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Some Americans fear legalizing marijuana will encourage more people to consume it, decrease traffic safety and lead to other forms of substance abuse; others feel legalization will benefit society as a whole.
Legalization
Proponents of marijuana legalization note that legalizing and regulating its production, sale and possession could yield substantial increases in tax revenue that could fund state projects and programs, enhance schools, pay police officers and firefighters and finance law enforcement costs. Furthermore, taking it off of controlled substances lists would reduce law enforcement and court costs related to arresting and convicting those caught with it - leading to overcrowded prisons and courts as a result of arrests and convictions of individuals caught with it today.
Reduced prison populations will help lower crime rates by freeing police and prosecutors up to devote more resources and time and money towards cases involving violent crimes. Legalizing marijuana will remove an income source for criminals involved in illegal drug trade operations and help save lives in turn.
Legalizing marijuana has many advantages over prohibition, such as treating pain and anxiety. Furthermore, studies indicate potential therapeutic uses in treating individuals suffering from posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Crohn's disease and multiple sclerosis.
Legalizing marijuana may also improve public health by decreasing the risk of other drug consumption, due to individuals consuming marijuana having more of an incentive to seek out other more dangerous substances - similar to how drinking alcohol may lead to other drinking-related issues.
Legalization can benefit society in several ways by eliminating stigma surrounding marijuana use and encouraging more research into its potential medical uses. Due to marijuana's current legal status, conducting studies is difficult; by legalizing it researchers can conduct thorough and objective investigations without fear of prosecution or imprisonment; thus improving quality information available for both medical professionals and patients. Likewise, more research conducted into its benefits means less stigmatization for users while making it easier for patients to access this resource.
Safety
Though marijuana legalization is widely popular, there are many concerns regarding it. Opponents claim it can be highly addictive; others assert it can damage young adults' brains; some even claim that marijuana serves as a gateway drug leading to harder substances like cocaine and heroin; further research needs to be completed before legalizing marijuana use. While more investigation must take place first before making this decision.
Another worry surrounding legalized and taxed marijuana sales is the continued existence of the existing black market, due to providers not wanting to lose out if illegal sales continue making money for them. Furthermore, buying marijuana on the street presents safety issues; for instance it could contain dangerous substances like fentanyl that could compromise user health and wellbeing.
Studies have linked cannabis use with increased rates of traffic accidents and fatalities; however, these studies fail to take into account any effects alcohol or other drugs may have had in contributing to crashes, nor their degree of impairment on drivers. Furthermore, some states don't provide standard methods for testing blood levels of THC and other compounds which can lead to errors in testing results and coding methods resulting in potentially inaccurate test results.
Contrast these findings with tobacco and alcohol use which is widely recognized to be harmful, and substantial public health, physician, and scientific efforts exist to reduce it among adolescents and adults alike. Marijuana can be beneficial when used responsibly within certain parameters - both medicinally as well as recreationally; thus it should be readily available for consumption by both medical users and recreational consumers in a safe manner.
Studies conducted on accidents involving marijuana are limited, yet studies indicate that their incidence did not decrease after legalization. This may be a result of some states failing to implement specific road safety measures like lowering their blood-THC limits or increasing driver ages; nonetheless there have been states which have successfully reduced marijuana-related accidents.
Taxes
One of the major advantages of marijuana legalization for state governments is increased revenue generated through marijuana sales. This extra money can help fund road repairs, fund other government projects, improve schools and hire additional police and firefighters; plus it creates additional jobs while stimulating local economies.
Tax revenue generated from marijuana sales can be an attractive incentive to legalization, but it should be remembered that such revenue comes with its own set of challenges. For instance, it can be hard to accurately forecast how much marijuana will be sold or consumed once legal in any given state; consequently it is impossible to know exactly how much marijuana taxes should be levied to cover regulation and enforcement costs.
Marijuana taxes may differ across states due to each market and regulatory structure being different - some states offer separate medical and recreational markets while others do not - leading to noticeable disparities in price and taxes that have an effect on overall consumption levels.
Overall, it is best to establish uniform standards for marijuana products and taxes across the country. This will help ensure there are no unexpected side-effects on consumption while simultaneously enabling the federal government to collect more consistent data regarding marijuana usage.
If marijuana was legalized federally, it would become subject to normal business taxes which typically depend on how much product was sold - providing steady streams of income for businesses while mitigating price fluctuations on the black market.
Additionally, it should be emphasized that removing marijuana from the list of controlled substances would result in far fewer arrests and imprisonment for possession - having a positive effect on communities affected disproportionately by drug prohibition efforts.
Marijuana remains illegal in most states, though legal sales have begun in ten. While initial retail sales in these states may have been modest at first, they have since generated substantial monthly revenues as the market becomes more established. Estimates show that federal excise taxes could generate $131.8 billion between 2017 and 2025 alone -- a staggering amount for an illegal substance!
Addiction
Marijuana may seem harmless at first, but its use can quickly become addictive and cause numerous side effects including disorientation, unpleasant thoughts and feelings, anxiety, paranoia depression or temporary psychosis. Furthermore, heavy use can increase the chances of respiratory conditions such as bronchitis and lung damage as well as reduce quality of life and performance at work.
Additionally, marijuana is widely perceived to be a gateway drug that leads to harder drugs like heroin. This can have serious repercussions for young people's lives - the average age at which people start using marijuana is estimated to be 17.5 years old; and research shows that earlier someone begins taking marijuana, the greater their likelihood is of later developing substance abuse problems.
Notably, marijuana is currently the drug of choice among adolescents seeking treatment for substance use disorders. Legalizing it would result in increased demand for treatment services and could put additional pressure on an already underfunded addiction treatment system.
Marijuana use has also been associated with lower academic achievement and IQ scores among teens, and worse health outcomes as adults. Furthermore, chronic users are more likely to reside in economically depressed communities and spend their funds on marijuana rather than food and shelter needs.
Counselors must understand these challenges and know how best to approach them when counseling clients. Counselors should include specific, detailed questions regarding marijuana use in their intake process so that they can assess whether their client is suffering from dependence or abuse of this drug, and make them aware of its health risks and encourage them to seek professional treatment if they're having difficulty quitting the habit. Doing this will safeguard a counselor's credibility as well as keep clients safe; additionally it will guarantee a successful treatment process that addresses all their needs and requirements.
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