a bigger problem than before. Voters who have experienced the perils of even marijuana usage will turn on the politician supporting the passage. Too many families have had to endure the horrors of having a family member hooked on drugs. Some families have been torn apart or lost a family member to overdoses or death from commission of crimes to get more drugs. The agencies like the Drug Enforcement Agency, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Federal, State, and Local Police and Law Enforcement officers will turn on the political officials based in passing such a measure.

Law enforcement already has trouble handling the drug problems on the streets, the addition of dispensaries just adds more places to try to regulate. The loss of income from the black market or street dealers will be another issue. To keep sales, the street dealers will have to have a better product and this could lead to the lacing of the weed with other drugs to promote sales.

To add to the already exhausted and limited resources of most law enforcement agencies, the Lows Angeles police had this to say in terms of the dispensaries:

"It's one thing to pass an ordinance. Enforcing it is another matter entirely. With as many as a thousand dispensaries scattered around the city's 469 square miles, and a lengthy process required to shut down non-compliant operations, it is an open question how many dispensaries will just quietly ignore the new law. Also, enforcement will not begin until the city comes up with funding to pay for it, which will be derived from fees extracted from dispensaries -- a process the city has not yet finalized" (Feature: Hundreds, 2010)

That also leaves another topic; who will oversee and regulate the quality of the marijuana in the shops? How will quality be regulated and to what extent?

The black market or street dealers will have to get more ruthless to make up for the loss of money by selling harder narcotics or causing trouble for the dispensaries. People ell drugs and take the risks of lengthy prison time due to the large amounts of money made from them. Gangs kill each other to increase territory and drug sells. Dealers even shoot it out with cops to keep from getting caught. No telling what they will do to keep from losing out on the huge amounts of money they now make. Most of the buyers of the street dealers will be the underage people who cannot buy it legally from the shops.

The last thing to examine is the increased potential for abuse from the legalization of marijuana. Advocates will claim the drugs are for 21 years and older; but even cigarettes and alcohol still find their way into the possession of minors. Most addicts and drug users got their start on marijuana and progressed to the use of the more hard core drugs by wanting to experiment or looking for the next and better 'rush.'

The decriminalization of marijuana in the Dutch experiment in 1984 to 1996 showed the increase in the usage of the drug for 18 to 20-year-olds rose from 15% to 44% due to the decrease in price and increase in availability (Joffe & Yancy, 2004). Joffe and Yancy proclaim, "Legalization of marijuana could result in advertising campaigns for its use, some of which might be directed toward adolescents. Control measures to prevent advertising to young people, as recent experience demonstrates, may be difficult to implement" (Joffe & Yancy, 2004).

Research has been conducted that shows the progression from marijuana to the harder drugs. "If so, it is the youngest adolescents (those who have not yet tried marijuana or are in the experimentation phase) who would be affected most by changes in marijuana laws. Age at first use is, in turn, a risk factor for problem use in the future" (Joffe & Yancy, 2004).

The DEA states the following as ten facts on legalization:

Fact 1:

We have made significant progress in fighting drug use and drug trafficking in America. Now is not the time to abandon our efforts.

Fact 2:

A balanced approach of prevention, enforcement, and treatment is the key in the fight against drugs.

Fact 3:

Illegal drugs are illegal because they are harmful.

Fact 4:

Smoked marijuana is not scientifically approved medicine. Marinol, the legal version of medical marijuana, is approved by science.

Fact 5:

Drug control spending is a minor portion of the U.S. budget. Compared to the social costs of drug abuse and addiction, government spending on drug control is minimal.

Fact 6:

Legalization of drugs will lead to increased use and increased levels of addiction. Legalization has been tried before, and failed miserably.

Fact7:

Crime, violence, and drug use go hand-in-hand.

Fact 8:

Alcohol has caused significant health, social, and crime problems in this country, and legalized drugs would only make the situation… READ MORE

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