Introduction
The debate around the legalization of recreational cannabis has been ongoing for decades. While some argue that cannabis should remain prohibited due to concerns about public health and safety, others suggest that legalization could have significant benefits for individuals and society as a whole. In this essay, I argue for the legalization of recreational cannabis and that it should be fully implemented due to its failure as a prohibition strategy, its medicinal benefits, and its potential to generate significant revenue for the government.
Critique of Cannabis Criminalization
First of all, in terms of public health and safety, the criminalization of cannabis has been a failure. Cannabis usage is nonetheless commonplace despite the drug’s ban; estimates put the global cannabis market at over 200 million users annually (Dragone et al., 2019). Cannabis use has become illegal, resulting in a black market that supports organized crime and puts at-risk groups at risk. Legalizing cannabis might put an end to the illegal trade in marijuana, as well as the attendant violence and criminal activity.
Benefits of Medical Cannabis
Second, cannabis has numerous recognized medical advantages. Numerous ailments, including chronic pain, nausea, and muscular spasms, have been successfully treated with cannabis. A rising body of evidence points to cannabis as a potentially safer painkiller than opiates (Dragone et al., 2019). Patients would have better access to this important therapy if cannabis were legalized. For instance, research on medical cannabis has demonstrated that it is a good pain reliever for illnesses like cancer, neuropathic pain, and multiple sclerosis (McGinty et al., 2017). Cannabis has also been shown to help cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy by lowering nausea and vomiting.
Economic Advantages
Lastly, legalization paves the way for establishing a controlled market to stimulate employment and economic expansion. Cannabis sales have brought in millions of dollars in tax income in states where it is legal. For instance, Colorado received $387 million in tax income from cannabis sales in just 2020 (McGinty et al., 2017). In jurisdictions where it is legal, the cannabis sector has already produced thousands of jobs in manufacturing, retail, and growing.
Conclusion
In conclusion, although the legalization of cannabis for recreational use is still debatable, there are strong justifications for doing so. As this essay has shown, legalization may be beneficial for both people and society as a whole because of the failure of prohibition, the medical advantages, and the possibility of large tax revenue for the government. Governments can control the market, lower organized crime, and raise tax income by legalizing cannabis.
References
Dragone, D., Prarolo, G., Vanin, P., & Zanella, G. (2019). Crime and the legalization of recreational marijuana. Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 159, 488-501. Web.
McGinty, E. E., Niederdeppe, J., Heley, K., & Barry, C. L. (2017). Public perceptions of arguments supporting and opposing recreational marijuana legalization. Preventive Medicine, 99, 80-86. Web.