Pros And Cons Of Decriminalizing Marijuana

A common stereotype of people who are in favor of decriminalizing marijuana are often thought to be unintelligent and lazy drug addicts. This stereotype alters the arguments of those people who are in favor of decriminalizing marijuana. These people deeply care about public health, the criminal justice system and socioeconomic mobility. Some only support decriminalizing medical (should I add marijuana here), others argue that the use of recreational use marijuana should also be legalized. By making these arguments, supporters of the decriminalization of marijuana unveil the logical fallacies deeply rooted in the arguments of people who wish to maintain the current laws. The notion that people should steer clear of using marijuana is a valid

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, “Addiction is defined as a chronic, relapsing brain disease that is characterized by compulsive drug seeking and use, despite harmful consequences.” (NIDA) People take drugs to feel good, feel better, do better, and simply just because they are curious. Drugs like marijuana and heroin release excessive amounts of dopamine (the “feel good” neurotransmitter) into the brain, causing the user to feel extra pleasure. - “Although [marijuana] mimic[s] the brain’s own chemicals, [it does not] activate neurons in the same way as a natural neurotransmitter, and [it] lead[s] to abnormal messages being transmitted through the network.” (NIDA) In turn, the user wants to feel this excessive pleasure time and time again, therefore they continue to use the drug. “Stress can play a major role in beginning drug use, continuing drug abuse, or relapse in patients recovering from addiction.” (NIDA) Since marijuana is seen as a “feel good” drug, people use it to relieve stress, hence the feel better portion of why people take drugs. Other ways people typically relieve stress are through alcohol consumption and smoking

Joycelyn Elders, former U.S. Surgeon General states, “The evidence is overwhelming that marijuana can relieve certain types of pain, nausea, vomiting, and other symptoms caused by such illnesses as multiple sclerosis, cancer, and AIDS—or by the harsh drugs sometimes used to treat them” (Elders). When governments choose to not allow patients to seek certain cures for illnesses it imposes unnecessary suffering for the patient. Governments violate the basic human right to “a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family” (Universal). For example, about 20% of all cancer patients die from a large loss of fat and muscle tissue, this process is referred is as wasting; And is a process that can be reversed through marijuana use. According to Karen O’Keefe, an for Marijuana Policy Project, argues, “With roughly 20% of all cancer deaths caused by wasting, it is cruel and senseless to criminalize the doctor-advised use of a safe, effective, and widely available treatment” (O’Keefe). Supposedly the benefit of appeasing society’s misconceptions toward marijuana is refutebale compared to the cost of death or severe pain imposed on patients in need of medical treatment. If governments are willing to prescribe drugs such as like OxyContin, Xanax, hydrocodone and Valium, to be used as