The Motley
Fool website in an article on September 22, 2019[1] cites
the 2019 State of the Legal Cannabis
Markets report as claiming 20 U.S. states will completely legalize cannabis
(marijuana) by 2024.
I support keeping marijuana illegal where it is already
illegal and making it illegal elsewhere. Why?
Reason #1: Marijuana
has numerous harmful effects.
The National
Institute on Drug Abuse[2]
website states (among other things) that marijuana use impairs memory, impairs body
movement, causes difficulty thinking and problem solving, and can lead to
hallucinations, paranoia, and breathing problems. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health
Service Administration website[3]
states that marijuana can affect brain health, mental health, athletic
performance, driving, a baby’s health, and daily life. The Drug Enforcement Administration
website[4] also
lists some of the problems marijuana use causes. And, you can find numerous
other articles online that discuss marijuana’s many harmful effects.
Reason #2: To
avoid second-hand smoke.
I do not want to breathe second-hand marijuana smoke. I
dislike breathing harmful second-hand tobacco smoke, and I don’t want to
breathe any marijuana smoke. Furthermore, I don’t want children or even adult
nonusers to be exposed to second-hand cannabis smoke in cars, homes, etc.
Reason #3: Even if
marijuana has medicinal value, it should only be used by those needing it in
appropriate doses.
Numerous legal drugs are already abused. And, marijuana
use has numerous harmful side effects as I noted in reason #1 above.
Furthermore, if one or more ingredients in marijuana have
some medical benefit, it would be better for the active ingredient(s) to be
administered in a standard dosage in some form other than smoking.
I am not a medical professional and can not give medical
advice. However, if marijuana contains one
or more active ingredients that have medical benefits, then the active
ingredient(s) presumably could be administered via prescription in a suitable
dosage to treat specific problems. This would eliminate the unnecessary ingestion
by smokers of harmful chemicals in marijuana.
In addition it would eliminate the damage of second-hand smoke to
nonusers.
Does marijuana have medical benefits? Some studies have
found no medical benefits from marijuana, although others claim to have found
some such as pain relief. A WebMD
article[5] is
one of the numerous ones online that discuss medical marijuana and its possible
benefits.
Reason #4: The “war on drugs” is less expensive to
society than the costs from legalization.
Some claim that due to the expense of the “war on drugs”
it would be more beneficial to legalize marijuana and tax it. But, I think the costs to society of
increased usage due to legalizing it would far exceed the costs of enforcing
laws against it.
I admit that there is no way to accurately measure those
costs. We can’t even accurately measure
the costs to society of alcohol abuse.
However, the most abused drug by children is alcohol, and their #1
source for it is taking it from their parents’ supplies. If marijuana were legal, abuse by children could
dramatically increase.
I do support reducing the burden on our jails and prison
system from marijuana abuse. For one
thing, to reduce the number of first-time offenders, I support better education
about marijuana’s harmful effects in schools, in public service announcements,
etc. Second, I oppose jail for those convicted for the first time of smoking
marijuana. For first-time offenders I
support a sizable fine to help pay for legal costs and mandatory education
about marijuana’s harmful effects. However, for those selling it or repeat
offenders, I do support jail sentences, a larger fine, and more mandatory
education about marijuana’s harmful effects, as well as rehabilitation.
Closing Thoughts:
Millions of persons spend huge amounts of money on
marijuana and other drugs, expenditures that do more harm than good. I urge
persons not to use marijuana or any other harmful drug unless needed for
medicinal reasons.
ENDNOTES:
[1] Sean Williams; “20 States Expected to Fully Legalize Marijuana by
2024”; The Motley Fool website; September 22, 2019; webpage accessed September
22, 2019; https://www.fool.com/investing/2019/09/22/20-states-expected-to-fully-legalize-marijuana-by.aspx
[2] “Marijuana
Drug Facts”; National Institute on Drug Abuse; revised July 2019; webpage
accessed September 22, 2019; https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/marijuana
[3] “Know
the Risks of Marijuana”; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services:
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration; webpage accessed
September 22, 2019; https://www.samhsa.gov/marijuana
[4] “Marijuana”;
United States Drug Enforcement Administration; webpage accessed September 22,
2019; https://www.dea.gov/factsheets/marijuana
[5] “Medical Marijuana FAQ”; WebMD; webpage accessed September 22, 2019; https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/medical-marijuana-faq
NOTE:
This piece being
submitted to Google Blogger on September 24, 2019 is almost identical to one
the author submitted to Craft News Report, a website operated by his friend
Paul Craft, on September 22, 2019. That article was adapted and updated from
other writings the author has done on marijuana.
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