This essay
will discuss the arguments for and against the legalisation of Marijuana.
Firstly, the history of Marijuana use in New Zealand will be discussed.
Followed by the physiological and psychological effects and mechanism’s behind
Marijuana use. Thirdly, the social factors of marijuana use, such as criminal
activity and conviction rates in New Zealand will be identified and discussed.
Following on with the arguments for and against legalising Marijuana will be
made. Concluding with the final argument of the essay as whether or not it
should be legalized.

Marijuana
use has historically been used for cultural and medicinal purposes, with the
introduction of recreational use appearing in the 19^th century. Marijuana
contains the psychoactive ingredient Tetrahydrocannabinol or THC (Svrakic, Lustman, Mallya, Lynn,
Finney, & Svrakic, 2012). Marijuana or cannabis is an illicit
drug used recreationally to receive a high, or experience the euphoric state of
happiness, relaxation and perceptual alterations (Hall, 2009). Recreational and
non-medicinal use of Marijuana surged from the mid-nineteenth century,
predominantly among youth. Studies have found that marijuana used is linked to
major adverse effects on mental and physical health.  Acute and long-term impacts of Marijuana use
cause significant neuropharmacological, cognitive and behavioural impacts such
as short-term memory loss, poor concentration, interference with coordination
as well as judgement (Joffe, 2009).

The
introduction of the Drug Misuse Act in New Zealand established in 1927 saw Cannabis
and other substances become illegal (Noller, 2008). The Drug Misuse Act defines
the legal consequences of disobeying the law in terms of drug use and the
classification of drugs in terms of potential harms (Noller, 2008). In New
Zealand, Cannabis is classified as a Class C drug and carriers a penalty of up
to 3 years in prison for the possession and up to 8 years for the cultivation
and supply or distribution (Fergusson, 2002). 
The legal status of Cannabis use varies between different countries,
such as that in California in the United States where the use of Cannabis is
decriminalized (Syrakic et al., 2012). In New Zealand, Cannabis is the most
widely used illicit drug among youth and adolescents (Fergusson, 2002). The
regular or chronic use of Cannabis is a major concern for Public Health.  Studies have shown that long-term use can
result in addiction, increased risk of anxiety and depression, as well as negative
effects on brain function, with rates increasing for use in adolescents (Volkow, Baler, Compton, &
Weiss, 2014).

Chronic
and continuous use of marijuana has many psychological effects such as
addiction, poor cognitive ability, poor IQ, as well as provide a gateway for
more harmful drugs and substances (Fergusson, 2000). The use of cannabis or
marijuana can have effects on the cognitive ability of humans, impacting their
ability to perform tasks. The negative effects of marijuana use, such as
impaired neural activity and poor IQ are higher and more severe for use during
adolescents (Volkow et al., 2014). 
Marijuana is the most common form of illicit substance used by
adolescents over 12 years and results in the most harm. Exposure of adolescents
to the chemicals in marijuana such as THC can result in adverse psychological
effects such as anxiety, depression and addiction (Volkow et al., 2014).

The use of
cannabis has a number of acute and chronic effects on mental health. The acute
effects involve poor cognition and performance such as mental slowness,
euphoria and anxiety (Dragan, 2012). The effects of marijuana use are said to
last up to eight hours, with no residual effects after 16-23 hours (Heishman, Huestis, Henningfield,
& Cone,1990). Chronic or repeated use of cannabis
involve selective impairments on higher cognitive functions such as impaired
focus attention.  The use of Marijuana
during developmental periods such as during adolescents, place higher risk and
greater negative effects on neural and functional connectivity of the brain (Volkow
et al., 2014). Marijuana use in adolescents has been linked to lower IQ, increased
risk of anxiety and depression as well as addictive behaviour in adulthood. However,
the risk on mental and physical health can be affected by cannabis use, death
by overdose are very uncommon.

The social
impacts of marijuana use are focused around law enforcement and incarceration
due to cannabis. Over the past 30 years there has been a large increase in the
use of cannabis among youth, resulting in a common in experience within
society. As well as harmful effects of cannabis use on health, cannabis use
also has harmful effects on societal issues, such as the harmful effects of
legislation of cannabis. In New Zealand, possession of cannabis can result in 3
months imprisonment with the penalties of supply and cultivation carrying a
jail sentence of up to 8 years (Fergusson, Swain-Campbell, & Horwood, 2003). It is found that the impact of conviction for cannabis can have
detrimental impacts on an individual’s live. The impacts of conviction for
cannabis can include a poor rate of employment as well as poor family
interactions.

