Why Making Marijuana Illegal Is a Failed Policy
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Cannabis, sometimes referred to as marijuana, weed, grass, or cannabis, is one of the most popular and contentious drugs in the world. Some use it medicinally to treat conditions like PTSD, epilepsy, and chronic pain. Others use it for leisure activities like unwinding, mingling, or fostering creativity. However, marijuana is prohibited and categorized as a Schedule I drug—a substance with no recognized medicinal purpose and a high potential for abuse—in many nations, including the US. Despite being in effect for decades, this policy has not succeeded in lowering marijuana usage, curbing crime, or safeguarding the general public’s health. Here are a few of the reasons why it has actually caused more harm than good.
The Expenses and Inefficiency of Prohibition on Marijuana
The Drug Policy Alliance claims that over half of all drug-related arrests in the US occur as a result of marijuana restrictions, which cost the country more than $3.6 billion annually to enforce. This does not, however, deter marijuana use among individuals. In 2019, around 48.2 million Americans aged 12 or older used marijuana in the previous year, or roughly 17.5% of the population, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. This indicates that millions of individuals are using substances that are safer than alcohol or tobacco, which puts them at risk of legal action, arrest, fines, jail time, or even a criminal record.
The Inability to Lower Cannabis Usage
Making marijuana illegal is primarily justified because it would discourage use, particularly among youth who are more susceptible to its harmful effects. Evidence, however, indicates that this is untrue. Despite having some of the harshest regulations, the US has one of the highest rates of marijuana usage worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. On the other hand, marijuana use has not increased—and in some cases, has even decreased—in nations like Uruguay, Portugal, Canada, the Netherlands, and other nations that have decriminalized or legalized the drug. This implies that making marijuana illegal drives it underground rather than decreasing demand for it. where control and regulation are more difficult.
The wastage of Opportunities and Resources
Making marijuana illegal would also save money and resources that could be allocated to infrastructure, health care, education, and other initiatives. But the reverse is actually true. Due to the illegality of marijuana, the government is forced to spend billions of dollars annually on the arrest, prosecution, and incarceration of marijuana offenders, which burdens the criminal justice system and overcrowds the jails. The American Civil Liberties Union reports that the average expense of a marijuana arrest in 2018 was $1,266,and $31,286 was the average cost of incarcerating someone for marijuana. Millions of people’s lives may have been improved by using this money for social services like education, treatment, prevention, or other programs.
Furthermore, the government loses out on the possible financial gains from a legal, regulated, and taxed marijuana business by outlawing it. The legal marijuana market in the United States produced $18.3 billion in sales, $1.9 billion in state and local tax income, and 321,000 employment in 2019, according to the Marijuana Policy Project. These funds and these jobs could have been used to boost the economy, expand employment prospects, lower rates of unemployment, and combat poverty.
The Perils and Damages of Outlawing Marijuana
In addition to harming and endangering the public’s health and safety, the government’s illegality of marijuana also violates the civil rights and liberties of millions of people who use the drug for personal purposes.
The Black Market’s Fertilization of Violence
The government gives the drug trade, which is controlled by violent gangs, cartels, and traffickers, a big chance by outlawing marijuana. These groups frequently use violence, corruption, and intimidation in their competition for territory, clients, and money. The global market for illicit drugs was estimated to be worth $465 billion in 2018, with cannabis accounting for $49 billion of that total, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. This cash may havebeen utilized for legitimate, regulated, and taxed enterprises that boost the economy, produce income, and create jobs. Rather, it is given to criminals who don’t give a damn about the legality, safety, or quality of their goods, or about the welfare of their clients or the communities in which they operate.
The Loss of Cannabis’s Medical Advantages
The government is also depriving the public of cannabis’s potential medical benefits, which include relief from illnesses including multiple sclerosis, glaucoma, epilepsy, chronic pain, and nausea. Cannabis is now outlawed in many states. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine state that there is strong evidence cannabis or cannabinoids can be used to treat multiple sclerosis-related spasticity, chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, and chronic pain in adults. Due to legal restrictions, many patients who could benefit from cannabis are either unable to get it or are forced to buy it illegally, where they cannot ensure the product’s quality, purity, or dosage.
Cannabis Users’ Violations of Their Civil Rights and Liberties
Millions of people who use cannabis for personal purposes have their civil rights and liberties violated by the government’s decision to outlaw the drug. In the United States, there were over 6.1 million marijuana-related arrests between 2010 and 2018, with 89% of those cases being simple possession, according to the American Civil Liberties Union. People of color are disproportionately affected by these arrests. who, while having comparable rates of marijuana usage, are about four times more likely than white people to be arrested for the drug. People may suffer grave consequences from these arrests, including losing their jobs, homes, schooling, or child custody.
Additionally, the government violates the autonomy and personal freedom of those who choose to use cannabis for personal reasons—as long as they do not hurt others—by outlawing it. One of the tenets of the US is that everyone has the right to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” as stated in the Declaration of Independence. This suggests that individuals ought to have the autonomy to choose what they put into their bodies.
In summary
Legalizing marijuana is a disastrous policy that violates civil rights, wastes money, encourages violence, and affects the public’s health. It’s time to put an end to this absurd and unfair war on drugs and treat cannabis with more common sense and compassion. This entails making marijuana legal, regulated, and taxed for adult use in addition to erasing records and freeing those incarcerated for prior marijuana-related charges. By doing this, we can lessen the negative effects of prohibition and build a society that is safer, healthier, and more just for everybody.
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