Marijuana is a plant that grows naturally and it is well known worldwide. Scientifically it is known as Cannabis sativa nonetheless, its name varies from country to country. In America, settlers introduced it in 1600 (Cannabis Now, 2011). The crops’ fibers were specifically used to design ropes, sails, and clothing during those days. After the civil war, marijuana became an economically important crop to the colonial and national government in North America. The increasing demand of this crop made the settlers forced to grow it on a commercial scale. The extensive cultivation of marijuana made it seem as a staple crop in U.S. till the 20th Century (Cannabis Now, 2011).
The quest to allow marijuana to be used freely has raised a heated debate in the U.S. and the global in general. Historically, marijuana has been extensively known for its medicinal and economic value. In America, for instance, the drug played an integral role in the health sector. Many nations in the world have prohibited the use of marijuana; nevertheless, in other countries it has been legalized. It is surprising that an increasing number of individuals in the world are supporting the idea that marijuana ought to be legalized. The most astonishing thing is that those individuals who initially were against the legalization of marijuana have shifted their goal posts. They now perceive that there are genuine reasons to justify the legalization of marijuana, such as its medicinal role. By the time of writing this piece of information, about Twenty-four States of America have opted to legalize marijuana for medicinal use.
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On the other hand, various groups of the elite have come out strongly to support the legalization of marijuana, stating that there would be significant economic gains when such a move would be effected. One of them is Jeffrey Miron, an American economist. The professor states that, legalizing marijuana would be economically viable since a lot of resources are consumed in setting up campaigns that prohibit its use (Miron & Sivasailam, 2012). Miron and Sivasailam (2012) argue that legalizing marijuana would lead to the establishment of markets that would be of benefit to both smokers and non-smokers. He adds that, if this problem is addressed from an economic angle, it would give people an insight on how to come up with alternative ways of realizing financial success (Miron & Sivasailam, 2012).
Marijuana poses significant detrimental effects to both direct and passive smokers thus it ought not to be legalized. The effects seem to vary depending on the frequency in which an individual use the drug, the concentration of the drug, as well as the person in question. Users of marijuana have developed a feeling of anxiety, hallucination, increased pulse rate and difficulties in concentration. They have also demonstrated an inability to perform tasks that need coordination as well as decreased interest in accomplishing certain tasks. Such effects would mean that the country would suffer from decreased labor in the long run, which would force it to import labor from other countries. In that regards, legalizing marijuana may seem beneficial in the short run, but in the long run, such a move will not be economically viable.
Abnormal brain development has also been associated with the use of marijuana. Notably, abnormalities in the brain lead to a reduction in brain activity, which on the other hand would affect the learning process and the brain memory would not be effective. Scholars suggest that these effects occur due to the shrinking of the brain cells and a reduction in neuronal activity. In addition, smoking marijuana is directly associated with respiratory disorders and lung cancer. It poses the same effects as those posed by tobacco, such as frequent coughs, bronchitis, and lung inflammations. Cases of reduced body immunity, as well as decreased sperm count, have also been reported among marijuana users. Notably, treating the aforementioned is very expensive and it might take up to five years for an individual to recover. If one can do the math keenly taking into consideration the loss of a productive labor plus the cost incurred during treatment of drug victims, it is very economical to prohibit marijuana than to legalize it. Therefore, it would be imperative to shun the call for legalizing Cannabis sativa .
References
Cannabis Now. (2011). History of Marijuana in America. Cannabis Now Magazine . Retrieved from http://www.cannabisnowmagazine.com
Miron, J.A. & Sivasailam, A. (2012). The Budgetary Implications of Marijuana Legalization in Missouri. Show-MeCannabis Policy Study. Retrieved from http://www.prohibitioncosts.org/mironeport/
