Legalization and Decriminalization of Marijuana in Canada
The legality of various drugs across the world is something that has been controversial for a very long time. One of the drugs that have been talked about for the longest time now is Marijuana. This has since made the legal landscape for cannabis relaxed for many states and countries across the globe. In the United States, for instance, various states today have legalized the use of marijuana. Some of the states include Alaska, Washington D.C, and Oregon, among many others. Most of these states have legalized the use of Marijuana for recreational and medicinal use. Despite some states in the United States and Countries being adamant to the calls for the drug use legalization, most of them have reduced the punishments for the possession of the drug, especially small amounts. This is something that has been praised by many organizations, especially the ones that are interested in the medicinal value of the drug. One such institution is the American Academy of Paediatrics.
Today, most polls conducted by various research institutions indicate that most Americans support legalization of Marijuana. In fact, researchers indicate that the number of Americans supporting the legalization of cannabis has almost tripled since the scientific proof that the drug is medicinal. With the increase in the public view shift in many parts of the world, Canada has equally not been left out. Today, most Canadians believe that legalization of the drug could be beneficial to their economy as well as health. This paper looks at the science of decriminalization and legalization of the drug. It tries to prove that the legalization and decriminalization of marijuana could be beneficial to the economy and social status of Canada.
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According to most researchers, many studies talk about decriminalization than legalization laws. According to these researchers, this is because most the studies indicate the outcomes of decriminalization than legalization. Decriminalization as a topic is something that is interesting because most countries and states today have more laws on decriminalization than legalization. In fact, marijuana is decriminalized in most states in the United States and some countries than other recreational drugs. This makes the decriminalization of the marijuana an important topic. Most people; however, do not understand the difference between decriminalization and legalization laws. According to Maier, Mannes, and Koppenhofer (2017), decriminalization is those laws that reduce or eliminate punishments that are associated with possessing small amounts of cannabis and other drugs used for recreational purposes. Most of the countries and states that have decriminalization laws, it is still considered a severe crime when selling or found in possession of large quantities of marijuana. Maier et al. (2017) say that legalization, on the other hand, allow people to consume, use, and even sell the drug in large amounts. Legalization of the use of marijuana in many countries and states has seen the rise of systems of regulation which has also resulted in the taxation systems. It is, however, important to state that every country or state may have either strict or lax laws on the same.
Most researchers claim that the decriminalization type laws and legalization type laws have different effects. This, therefore, calls upon for the differentiation. However, some researchers argue that both the types of laws have similar impacts, especially when it comes to issues of the underground economy for the state or the country like Canada. Diep (2015) cites the words of the Economist Rosalie Pacula that the decriminalization has more effect on the underground economy of the state as compared to legalization. Pacula told popular science that the marijuana-legalization laws are more unprecedented especially in the modern world.
The question as to what are the underground economic benefits of decriminalization and legalization of marijuana has become a serious source of studies. Most researchers indicate towards the benefits of legalizing and decriminalizing of the drug. Some activists; however, have become concerned about the possible health effects. It is true that the common advantage of legalizing and decriminalizing marijuana lies on the underground positive effects on the economic situation of the country or state. According to Diep (2015), decriminalizing and legalization of marijuana help the criminal-justice system of a nation or state saves some money and resources which could otherwise be used elsewhere. Diep says that this effect is easily backed because of the scientific research that has been done in the past. For instance, it is common knowledge that the government, not only in Canada and the United States of America, spends a lot of resources in enforcing laws on cannabis usage. The fund used in that country and state in either decriminalize or legalize have significantly reduced. In fact, drug-related arrests and jail sentencing have decreased immensely. Some researchers have however claimed that the cost saved in the decriminalization and legalization of marijuana is unaccountable. These concerns are however null and void because recent research conducted in Colorado and California shows that a lot of resources are saved when marijuana is legalized or decriminalized. A study conducted in California, for instance, indicates that the state government is saving hundreds of millions to almost a billion per year.
Another economic effect is the tax revenue. According to Caulkins, Kilmer, Kleiman, MacCoun, Midgette, Oglesby, and Reuter (2015), states such as Washington D.C and Colorado have seen an increase in tax revenues since the legalization marijuana. Caulkins et al. (2015) indicate that in 2015 alone the state of Colorado collected more than $135 million in taxes plus other medical and recreational fee charge on the same. According to Caulkins et al., about $1 billion was the sales of the marijuana in the same year and was expected to increase. According to ArcView Market research, the sales increased by about 30% in 2016 accounting for sales totaling to about $6.8 billion. The study also indicates this amount is expected to hit approximately $20 billion by 2021. The study demonstrates that the state will be receiving large sums of tax revenue from legalizing of the drug. Research done by ICF international indicates California was receiving an approximate of $3 billion in tax revenue by 2016. In Massachusetts, the tax revenue was between $50 and $60 million in 2016 and was expected to increase immensely as a result of decriminalizing marijuana.
Finally, on income and jobs, legalization of marijuana has played an important role. According to studies conducted by ICF, legalizing marijuana increases the job opportunity for the locals. According to Maier et al. (2017), marijuana legalization results in setting up of cannabis nurseries and dispensaries which helps in creating jobs by the political class. This also improves the social living standards of the locals. This helps in boosting the economic state of countries and states. For instance, research conducted by ICF, marijuana legalization in Nevada has supported many jobs, and this could increase to about 41,000 more by the end of 2024. This could generate an income of about $2 billion in labor income. These numbers have been seen in California too where the jobs are expected to be nearly 81,000 by 2024.
In conclusion, the calls that marijuana could be beneficial to the economy of Canada are true. Marijuana legalization could not only benefit the economy of the country but also improve the social status of the Canadians. As indicated, legalizing and decriminalizing marijuana results in an increase in the tax revenues which helps in building the country. Additionally, legalizing and decriminalizing marijuana results in the creation of jobs and income for the locals. It is, therefore, advisable to legalize and decriminalize the marijuana drug in Canada.
References
Diep, F. (2015). The Science of Decriminalizing Drugs Retrieved from: https://www.popsci.com/science-decriminalize-legalize-drugs-marijuana-weed
Maier, S. L., Mannes, S., & Koppenhofer, E. L. (2017). The Implications of Marijuana Decriminalization and Legalization on Crime in the United States: Contemporary Drug Problems , 0091450917708790.
Caulkins, J. P., Kilmer, B., Kleiman, M. A., MacCoun, R. J., Midgette, G., Oglesby, P., & Reuter, P. H. (2015). Options and issues regarding marijuana legalization Rand Corporation.
