Essay on Legalization of Marijuana to Fund Louisiana School System

The issue of legalization of marijuana or weed is an exciting topic that is attracting the attention of the public. It has some slang names such as pot, grass, Ganga or Kush but widely known as weed or cannabis. The first reason why weed should be legalized is that it will significantly benefit the economy of the country and therefore enable funding of Louisiana school system. This paper discusses the potential benefits of legalizing marijuana and provides an adequate response to 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. Athletes often suffer from joint pains and muscle ache and if marijuana is legalized the pain can be relieved by lotions made out of it. 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. The advantage of taxing it is that the revenue will be substantial therefore reducing the government's expenditure on law enforcement of the illegal drugs. According to (Anaekwe,2016) apart from the higher tax revenues, people who love the substance will visit the state to partake the drug; this is referred to as pot tourism.

Opponents of marijuana legalisation 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 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 legalize 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 to create an addiction-free community and other unfavourable effects of weed.

ConclusionEvidently, 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 funding for Louisiana school system. 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. Like all plants, it will also improve the environment and clean the air. Funding Louisiana school system is possible if Marijuana is legalized.

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 marijuana 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.