PHI 105 Topic 5 Assignment : ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY First Draft- Marijuana Legalization.

PHI 105 Topic 5 Assignment : ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY First Draft- Marijuana Legalization. Introduction The debate on marijuana has continued for decades now. In the United States, strict restrictions on the drug began in 1906. Since that time, the government formulated laws that prohibited the growing, selling, and consumption of the drug in the nation's various states. This action led to the emergence of the black market that witnessed the selling of contrabands in various states. Perpetrators were arrested and prosecuted for their actions. The government sought to maintain the state of morality in society. The argument for and against the drug has been among people of diverse nationalities, age groups, religious affiliation, political orientation, and cultural alignment. Numerous people have devoted their careers to defend and advocate for marijuana legalization in the states of America. Recently, there has been a build-up of literature surrounding this topic as more and more people get on board in support of the idea. On 20th November 2019, CNBC news reported the approval of the legalization bill of marijuana on the federal level. This approval took place in the House of Judiciary Committee before proceeding to the full House (Lovelace, 2019). The far-reaching effect of the bill's approval would mean to increase revenue from the sales of the good and a cut on government expenditure on law enforcement to convict culprits. Furthermore, legalization will expand research on the drug that many presume has curative properties. Evidence for this assumption is from the various Indian communities that have used the good in subsistence activities to mitigate the pain of significant illnesses (Todd, 2018). However, despite the rise in support for the legalization of weed, there still exist people who oppose it based on moral, social, and legal obligations. This paper will review the significant arguments behind the support and opposition for the legalization of marijuana in the United States. The effect of marijuana is lesser than other legal drugs ARGUMENTATIVE ESSAY 3 The effect marijuana has on an individual cannot be compared to that of alcohol and tobacco, which have legal and federal protection. Alcohol is a statewide accepted product that fetches the local and federal government a fortune in its production, consumption, and distribution. Tobacco, too, has gained support from the government to protect producers and consumers. However, reviews in these products show the multiple problems these drugs have caused on the individual and society. According to the 2018 report of the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 14.4 million adults from the age of eighteen and above suffered from alcohol addiction (NSDUH, 2020). The effects of drug addiction include violence, rape, hopelessness, and alcohol-related accidents. These accidents not only endanger the user but the pedestrians and other road users. However, with all these demerits, the government has legalized and set up specialized institutions to handle its use. The effects of marijuana use are far much less than that of alcohol. Hence. The government should weigh the pros and cons of weed consumption and determine the best action to benefit all stakeholders. Revenue contribution Revenue from the sale of marijuana in various states of America has increased tremendously over the years. Reports by National Public Radio (NPR) showed a $74.2 million tax generated from the sale of cannabis in California (Chappell, 2019). The state has set an example of the benefits that exist from the legalization of marijuana. The high revenue from the business has increased the standard of living in the state. California legalized the medical use of cannabis in 1996 and its recreational use in 2016. This legalization not only benefits the economic sector but the legal one too. It reduced the number of black markets that dealt with the sale and distribution of the product. Moreover, it has increased public education on the proper use of the drug.