Marijuana Should Be Legal

Framework:This debate is indubitably an important one; it’s a proposal that is very controversial and divides Americans. However, it’s important to analyze the resolution. “Should” implies moral and pragmatic obligation. Essentially, the resolution renders a complexity as follows: As a society, we are obligated to legalize marijuana. This leads me to value humanitarian welfare, which essentially refers to the welfare of humans. Whichever side (since the BoP is shared) can more effectively show their side upholds humanitarian welfare should win the debate, on moral, but largely pragmatic, grounds.Introduction:Though many have deviated from past standards opposing marijuana legalization, I still stand firm in my belief that marijuana should not be legalized. As I will show in the continuation of this round, there are both moral and pragmatic reasons as to why this illegal drug should not be legalized.C1) Marijuana is a harmful drug.No matter what camouflage or disguise is plastered onto it, the substance remains the same: a drug. A drug, is a drug, is a drug, is a drug. Essentially, all drugs have harmful effects. This holds true in regards to marijuana. Advocates for legalization claim marijuana is less dangerous than smoking. This was proven demonstrably false by a study conducted for the European Respiratory Journal, which found one joint of marijuana increased the risk of lung cancer by 8%, as opposed to a pack of cigarettes increasing the risk by only 7%. [7] Furthermore, over 30 independent studies confirm marijuana can lead to schizophrenia. [8] A study by the University of Maryland adds “research has shown that children who started using marijuana before the age of 16 are at greater risk of permanent cognitive deficits, and have a significantly higher incidence of psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia.” [9]The University of Washington documents its respiratory effects. “A 2011 systematic review of the research concluded that long-term marijuana smoking is associated with an increased risk of some respiratory problems, including an increase in cough, sputum production, airway inflammation, and wheeze – similar to that of tobacco smoking (Howden & Naughton, 2011).” [1] Advocates for legalization claim marijuana is less dangerous than smoking. This was proven demonstrably false by a study conducted for the European Respiratory Journal, which found one joint of marijuana increased the risk of lung cancer by 8%, as opposed to a pack of cigarettes increasing the risk by only 7%. [7]But the problem doesn’t stop there. The same article explains, “Additionally, many marijuana smokers also smoke tobacco, which further increases the harm. Numerous studies have found that the harmful effects of smoking marijuana and tobacco appear to be additive, with more respiratory problems in those who smoke both substances than in those who only smoke one or the other (Wu et al, 1988).” [1] Because the use of marijuana is directly linked to cigarette usage, these statistics are relevant as well. BBC News also suggests the smoke, secondhand and otherwise, from marijuana is “worse” than from cigarettes. [11]Beyond that, other health problems come from marijuana, including cancer. This is once again detailed by the University of Washington. “Marijuana smoke contains about 50% more benzopyrene and nearly 75% more benzanthracene [than cigarettes], both known carcinogens (Tashkin, 2013). Lung biopsies from habitual marijuana-only users have revealed widespread alterations to the tissue, some of which are recognized as precursors to the subsequent development of cancer (Tashkin, 2013).” Cancer is also a societal plague when considering the legalization of marijuana. With so many individuals already affected by cancer, increasing its prevalence is an obvious detriment.Medical doctor Ed Friedlander notes “Users frequently report problems with short-term memory, both while using and between uses. Short-term memory is the most fragile brain function, and this spontaneous observation tells me that something real is happening. The mental aftereffects of a pot high are measurable, and are commensurate with the aftereffects of a drunk. (Psychopharmacology 115: 340, 1994).” [10]Statistically, the potency of the drug is increasing as well. Live Science supports this notion by quoting, “According to research from the Potency Monitoring Project, the average THC content of marijuana has soared from less than 1 percent in 1972, to 3 to 4 percent in the 1990s, to nearly 13 percent today.” [2] THC is the intoxicating chemical in marijuana. The increase in this is causing a more powerful and harmful substance. The simple facts of how damaging the substance