Following the passing of pot use in California, Nevada, and Massachusetts, the subject has elicited a heated debate all over the US. The primary question has been on the outcome of the legalization and the expected health effect on the American population. For a long time, the use of marijuana has been illegal until it was passed in two states, Colorado and Washington even though it was passed for recreational use. The reality, however, is that from the apprehension of the medicinal use of the controversial drug, the outcome has been the realization of one of the fastest growing industries. It is even projected that if it is approved, the sales from the product will translate to $22 billion by 2020. It has also been necessitated by the fact that Spain, Portugal, and the Netherlands that have made massive progress in ensuring that pot use is permitted. Marijuana use is supported by extensive findings that indicate that it will boost the economy through job creation and tax revenue with epileptic and cancer patients also expected to improve their health significantly.
The Background in the Arguments Supporting
The advantages of the medical legalization of marijuana can also be interpreted in the context of philosophical ethics to determine whether it is justified and the benefits of the use by the public. The principle of utilitarianism acknowledges that an act can only be perceived to be morally right when its outcomes bring the balance of utility so that there is a balance between the benefits and the harms (Côté, Piff, " Willer, 2013). From the context of its use for recreational purposes, it is purported that the smoking of pot results in less adverse health outcomes on the user and the society than the possible adverse effects. Its use for medicinal purposes is justified because of the positive impact of having therapeutic effects, and it is thus appropriate to affirm its used for medicinal reasons. Nevertheless, it is advised that the prospect should be educated on the usage of the drugs with both the adverse and the beneficial effects that are anticipated being described for them to make informed choices because based on the utilitarian theory, the use of marijuana only needs to have more positive results to be warranted (Côté et al., 2013).
Benefits of Medicinal Marijuana
There is a broad range of advantages that are drawn from the legalization of marijuana for medical purposes. One such outcome is that it has been found to be effective in pain reduction (Maule, 2015). Scars have conducted studies that seek to outline the effects of pot in the management of pain, and they have established that skimmed cannabis is the most effective in performing the role. For example, the report is backed by clinical trials that were conducted in the State of California where patients were assigned to smoke marijuana of 4-32 mg of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). It was later found that the two clinical trials were for the patients who were infected by HIV showed massive improvement. Maule (2015) notes that the pain reduction was at 34-40 percent when it was at a high of 17-0 percent before the study. The study thus led to the conclusion that marijuana has the ability to counter pain by a margin of as much as 30 percent.
The treatment of multiple sclerosis has also been described to experience a boost with the legalization of pot use. Research on this area has been primed by the National Academy of Neurology who has demonstrated through evidence-based guidelines on how marijuana can be used in the management of the disease The spasticity and tremor, was found to decline in patients with multiple sclerosis following their intake of marijuana either as a pill or as an oral drug (Horowitz, 2014). Massive advanced studies have since been done in the UK to ascertain these allegations with most investigations often involving the use of randomized oral cannabis extract. The report established that marijuana was twice as effective as the contemporary drugs in the management of pain the in the range of insomnia, pain, and muscle spasms.
The last consideration in the medical use of marijuana is in the context of epilepsy as it has also been found to be effective in such patients. Research has shown that 70 percent of the patients who seek complimentary medicine often resort to marijuana because they believe that the advances in medical treatment rely on research in the use of pot. The analysis in this perspective has, however, suffered from a paucity of literature because the four randomized trials that have been done have not been much reliable as there is inconsistency in the reporting patterns. Nevertheless, the studies showed that those who took 200-300 mg daily were classed as to be in the safe category as far as the management of epileptic episodes was concerned. In fact, an alternative benefit in epilepsy from the consumption of pot is that the positive therapeutic outcomes have been noted in cancer patients. According to Johannigman " Eschiti, (2013) the ultimate foundation in the understanding of marijuana use is in the analysis of the positive effects of cancer management. It has been noted to improve the response in patients who have a problem with low appetite, nausea and a broad range of tumors that are metastatic.
Biochemical Justification for Medicinal Use Benefits
It is worth describing the pharmacological aspects that have since been identified for marijuana that has necessitated a change of legislature pertaining its cultivation and sale in the US. The drug belongs to the Cannabacese family that is composed of numerous cannabinoids that are related to the delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) that is involved in the "high" feature that is common in the use of pot. Cannabis sativa and Cannabis indica differ greatly in the medicinal properties that each possesses with C. sativa owing to have high levels of THC and low in the cannabinol levels. There is a broad array of evidence that appears to justify the finding that the endocannabinoids and the cannabinoid receptors play the crucial role that is involved in the initiation of physiological and pathological processes that are vital in the establishment of medical outcomes. The sites are primarily involved in immune response and chronic inflammation processes that end in enabling the body to fight major diseases and chronic conditions that have for a long time been a puzzle in the medical industry. It is stated, "Thus, such receptors are targets that may lead scientists to the development of therapeutic agents for conditions, including arthritis, autoimmune diseases, multiple sclerosis (MS), HIV-1 infection, stroke, inflammatory bowel disease, and Alzheimer’s disease" (Horowitz, 2014, p. 321). Thus, it appears that the primary foundation in the understanding of the medical role of marijuana lies on the receptors.
