Positives of legalizing Marijuana

Posted by Melda Research on March 6th, 2019

Cannabis has been around since before the Christian era, mainly in Asia. The first evidence of the use of Marijuana was found in China (Zuardi, & Antonio, 2006). According to oral traditions passed down from the time of Emperor Shen-Nung, in early 2.700 B.C, indications for the use of Marijuana included treatment of rheumatic pain, improving disorders of the female reproductive system, treating intestinal constipation, and cure of malaria among others. Its fibers were used in the manufacturing of strings, ropes, and textiles. In Europe, during this period, Marijuana was cultivated for the production of fibers. In 1150, Spain and Italy, Muslims introduced Marijuana as a raw material for manufacturing papers (Zuardi, & Antonio, 2006). Marijuana was introduced to the Western medicine in the 19th century. In the 1990's with the discovery of cannabinoid receptors in the brain scientific interest in cannabis increased. Marijuana is considered as a plant mainly active constituent of proteins and fatty acids. Today some of essential fatty acids and proteins are considered having therapeutic effects, for example, the g-linoleic acid which is recommended for eczema and psoriasis (Warf, & Barney 2014). Its therapeutic effects are considered for oral use for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, atherosclerosis, osteoporosis, and other inflammatory diseases (Zuardi, & Antonio, 2006).
History shows that Cannabis or Marijuana has always had a negative stigma attached to it. However early clinical findings concluded that marijuana did not introduce violent behavior or lead to the use of more addictive drugs (Zuardi, & Antonio, 2006). Although it was revealed that marijuana is not as-as addictive as other drug many people still believe that Marijuana is heavily addictive. But recent research shows that use of Marijuana can indeed lead to dependence. It has been proved that some heavy users of marijuana developed withdrawal characteristics when they have not used the drug for a period. Marijuana is associated with behaviors that meet the criteria for substance dependence according to standards established by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM¬IV) (Zuardi, & Antonio, 2006).
Taxing Marijuana
The tax revenue generated from taxing Marijuana is an approximation of about billion annual sales. The amount of cash can be divided such that million annual funds for ten years can cater for research in 11 public universities in California that evaluate the impact of legalization and recommending policy changes (Warf, & Barney 2014). The funded research should cover topics including public health, public safety, and prices. About $ 3 million, an annual fund for five years can be given the California Highway Patrol (CHP) to develop protocols and good testing gadgets for determining when Marijuana impairs drivers. The tax revenue amounting to million, and increasing to $ 50 million annually should be given to grants such as local health departments as well as nonprofits organizations that support research on addiction treatment, job creation and placement, mental and related health treatment as well as other services that improve community standards (Warf, & Barney 2014). Some revenue amounting to $ 2 million annually could be allocated to UC San Diego Center for researching about Medical Cannabis Research that evaluates and validate marijuana as medicine.
According to revenue authority, the remaining tax generated from Marijuana will be divided such that 60 percent to prevent youth, teenagers and other minors from abusing substances. The revenue can be used in offering grants to schools, drug campaigns, and county health programs, to facilitate funding of various complications related with Marijuana (Warf, & Barney 2014). About $ 450 million or more per year can be used for helping individuals who are at risk of using Marijuana. In rehabilitating and promoting cultivation of Marijuana, about 20 percent revenue should be used in helping state environmental agencies in restoring waterways affected by cannabis cultivation. It should also control and manage public lands by preventing excessive marijuana activities. Other projects should take at least 0 million annually to ensure effective and efficient benefits from Marijuana (Warf, & Barney 2014). Another benefit of Marijuana includes allocation about 20 percent to the CHP with a purpose of training officers for detecting Driving Under the Influence (DUIs). The revenue should also be utilized to facilitate the offering of grants to local law enforcement, fire protection agencies, and public health programs especially within regions where cultivation and sales of Marijuana are allowed. The operation in authorized areas is expected to amount to $ 150 million or more per year (Warf, & Barney 2014).
