The Benefits and Drawbacks of Legalizing Marijuana
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Legalizing cannabis is the act of eliminating a legally imposed ban on something that isn't legal yet. Although this can be framed in many ways, the most common are by redefining "legal" and "illegally" to remove the "criminal" component from the equation. The result is that we no longer have a black and white distinction between "bad" and "good", but rather a grey area that are more like a range than a grade. But why do we need to legalize cannabis at all?
On one hand, legalizing cannabis use opens up a huge market that the drug war didn't. After years of arresting, locking up, and sometimes ruining people for crimes they didn't commit, marijuana is largely an unpalatable drug on the federal level, even as it is legal in many states, check cannabis legalization. Some argue that the drug war is an unwinnable conflict of interest between the state and the federal government, and that the only way to solve this problem is to legalize it. Others argue that marijuana should never be made illegal, because it has medical benefits, is a natural plant, doesn't cause any significant damage to the body, and is not harmful to anyone. Whatever your view, it is clear that legalizing it is a much better solution than making it illegal.
On the other hand, legalizing cannabis brings in an entirely different set of issues. Criminalization creates an unwinnable situation between state and federal law enforcement officials. Since the inception of the Drug Enforcement Administration, police have prioritized drugs over crimes whenever possible. While marijuana is a highly controlled substance, police cannot actively target it and continue to arrest and imprison people for minor marijuana infractions. If marijuana were legalized, police would have no choice but to prioritize other drugs such as methamphetamines, which are also Schedule II substances, rather than marijuana.
Also, legalization confuses law with reality, creating an unclear legal and social landscape. For example, since marijuana is considered a drug, rather than a legal substance, it is subject to all of the same laws as other illicit substances are. This means increased penalties and jail time for first-time offenders and a hefty fine for those caught again. In addition, the drug can only be purchased through a valid prescription from a licensed doctor, also click. Thus, even though marijuana is deemed a dangerous and illegal drug, it is actually easier to buy than most legal prescription drugs because it can be purchased over-the-counter, with no prescription required.
One major concern with full legalization is that it will result in increased arrests and criminal charges for those who are caught with small amounts. Many people believe that the disparity in penalties for minor marijuana offenses, such as possession, is a proof that the drug use is widespread and not seen as a crime. Proponents of legalization argue that even a small amount of marijuana poses serious threats to public safety and does not deserve the same level of fear and treatment as other drugs such as cocaine or heroin. The differences in penalties for various infractions serve as a sort of punishment, albeit one that is more severe than usual. Those who are caught more than once may even have their license revoked.
In order to fully support legalizing cannabis, it is important that members of both camps come together to form a consensus. Although many believe that the drug policy expert is correct in his belief that legalization should be legalized for recreational purposes, there is a strong minority who would also like to see stricter punishments for those caught violating the law. Those who are concerned with increasing drug use and criminal activity should favor stricter punishments for those who are caught violating the law. Those who are primarily concerned about reducing criminalization and the wide-spread criminalization of cannabis should favor allowing the legal sale and consumption of the plant to take place legally and without conflict. Read more at https://www.encyclopedia.com/plants-and-animals/plants/plants/cannabis
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