Essay on Legalization of Marijuana to Combat the Teacher Shortage in Louisiana

The issue of legalization of marijuana or weed is an exciting topic that is attracting the attention of the public. To combat the teacher shortage in Louisiana, the state needs to raise the starting salaries for public school by legalizing Marijuana. Marijuana has various slang names such as pot, grass, Ganga or Kush but widely known as weed or cannabis. This paper discusses the potential benefits of legalizing marijuana such as its positive impact on the economy which will enable the state to raise the starting salary of teachers and therefore create a solution to the shortage crisis contrary to the potential hazard as opposed by the opposition.

In the 21st century, many people are aware of weed. They know of a family or a friend who uses the substance, unlike the previous years where pot was a taboo even to mention. Its popularity has risen since some states such as Washington and Colorado have legalized its use. In Colorado, almost 2 million dollars in recreational weed tax was collected within the first month of sales(Hickenlooper 2014).This practically means that it is safe and its broader perspective of how it can be should be put into consideration. It can be used for several purposes such as in the medical field and the potential tax revenue it can generate apart from its recreational use. Medically several products can be made out of marijuana that are helpful. For instance, a compound of weed known as tetrahydrocannabinol is an anti-inflammatory naturally, neuroprotective and anticonvulsant among other properties. Research by (Roditis & Halpern-Felsher, 2015) shows that marijuana can help in the treatment of glaucoma and other ailments. Its features can be made into things like tea which will be helpful for cancer patients. Its anticonvulsant properties will benefit children ailing from epilepsy because it has minimal side effects compared to phenytoin which is commonly used. Medical evidence has shown that marijuana is less harmful compared to alcohol and that marijuana is not physically addictive, as people believe (Nelson, 2015). Individuals wishing to withdraw from it do not experience adverse withdrawal symptoms compared to alcohol and can, therefore, control their use.

Contrary to the common, believe that weed cannot benefit the society, economists statement that it will have a significant impact on the American economy(Anaekwe,2016). The advantage of taxing it is that the revenue will not only be substantial therefore enabling the government to raise the starting salary of teachers but will also reduce the government's expenditure on law enforcement of the illegal drugs.

Opponents of marijuana legalization argue that its usage will only lead to an increase in the number of weed smokers and deteriorate the number of people who can make a positive impact in the society. They ignore that teachers are required to transfer the knowledge and prepare people to participate in the community, and with the looming shortage, this might not be possible. They argue that the main danger of smoking it is that it leads to body highs and head highs and the outcome can be dangerous. For Instance, people driving under the influence of a drug are more likely to cause automobile accidents which are a serious concern in the society. (Brucato, 2017) Moreover, harmful side effects such as loss of brain function which will hinder learning and possibly lead to mental illnesses like depression are reason enough for it to remain illegal and promote a healthy society. Secondly, the opponents claim that legalization of marijuana will make it readily available for children who do not demonstrate the same amount of responsibility and reasoning as the adults. Moreover, their bodies are not equipped to handle such hard substances and predispose them to adverse brain damage due to restricted blood flow, which can continue even after weeks of abstinence. They argue that authorities have not been able to prevent alcohol and cigarettes accessibility to children and will therefore not be able to prevent them from getting marijuana if legalized. However, the use of marijuana does not hurt the cognitive functioning unless the drug is used simultaneously with other medications. Failing to authorize the use of marijuana is a social fad that threatens the development of the economy and the general well-being of the society. The local government, law enforcers, and the addiction specialists should work hand in hand with the teachers to create an addiction-free community and other unfavorable effects of weed.

Conclusion

Evidently, the positives outweigh the negatives, and therefore weed should be categorized in the same group as tobacco and caffeine and not with cocaine or heroine.it is a beneficial drug that if legalized will provide a source of revenue that can be used to raise the starting salary of teachers in the public school. The authorization of its use will not only boost the economy and even create employment opportunities but also help in the treatment of some diseases inclusive of other medical conditions. It is a potent drug with numerous positive outcomes such as those mentioned above and reduction of crimes and violence. Quality education is a right of every child, and it's possible if the state legalizes Marijuana, which will not only solve the shortage crisis but will also motivate the teachers.

References

Anaekwe, O. (2016). Marijuana and money: Legalizing the one to make more of the other. SSRN Electronic Journal.

Brucato, R. (2017). Research continues to identify risks Weed poses to adolescents, including the path to heroin. Journal of Neurology & Stroke, 6(4). doi:10.15406/jnsk.2017.06.00208.

Hickenlooper, G. J. (2014). Experimenting with pot: The state of Colorado's validation of Pot. Milbank Quarterly, 92(2), 243-249. doi:10.1111/1468-0009.12056.

Nelson, B. (2015). Medical marijuana: Hints of headway? Despite a conflicted regulatory landscape, support for medical marijuana is growing amid increasing evidence of potential benefits. Cancer Cytopathology, 123(2), 67-68. doi:10.1002/cncy.21524

Roditis, M. L., & Halpern-Felsher, B. (2015). Adolescents' insights of risks and benefits of conventional cigarettes, E-cigarettes, and marijuana: A qualitative analysis. Journal of Adolescent Health, 57(2), 179-185.