Can bring money into the economy
Legalizing Marijuana and allowing the state to control and manage it through regulating tax it could lead to billions of dollars brought into California's economy (Angeles, & Alison, 2009). The regulation and taxation policies that allow the use of Marijuana in recreational facilities could mean billions brought into the state as well as revenues generated through use of alcohol. According to the statistics analyzed, legalizing Marijuana leads to decreased number of criminals arrested and prosecuted as nonviolent offenders. Policies that legalize Marijuana use save the state approximately 1 billion a year. According to Democratic state assembly member, Tom Ammiano Marijuana is the answer to the economic misery facing California (Angeles, & Alison, 2009). Ammiano argues that legalizing Marijuana is a move that could affect the generation of billions of dollars cash as revenue to the state. Marijuana as one of California's biggest cash crop it is responsible for generating billion annual sales. Making the plant illegal, it is similar to dwarfing the state's largest agricultural product. Economically Marijuana is more important compared to commodities such as milk and cream, which are responsible for earning only .3 billion annually (Angeles, & Alison, 2009). According to the USDA statistics, the state's economy could relieve taxpayer’s burden of paying .3 billion a year needed to run public affairs. The revenue generated from Marijuana can offset some of the billions of dollars in various services cutting down and reducing outlined expenses in the state budget (Angeles, & Alison, 2009).
Reduce the cost of states prosecuting marijuana users
Legalizing Marijuana would lead to a reduction of government expenditure while the tax revenue would increase. According to Miron, & Jeffrey, 2005 prohibition of Marijuana involves direct enforcement extra cost that prevents taxation of marijuana production and sale. On the other hand, legalization would eliminate arrest and prosecutorial expenses. It would also lead to reduced expenses on judicial and incarceration expenses (Miron, & Jeffrey, 2005). Through legalizing Marijuana, an estimate of about 7.7 billion would be saved and reduced from the cost of states prosecuting marijuana this would result in reduced government expenses. According to Miron, & Jeffrey, 2005 report, legalizing Marijuana drugs would save roughly $ 48.7 billion annually in government expenses on enforcement of prohibition. The breakdown of the expenses revealed that about $ 33.1 billion of total savings would benefit most of state and local governments. Similarly, about $ 15.6 billion would benefit most of the federal government. The significance of Marijuana is that about $ 13.7 billion of the total savings would result from legalizing marijuana trade. $ 22.3 billion would be generated as a result of legalizing the use of Marijuana in recreation facilities. According to Miron, & Jeffrey, 2005 report estimated that Marijuana drug legalization would yield tax revenue amounting to $ 34.3 billion per annum. Assuming legal drugs could be taxed at rates comparable to those on alcohol and tobacco about $ 6.4 billion of the revenue would result from a trade involving the use of marijuana. State-by-state economic breakdowns revealed that there are huge benefits of legalizing Marijuana on state budget (Miron, & Jeffrey, 2005). Statistics revealed that such estimates more reliable than those gained from the overall economy.
Medicinal use of Marijuana
Medical applications of Marijuana was firsts initiated in Canada on ill patients and patients with serious medical conditions (Jones, Craig & Andrew, 2008). However, even though the medical application and use of marijuana were made legal in Canada physicians are not confident enough talking intelligently with patients concerning the use of marijuana because of the limited research. Many agree that the use and application of Marijuana are helpful in certain cases. According to social research conducted in Britain, North America, as well as Europe, also revealed that Marijuana is used for treating chronic pain and nausea as well as coping with depression (Jones, Craig & Andrew, 2008).
