LEGALIZATION OF CANIBAS: PROS AND CONS

List of Pros of Legalizing Weed

1. Boost in Revenue.
   As governments struggle with decreased revenue and rising costs, they look for creative ways to boost income to fund projects, such as new parks and road repairs. Now, some people believe that the legalization of weed could be revenue generator in the form of new taxes applied to its sale and distribution. For instance, in Colorado, analysts recommend that taxing the drug could raise millions of dollars each year.

2. More Effective Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement.
   Legalization advocates claim that the move will provide police officers more money and time to go after criminals committing other crimes, such as violence. They even argue that it would create wiggle room in the criminal justice system, which allows judges and prosecutors to focus more on violent crimes, while crowded prisons are freed of space.

3. Less Money to Support Organized Crime.
   It is believed that legalizing recreational weed will cut off a revenue stream for illegal drug traders. Advocates contend that making the substance less profitable for criminals will result to a decrease in violence associated with the trade. This would save lives while taking the weight off from law enforcers.

List of Cons of Legalizing Weed

1. Addictive Nature.
   Marijuana legalization supporters argue that weed is not as addictive as other harder drugs, such as cocaine and heroin, but addiction treatment specialists have seen firsthand that long-term use does lead to addiction. Research found that as many as a tenth of users have developed dependence over time. Like in other substances of abuse cases, stopping marijuana use will lead to withdrawal symptoms, which range from anxiety to irritability.

2. Altered Perception.
   Considering that marijuana is a drug, which by definition changes the way the human body works, its use would lead users to experience a high that alters their perception while under influence. For instance, low to moderate doses distort perception that is enough to cause traffic accidents. In fact, study shows that weed is one of the most prevalent illegal drugs found in fatally injured and impaired drivers.

3. Gateway Drug Status.
   Addiction treatment specialists believe that weed is a gateway drug that potentially introduces users to more serious illegal substances of abuse. Research even suggests that its use might be linked to a higher risk of prescription drug use. A group of teenage boys who abused weed, along with alcohol and cigarettes, were found to be 2-3 times more likely to abuse prescription drugs when they become young adults. Marijuana legalization, then, could increase societal and financial costs for the treatment of those introduced to heavier drugs by smoking it.