Capstone Research Paper/Legalizing Marjiuana

Report: Legalizing marijuana
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Problem statement
In the United States , marijuana is among the leading illicit drugs being used. It is speculated that over 18 million people in America aged from as a young as 12 use marijuana each month. In addition a good number of people are taken to the emergency room each year with complications arising from use of marijuana. In the 1990, the youth were reported to have reduced the abuse of this drug. A 2009 survey conducted by the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, show that the use of marijuana use among the youth aged between 12 and 17 has increased by a margin of 0.6% from 2008 to 2009. This is attributed to the fact that the youth are no longer perturbed by the risks of smoking marijuana (Gerber 2004). The attempt to legalize marijuana has been rampant of late despite the stand taken by the Obama Government against drugs and drug legalization. This is being done through prevention campaigns, treatment and recuperation programs. Most importantly is to reduce and if possible cut off the supply chain of Marijuana. However, proposals that foster for legalization of marijuana still exist (Ruschmann 2004). Such proposals attach false advantages to the use of marijuana. For instance, stipulating that marijuana is safe and healthier than alcohol and cigarette. This is not true for marijuana has lots of negative impacts besides health implications which include social and economic degradation. This means that legalization of marijuana will do more harm than good to the society.
Variables
Legalization of Marijuana is closely tied to many variables, some of which are logical and others ambiguous. The number reason for pushing for legalization of marijuana is to increase the revenue from tax. This was the basis of marijuana legalization in California (Gerdes 2002).
The criminal aspect of this legalization aimed at reducing the number of individuals arrested with possession or abuse of marijuana. The ideology behind this is the reduction of unnecessary cost incurred by the government in arresting, medical testing and charging of suspects of marijuana. This will enable the resources of criminal justice to be channeled to other important issues. This extends to the cost incurred by the individuals in payments of bonds and fines. Such individuals will be relieved from punishment and stigma associated with criminal sentences (Gerdes 2002).
Another school of thought indicates that corruption and violence which are major vices of illicit drugs like marijuana will be reduced. It is construed that by legalizing marijuana, black market activities involved with the drug will be eliminated and therefore hurt that results from such dealing will be overcome.
Arguably, by legalizing marijuana, it will be easier to control its access by underage persons especially the youth. This is logical for in a regulated market the consumers of marijuana can be identified by their age.
Some of the ambiguous consideration includes the product quality whereby it is seen that the quality of Marijuana will improve by legalizing. Also arguing that legalizations will diversify the intoxicants available in the market doesn`t make sense.
Data collection
Data was collected from secondary materials. These included books, government publications and online sources which include National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Data collected was first classified into two categories; qualitative and quantitative data. The findings are discussed in this research paper.The data collected is used to analyze the impacts of legalizing marijuana to a society. The data collected identified the number using marijuana at the moment and the effect legalizing will have on this number. In addition the data allowed comparison of legal alcohol and cigarette consumption to that of marijuana should it be legalized. Furthermore the possibility of increase of revenue from taxation of marijuana once legalized is analyzed from the data. For instance the table below shows the current use of marijuana as indicated from the data collected.
Quantitative vs. qualitative approach
Legalizing Marijuana makes it affordable and thus increasing its use.
A research done by RAND indicates that legalization of Marijuana would reduce its market price making it more affordable. Therefore the use of marijuana will increase since it is within the economic reach of most people. Marijuana is quite expensive owing to it being illegal. On the other hand marijuana like other illicit drugs is dependent on price. This makes it expensive to acquire especially among the youth. However, legalization will alter this balance. Comparing the use of marijuana with other legal substances like alcohol and cigarettes, it is observed that the consumption of the legal substances is much higher than that of marijuana. This proves the point that legalization increase consumption. It is important to comprehend that legalized drugs are prone to misuse even if restriction are employed for control. This is the case with the legalized drug Oxycontin (Kilmere.tal 2010).
(Kilmere.tal 2010)
Relationship between tax revenue and social cost of marijuana
Both cigarettes and alcohol are legal substances. Apart from being legal, they are also taxed. Ironically, the revenue generated from taxing cigarettes and alcohol is meager compared the economic impact they have in the society. In 2007, $9 billion was collected as federal excise taxes with states managing to collect a sum of $5.5 billion. Comparing these figures with the astonishing $185 billion lost to alcohol related issues such as medicine, criminal justice and loss of productivity at work. In addition the amount of money spent on cigarettes is about $ 200 billion but only $25 billion is generated as tax. This is a clear indication that, legalization of marijuana does not necessarily mean revenue collected from it will increase. As a matter of fact most money will be lost in health issues and rehabilitation programs arising from use of marijuana (Haerens 2013).
Legalization of marijuana and the criminal justice system
As indicated earlier, legalization of marijuana will reduce its prices and consequently increase its use. The increase in the use of marijuana will multiply its harm hence increasing the burden on the criminal justice. Taking the case of alcohol, the number of individuals arrested for violations of liquor law is constantly increasing and reached 2.7 million in 2008 alone. Marijuana arrests totaled to approximately 700,000 people. The bureau of justice indicates that very few people whose crime includes possession of marijuana alone are arrested. This is 0.75 of the total state inmates. Legalizations of marijuana will cause this number to rise due to increased misuse.
Legalization and crime
The source of income and profit to criminal originations is not centered on the sell and distribution of marijuana alone. Most of such organizations have side activities including human trafficking and forgery. Therefore the process of legalizing marijuana will prove futile to hamper the activities of such organizations. Marijuana legalization structures propose increasing taxes on the drug. This will not impact violent drug cartels since most of them will adapt smart maneuvers like undercutting legal prices and continue to reap from the sale of marijuana (Kallen 2006).
Research design: Case Study
Basis of research
This research is based on quantitative data. Comparison is done in terms of figure on the impact legalization of marijuana will have on the society. The figures and data were obtained from assessing the impact legal substances have on the society and the predicted impact of marijuana. This is depicted in the figures 1 and 2. A quantitative approach is effective since it is clear to comprehend and appreciate information once presented in numerical values. In order to mak...