Use in Cancer Treatment
Cancer is one of the diseases with features of the abnormal division of cells and their ability to spread. The unregulated cell growth is caused by damage to DNA materials resulting in mutations, defects in cell cycles, as well as apoptotic machinery. Through medical research, Marijuana has been found as one of the agents that can modulate apoptosis to maintain steady-state of cell division (Sarfaraz, Sami, et al., 2008). It enhances effective signaling of intermediate cells leading to induction of apoptosis. Such criteria and techniques are applied to targeted therapy of cancer using Marijuana. Hence, marijuana is used to induce development of novel targets and mechanism that inhibit cell divisions for the management of cancer (Sarfaraz, Sami, et al., 2008). A significant advancement in the development of cannabinoid used in cancer treatment coming through the discovery of a potential utility of Marijuana compounds targeting in killing tumors. Cannabinoids were shown to inhibit tumor growth in early 1970’s. In current and subsequent studies, molecular mechanisms for Cannabinoids were analyzed, and it was found that they inhibit tumor cell growth and induce apoptosis by modulating different cells by signaling pathways in cells located in gliomas and lymphomas. Other areas where effects of Marijuana influence growth of cells include prostate gland, breast cells, lungs, skins, and cancerous pancreatic cells (Sarfaraz, Sami, et al., 2008).
Marijuana is one of the drugs that leads to the manufacturing of drugs containing cannabinoid for treating cancer therapy. Marijuana provides of cannabinoid receptors as a group of chemicals that are naturally found in marijuana binding to cannabinoid receptors (Sarfaraz, Sami, et al., 2008). Marijuana cannabinoid receptors work effectively with receptors in the brain, immune system and reproductive systems of both male and females. The concept of receptors is key in a study based on the use and application of cannabinoids in treating cancers. The various types of cancer treated using named drugs include the prostate cancer and breast cancer among other cancerous cells (Sarfaraz, Sami, et al., 2008).
According to Carroll-Johnson, & Rose, 2005 lack of research regarding the use of marijuana for the relieving some chronic diseases such as cancer treatment has contributed to many people dying from cancer. Marijuana should be identified as one of the medical treating drugs. It should be legalized (Carroll-Johnson, & Rose, 2005). Nurses platforms have proved and recognized marijuana as one of the important drugs in effectively and efficiently acting as a cure for cancer. Nurses should voice the benefits of marijuana based on their scientific research. However, the significance of Marijuana has been doomed because many keep a low profile regarding effective marijuana usage in the treatment of patients. Being given some error reports and information that there would be potential for arrest and prosecution, the nursing profession has remained calm in proclaiming the importance of treating cancer (Carroll-Johnson, & Rose, 2005).
According to Fogarty, A, et al. 2007, therapeutic application of Marijuana has emerged as one of significance achievements in treating individuals and people living with chronic diseases such as cancer, HIV/AIDS, and multiple sclerosis. Marijuana should be legalized due to some of the therapeutic application in treating serious diseases (Fogarty, A, et al. 2007). Marijuana has a positive Health impact and contribution towards providing relieve to men and women living with HIV/AIDS in New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria, Australia. From analysis concerning a study, the multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that participants make use of marijuana for therapeutic purposes have a high likelihood of receiving better outcomes. Marijuana has been used to provide healing on HIV/AIDS-related illness among other illnesses in the past 12 months. The effects have higher CD4 and T-cell counts leading to lower incomes (Fogarty, A, et al. 2007).
With the growth and development of scientific interest for Marijuana, is one of therapeutic solutions leading to more accurate scientific treatment of different conditions such as treatment of epilepsy, insomnia, patients vomiting, increasing spasms, relieving pain, glaucoma, asthma, inappetence, and Tourette syndrome, among others (Fogarty, A, et al 2007).
Marijuana therapeutic indications include THC among other the medical conditions the rely on Marijuana such as a stimulant of appetite, antiemetic, analgesic, and in symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis. Some of the cannabinoids importances that are also under investigation include Cannabidiols (CBD) (Carroll-Johnson, & Rose, 2005). They are among the classified significance which has evidence of leading to therapeutic healing of conditions such as chronic epilepsy, insomnia, anxiety, various inflammations, brain damage such as a neuroprotector and psychoses, among others (Fogarty, A, et al. 2007).
