Legalization of Marijuana

According to Caulkins, Kilmer and Kleiman (2012), governments in the World have continued to stress on arresting people for smoking marijuana. In most cases, majority of those charged for violating marijuana drug, are simple possessions, as well as sale and manufacture for personal use. Altogether, it is recorded that the total number of marijuana arrests in the past exceeded violent acts such as manslaughter, robbery, murder, aggravated assault and rape. On the other hand, marijuana smokers pay taxes, as well as love and support their families. Available data shows, majority are hard working to make a better life for their children. However, marijuana smokers are arrested and handled as criminals solely because of abusing their drug of choice. As a result, the children of the victims are subjected to foster homes which cause them massive suffering and financial problems for many families (Khatapoush & Hallfors, 2004). Therefore, this act creates mistrust and disrespect for the law as well as the overall criminal justice system.

As Khatapoush and Hallfors (2004) indicated, responsible marijuana smokers are harmless to the country and their families. In essence, there is no reason to regard them as criminals and isolate their children to foster homes. Most important, the society should find ways of discouraging personal conduct that is abusive and harmful to others. According to White (2007), marijuana laws need reform, and they must consider some of the gathered facts. However, baseless claims, scare stories, and meaningless statistics must not form part of the decision. Therefore, responsible marijuana smokers are not a problem, and it is time stop arresting them.

More often than not, marijuana does not cause any effect to the brain as well as the body’s immune system. Besides other drugs such as alcohol, marijuana has got no adverse effects to the brain cells. In cases of excessive consumption of marijuana, a person can contract bronchitis. However, the chances of contracting bronchitis from mere marijuana smoking are limited. Furthermore, hazards associated to the respiratory system are eliminated by consuming marijuana through non-smoking means. Marijuana is an important aid in the treatment of a wide range of clinical use such as pain relief (Berlatsky, 2012). Also, it is a powerful restorative for HIV wasting syndrome. In addition, the medicinal properties of marijuana prevent the body against some types of cancerous related tumors.

To sum up, marijuana drug does not cause severe health problems as compared to tobacco and alcohol addiction. Further, it is impossible for death to occur from excessive consumption of marijuana. In the world history, there has been no report of a single human death because of health hazard caused by marijuana. Most recent, many international health organizations are supporting granting patients’ legal access to medicinal marijuana under the directive of the physician. Undoubtedly, it is important to legalize marijuana, and this would change lives for most people.