Economic Benefits of Marijuana Legalization
Another critical segment in the debate of whether pot should be permitted for recreational use is in the assessment of the economic benefits that are anticipated. The first outcome that is described is in job creation. There is huge potential it the expansiveness of the overall job availability following the authorization of marijuana business as a whole. The drug production and the trading processes that are involved are expected to enable people to engage in a broad range of economic and income-generating activities. For example, it is reported that in Colorado, the move to license the use of pot has since changed the economic outlook of Colorado and it has been ranked as one of the richest states in the US. The rate of unemployment has declined since the passing of the law. Sarich (2014) reports that as a result of the legalization, the state has since ended up creating 10000 new jobs which have boosted the economic activities that people can partake. It is thus imperative that extrapolation of the effect in all the states will result in a massive positive effects in job and income generation to overcome the rising dismissal from employment rates that are currently a norm.
Another critical effect in the economic perspective is the realization that with the legalization of pot, it is expected that there will be a boost in the tax revenue collection that will overall improve the economy. The proceeds that are generated from the trading activities of pot once it is permitted legally will mean that there will be more money for the government to engage in nationwide projects. Following the passing of Amendment 64 on the taxing of pot use, the outcome has been overwhelming support after it was indicated that 65 percent of respondents were in support of the idea (Thorpe " Lean, 2015). It is also reported that in December 2014, the proceeds that were obtained from pot were almost $700 million even though the cultivation has still not been approved in a majority of the states. The sales had also recorded a similar figure because the trading processes resulted in $313.2 million and a subsequent $44 million in the generation of tax revenue (Thorpe " Lean, 2015). It is hypothesized that with the legalization set to be approved in many states, the revenue generation will receive a significant boost.
Furthermore, it is worth noting that with the permitting of marijuana use, it is expected that the rate of crime incidents will reduce drastically. The fact has been that the general involvement in the cultivation, possession, or even in the use of marijuana was associated with crime and one could be apprehended for it. Thorpe " Lean (2015) report that before being permitted to be legal Colorado state police would report an average of 10,000 arrests annually from the possession and the consumption of marijuana. In fact, the subject of crime reduction has been discussed from diverse platforms in the international world. For instance, a post-doctoral scholar in the Netherlands reported that it is pointless to make arrests because of marijuana use when it is clear that a large number in the population would still engage in it and they will have broken the law in the end. The insights have been implemented in Denver in the US with the crime rate reducing by 2.2 percent after just a short time when the law was effected (Norwegian School of Economics, 2016). It thus follows that once it is passed to be safe to engage in such activities, the number of criminals in the correctional units will reduce substantially as those who will have broken the law will be much lower.
The recommendation in the Use of Pot for Medicinal Purposes
It must be emphasized, however, that despite the positive effects that have been noted based on the result that have demonstrated the therapeutic effect of the drug, there is a need for the medical personnel to consider the implications for practice. One of the key points that the user should be well versed pertaining the use of the drug is that it is essential that they are well-versed with the research that is going on the respective area (Drug Policy Alliance, 2011). Furthermore, it is advised that the patients should be educated on the usage of the drugs with both the adverse and the beneficial effects that are anticipated being described for them to make informed choices. Furthermore, it is critical to report the use of marijuana with that the associated effects, whether positive or negative. Also, educational programs should be initiated at the state and the federal level that outline the punishment by law from the use of the drug for non-medicinal purposes Finally, it is stated that there should be a total limitation on the funding, preparation, and obtaining of medicinal marijuana that is intended for patient consumption (Johannigman and Eschiti 362).
Conclusion
It is thus affirmed that the arguments in support for the legalization of the use of marijuana have primarily been centered on the medicinal and the economic benefits that are anticipated. The philosophical and biochemical composition of pot has to be factored to warrant for the passing of the highly controversial drug. The primary advantages in the medical perspective are from the apprehension that it causes pain reduction and is effective in epileptic and cancer patients. Meanwhile, the economic advantages are mainly in the angle of jobs creation, the reduction in crime, and high returns in the form of revenue collection.
References
Côté, S., Piff, P. K., " Willer, R. (2013). For whom do the ends justify the means? Social class and utilitarian moral judgment. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 104(3), 490–503. http://doi.org/10.1037/a0030931
Drug Policy Alliance. (2011). Marijuana Legalization in Colorado After One Year of Retail Sales and Two Years of Decriminalization. Status Report. Retrieved from http://www.drugpolicy.org/sites/default/files/Colorado_Marijuana_Legalization_One_Year_Status_Report.pdf
Horowitz, S. (2014). The Medical Use of Marijuana. Alternative and Complementary Therapies, 20(6), 320–328. http://doi.org/10.1089/act.2014.20601
Johannigman, S., " Eschiti, V. (2013). Medical Use of Marijuana in Palliative Care. Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing, 17(4), 360–362.
Maule, W. . (2015). Medical uses of marijuana ( Cannabis sativa ): fact or fallacy ? British Journal of Biomedical Science, 72(2), 85.
Norwegian School of Economics. (2016). Legalization of medical marijuana reduces crime. ScienceNordic.com. Retrieved from http://sciencenordic.com/legalization-medical-marijuana-reduces-crime
Sarich, C. (2014). Colorado’s Marijuana Legalization Creates 10,000 New Jobs. Natural Society. Retrieved from http://naturalsociety.com/colorados-marijuana-legalization-creates-10000-new-jobs/
Thorpe, J. W., " Lean, J. (2015). The Legalisation of Marijuana: An Analysis into the Economic Impacts on Colorado’s Economy – Will future states choose to follow such policies? Journal of Research Studies in Business " Management, 1, 29–55.