Conclusion
Whether Marijuana legalization is a desirable policy or not many factors such as medicinal, cancer treatment, treatment of Mental disorders, crime reduction revenue and generating among others, reveal that Marijuana should be legalized. Rational debates about Marijuana legalization policy should nevertheless consider above-discussed benefits. However, Marijuana products must be used and applied cautiously since some have revealed that early-onset cannabis use can induce cognitive deficits as well as apparently acts contributing to risk factor for the onset of psychosis among vulnerable youths.

References
Angeles, Alison Stateman / Los. "Can Marijuana Help Rescue California's Economy?" Time. Time Inc., 13 Mar. 2009. Web. 22 Apr. 2017. Angeles
Carroll-Johnson, Rose Mary. "Highs and Lows." Oncology Nursing Forum, vol. 32, no. 4, July 2005, p. 715. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1188/05.ONF.715.
Fogarty, A, et al. "Marijuana as Therapy for People Living with HIV/AIDS: Social and Health Aspects." AIDS Care, vol. 19, no. 2, Feb. 2007, pp. 295-301. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ccm&AN=106147046&site=ehost-live.
Jones, Craig and Andrew D. Hathaway. "Marijuana Medicine and Canadian Physicians: Challenges to Meaningful Drug Policy Reform." Contemporary Justice Review, vol. 11, no. 2, June 2008, pp. 165-175. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1080/10282580802058429
Miron, Jeffrey A. The budgetary implications of marijuana prohibition. Marijuana Policy Project, 2005.
Sarfaraz, Sami, et al. "Cannabinoids for cancer treatment: progress and promise." Cancer research 68.2 (2008): 339-342.
Warf, Barney. "High Points: An Historical Geography of Cannabis." Geographical Review, vol. 104, no. 4, Oct. 2014, pp. 414-438. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1111/j.1931-0846.2014.12038.x.
Zuardi, Antonio Waldo. "History of cannabis as a medicine: a review." Revista Brasileira de Psiquiatria 28.2 (2006): 153-57. Web. 22 Apr. 2017.
Annotated Bibliography
Zuardi, Antonio Waldo. "History of cannabis as a medicine: a review." Revista Brasileira de Psiquiatria 28.2 (2006): 153-57. Web. 22 Apr. 2017.
In this article Zuardi talks about the history of cannabis. Cannabis has been around since before the christian era, mainly in Asia. The first evidence of the use of cannabis was found in China. It was used for its fibers to manufacture strings, ropes and textiles. Cannabis was introduced to the Western medicine in the 19th century. In the 1990's with the discovery of cannabinoid receptors in the brain scientific interest in cannabis increased. Treatment effectiveness and safety started to become scientifically proven. Zuardi talks about the many medicinal uses of cannabis over time and the new rediscovery of cannabis in the 20th century.
Warf, Barney. "High Points: An Historical Geography of Cannabis." Geographical Review, vol. 104, no. 4, Oct. 2014, pp. 414-438. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1111/j.1931-0846.2014.12038.x.
Warf talks about the geographical history of cannabis and the expansion under colonialism. In one part of the article Warf focuses on the popularity of cannabis and its history in America. History shows that cannabis or marijuana has always had a negative stigma attached to it. Even though early clinical findings concluded that marijuana did not introduce violent behavior or lead to the use of more addictive drugs.
Angeles, Alison Stateman / Los. "Can Marijuana Help Rescue California's Economy?" Time. Time Inc., 13 Mar. 2009. Web. 22 Apr. 2017. Angeles
The author of this article talks about Democratic state assemblyman Tom Ammiano's belief that legalizing pot and allowing the state to regulate and tax it could mean billions of dollars brought into California's economy. The author agrees Ammiano might be right. In 1996 California became one of the first states to legalize medical marijuana. The regulation and taxation of recreational marijuana much like alcohol could mean billions brought into the state. As well as the decrease in arrest and prosecution of nonviolent offenders could save the state approximately 1 billion a year. The author talks about the push back from those who believe legalizing marijuana is bad idea because of its affects on people judgement. But supporters such as Orange County Superior Court Judge James Gray argues that every society in the history of mankind has had its substances. He argues that substances such as marijuana are here to stay and its time we accept this fact.