The
legalisation of Marijuana would see the change of status within society, making
it similar to that of alcohol and tobacco. Legalisation would indicate that the
government has no control or concern for the use of the drug by individuals (Joffe, & Yancy, 2004). However, legalisation would allow the government to regulate the
advertisement, sale and distribution of Marijuana in order to protect public
health safety. For example, in the Netherlands, personal use is permitted while
the possession of Marijuana is illegal (Joffe, & Yancy, 2004). One of the major arguments in favour of the legalisation of marijuana
focus on the reduction of police and correctional resources, reduction in
judicial resources as well as the regulation and tax available from Marijuana
revenue. Marijuana arrests is a major cost of the policing budget while the black-market
value of Marijuana manufacturing is estimated to be between $131-$190 million
(Wilkins, 2005). By legalising Marijuana, it provides a new source of revenue
for the government which can be used to facilitate drug help centres, regulate
drug use and focus on reducing other, more serious drug use. Also, the
legalisation of Marijuana will allow monitoring and restriction on the
development of the product and prevent products such as synthetic cannabis,
which is an alternative to natural cannabis and has major effects on health.

Another
argument for the legalisation of the personal use of Marijuana is that the
effects are less harmful than alcohol and tobacco. It is argued the cost of Marijuana
in terms of cost to society, health and financial is far less serious than
alcohol and tobacco which are legalised drugs (Joffe, & Yancy, 2004). By legalising Marijuana, it creates an acceptability and
accessibility to the psychoactive drug. By creating easier access to a less
harmful drug such as Marijuana, it could decrease the use of more harmful legal
drugs such as alcohol and tobacco, and therefore reduce the harms out negative
outcomes that exists.

The
legalisation of Marijuana can have many impacts on the health of individuals as
well as society. The legalisation of Marijuana will result in lower prices and
higher consumption. An increase in marijuana use will likely lead to an
increase in dependence places a large burden on drug treatment services and
resources (Kilmer, Caulkins, Pacula, MacCoun, & Reuter, 2010). Scientists have found that the withdrawal from Marijuana is linked by
the same the chemical, to anxiety and stress, such as that demonstrated in
alcohol and cocaine withdrawal (Joffe, & Yancy, 2004).  By legalising Marijuana, it
removes the jurisdiction of drug admissions to health services due to
criminal-justice referrals. This could be problematic as people would have less
access to the drug treatment and services they require. Another problematic
impact of legalisation of Marijuana is that the drug has been identified as a
precedent drug to more harmful substances such as cocaine and heroin (Kilmer et
al., 2010). For example, becoming dependent on Marijuana can increase
vulnerability to abusing other substances such as cocaine and heroin. By
legalising the use of Marijuana, it could place a higher risk on an increase in
more dangerous substances including cocaine and heroin.

Another
argument against the legalisation of Marijuana is the impact it could have on
drugged driving, especially when combined with other licit drugs such as
alcohol. Driving under the influence of marijuana has no significant
impairments on response rates or performance, while it can diminish these
responses, it is unlikely to cause fatalities. However, when Marijuana and
alcohol are used in conjunction with each other, the combined effect causes
significant impairments on the ability to drive (Kilmer et al., 2010). Therefore,
by legalising Marijuana, it places the driver at risk of driving under the
influence of both alcohol and marijuana, resulting is serious effects for both
the individual and society.

Arguments
against the legalisation of Marijuana state that by legalising the personal use
of Marijuana, will result in an increase use, resulting in higher social,
economic and health related costs. It is found that in states where Marijuana
use is legalised or decriminalized, rates of marijuana use increased
significantly, especially amongst youth and adolescents (Joffe, & Yancy, 2004). By legalising the personal use of Marijuana, it opens the opportunity
of advertisement for its use, exposing youth and adolescents to the negative
impacts of drug use. Advertisement focused on youth and adolescents, such as
those present in tobacco marketing, can result in higher exposure of youth to
Marijuana use and addiction resulting in associated negative health outcomes (Joffe, & Yancy, 2004).  Another impact on youth from
the legalisation of marijuana is the decrease in risk perceptions by youth,
resulting in greater use. By legalising the drug, it could be interpreted by
some to be a lesser risk therefore resulting in higher use.

The final
argument to the legalisation of Marijuana is that it will produce more harm
than good to both individuals and society. The legalisation will allow easier
access and acceptability to yet another drug producing harm. The legalisation
will also reduce the restriction and regulation around advertisement and promotion
of the substance. However, there are negative impacts to the harsh convictions
and strict regulation around the use of Marijuana such as the cost to police
and judicial services. An alternative to the legalization of Marijuana which
would see the complete eradication of laws and regulation around recreational
use, is to Decriminalise it (Joffe, & Yancy, 2004). The Decriminalisation of Marijuana would see the removal of criminal
penalties for possession of small amounts of the drug (Maloff, 1981).  Decriminalising the drug will reduce costs to
law enforcement and the justice system whilst still enforcing possession and
distribution of large amounts.

In conclusion, the legalisation of Marijuana will increase substance use
and produce more harm related outcomes such as those that are present in legal
drugs such as alcohol and tobacco. Even though there are positive impacts of
legalising Marijuana such as the reduction of judicial and political costs and
creating a tax revenue from sales. The full removal of laws around the
recreational use and possession would put individuals and society at greater
risk. Instead an alternative such as decriminalisation should be considered,
which will see the reduction of enforcement and criminal penalties of small
outs of possession while still regulating possession and personal use and
distribution.

References:

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