is renders sufficient grounds to conform to the status quo and leave marijuana illegal, especially in regards to humanitarian welfare. As the policy would prove damaging to humans, it doesn’t uphold humanitarian welfare.C2) Marijuana legalization would result in an increase of marijuana use.Legalizing a substance, even for strictly medical purposes, is bound to increase use. In fact, the Office of National Drug Control Policy supports this notion. “A recent report from the RAND Corporation, “Altered State,” discusses how legalization would cause the price of marijuana to plummet, triggering increases in use of the drug.” [3] Essentially, the illegal nature of marijuana keeps the prices high. Lower prices would inevitably allow, and even encourage, more people to use the drug. More use encourages more abuse, thereby causing more people to be affected by the aforementioned concerns and health complications.Although alcohol use is vastly more than marijuana use, legalization would close the gap. Moreover, previous experience with attempts to legalize other drugs (such as Oxycontin) have proven faulty and unsuccessful. Even if controlling methods were implemented, they weren’t effective in regulating even legal use.C3) Legalization of marijuana reverses moral values.Although many claim that marijuana is beneficial in medical fields, there is not strong support for this notion. In fact, the Buffalo News points this out. “There is not an adequate base of research that shows marijuana is effective for treating any serious medical condition. Therefore, no major group of medical experts supports the use of smoked marijuana for treatment of health problems.” [4] This shows medical marijuana ineffective. If this is true, marijuana is left to only harm individuals. Thus, legalizing marijuana would promote the harm of individuals rather than the assistance.If marijuana is legalized to increase revenue, and fabricate a better economy, it serves to value economics above humanity. Morality, however, values humanity inexplicably and irrefutably above the economy. Rhetorically, if humanity is being devalued solely to value economy, what is the need for an economy if humanity is being harmed? In reality, there isn’t a need for economy in this scenario. Since legalization of this drug does devalue humanity, any economic benefits are equally countered by the subsequent devalue of humanity. Humanitarian welfare, as the optimal value, is seriously undermined in this regard. It’s not conducive to humanitarian need of health to implement a policy which inherently harms individuals and people around them.C4) Previous legalizations have had adverse effects.Perhaps the most popular legalization to date, in the US, is Colorado. While many share success stories of the legalization, we find that more relevant are the detrimental effects that are widespread and prevailing. The Rocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area published a report titled “The Legalization of Marijuana in Colorado: the Impact” that detailed few important consequences of the legislation. Among others, key findings included: “The majority of DUI drug arrests were marijuana related and 25 to 40 percent were marijuana alone... the percent of hospitalizations related to marijuana have increased 82% since 2008… In 2012, 10.47 percent of youth ages 12 to 17 were considered current marijuana users compared to 7.55 percent nationally.” [5] These drastic and dire statistics show that the supposed “benefits” of legalizing marijuana fall without merit, when compared to the detriments and harms.Furthermore, the governor of Colorado regrets the decision to legalize marijuana. The Daily Mail documents this phenomenon, “Speaking on CBNC, the 62-year-old Democrat said: 'If I could've waved a wand the day after the election, I would've reversed the election and said, "This was a bad idea".'” [6] As the governor realizes the fault with legalizing marijuana, and we understand the consequences that have arisen from the legalization, we must negate the resolution and oppose legalizing marijuana.Conclusion:Conclusively, we find that legalizing marijuana would be an inferior option to the status quo. Thus, from a moral and pragmatic standpoint, we are fully obligated to negate the resolution under the framework of humanitarian welfare, and keep marijuana illegal in the US.Sources: [1] http://adai.uw.edu...[2] http://www.livescience.com...[3] http://www.iowa.gov...[4] http://www.buffalonews.com...[5] http://www.rmhidta.org...[6] http://www.dailymail.co.uk...[7] http://erj.ersjournals.com...[8] http://www.schizophrenia.com...[9] http://somvweb.som.umaryland.edu...[10] http://www.pathguy.com...[11] http://news.bbc.co.uk...