Miron, Jeffrey A. The budgetary implications of marijuana prohibition. Marijuana Policy Project, 2005.
The author debates the effects of marijuana prohibition on government budgets. The author argues that prohibition involves direct enforcement cost and prevents taxation of marijuana production and sale. Legalizing marijuana would decrease government expenditure and tax revenue would increase. Legalization would eliminate arrest and prosecutorial, judicial and incarceration expenses. An estimated of 7.7 billion would be saved annually from reduced government expenses. An estimated 2.4 billion revenue would be received.

Sarfaraz, Sami, et al. "Cannabinoids for cancer treatment: progress and promise." Cancer research 68.2 (2008): 339-342.
In this journal research explores the potential use of cannabinoid for cancer therapy. The journal provides a brief overview of cannabinoid receptors. Cannabinoids are a group of chemicals naturally found in marijuana that binds to cannabinoid receptors. Some receptors can be found in the brain, immune system and reproductive systems of both male and females. These receptors are key in study the use of cannabinoids in treating cancers such of prostate cancer and breast cancer. The journal talks about the use of these receptors in treatment of certain cancer types.
Carroll-Johnson, Rose Mary. "Highs and Lows." Oncology Nursing Forum, vol. 32, no. 4, July 2005, p. 715. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1188/05.ONF.715.
The author argues the lack of research regarding the use of marijuana for the relief of cancer treatment side effects. The author stands with the supporters of legalization arguing that nurses should step up the platform and begin voicing the benefits of marijuana and becoming a part of the scientific research. The author sympathizes with the fact that many keep a low profile regarding marijuana usage of patients due to the potential for arrest and prosecution. She argues that many questions are left to be answered about the use of marijuana in side effect treatment. Theses questions cannot be answered without more research.
Jones, Craig and Andrew D. Hathaway. "Marijuana Medicine and Canadian Physicians: Challenges to Meaningful Drug Policy Reform." Contemporary Justice Review, vol. 11, no. 2, June 2008, pp. 165-175. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1080/10282580802058429
This journal talks about the use of medical marijuana in Canada by terminally ill patients and patients with serious medical conditions. According to the journal even though medical use of marijuana is legal in Canada many physicians don't feel competent enough to talk intelligently with patients about using marijuana because of the limited research but many agree that it is helpful in certain cases. Social research done in Britain, North America and Europe also shows that use for chronic pain and nausea is common, as is use for coping with depression (Coomber et al., 2003; Hadorn & Jackson, 2003; Ogborne et al., 2000; Schnelle et al., 1999)
Fogarty, A, et al. "Marijuana as Therapy for People Living with HIV/AIDS: Social and Health Aspects." AIDS Care, vol. 19, no. 2, Feb. 2007, pp. 295-301. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ccm&AN=106147046&site=ehost-live.
Therapeutic use of marijuana has emerged as an important issue for people living with cancer, HIV/AIDS and multiple sclerosis. This paper examines therapeutic use of marijuana in the Positive Health cohort study, a longitudinal cohort study of men and women living with HIV/AIDS in NSW and Victoria, Australia. Factors that distinguish therapeutic use of marijuana from recreational use were assessed by comparisons on a range of social and health-related variables. The results show that among 408 participants, 59.8% reported some use of marijuana in the past six months. Of those participants (n /244), 55.7% reported recreational use only of marijuana and 44.3% report mixed use of marijuana for therapeutic and recreational purposes. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that participants who used marijuana for therapeutic purposes were significantly more likely than recreational-only users to have used other complementary or alternative therapies, experienced HIV/AIDS-related illness or other illnesses in the past 12 months, had higher CD4/T-cell counts, had lower incomes, be younger in age and less likely to have had a casual partner in the six months prior to interview.

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