About the legalization of marijuana have argued several generations at the global level. The policies on soft drugs and cannabis differ in each region. The reason lies in both differing scientific studies and the uneven level of liberalization of legislation. It is important to have a specific idea about the subject of discussion; therefore in the text, I will not only give a comparison of the policy on cannabis in different states. We will review the history of the use of this plant and describe the different points of view of medical scientists on the benefits and harms of cannabis. I think you will agree that, against the background of many other problems, the question of the partial or complete legalization of marijuana does not seem to be a hot topic that requires an immediate solution. Nevertheless, it is necessary to discuss on this issue right now, because, for many, the illegal status of marijuana is worth not only material losses and career but often even freedom.
At one time, hemp occupied the principal places in the list of the most cultivated plants in the world and was legal. People made textile, lamp oil, paper, and more. In the 19th century, most of the relevant materials produced in the United States were made from hemp, aided by the very same Franklin bills supporting the paper mills. Also, about half of the medical products sold were based on cannabis. Everything changed at the beginning of the 20th century. The second decade of the last century in the West was characterized by the strengthening of government restrictions and a wave of various prohibitions.
Today, marijuana is smoked around the globe, and there are a lot of devices to do it, like marijuana vaporizer - see this. In 2015, the European Monitoring Center for Drugs published a study according to which marijuana was the most popular drug in Europe. About 79 million Europeans have tried “weed” at least once in their life. Marijuana appears in 60% of reported violations of the law related to drug trafficking and in 4 out of 5 cases of drug seizures (The Big Story 2015). It is a multicultural product, but the distribution of cannabis smoking is different in different countries. For example, based on UN data from 2003 to 2014, Recovery Brands organized a study in the United States and Europe. According to him, the most significant number of adults per 1000 people who smoked at least once in the past year was observed in five countries - Iceland, the USA, Spain, the Czech Republic, France (Griffits 2015).
Systematic work on the study of marijuana as a drug was started not so long ago, in the 70s of the last century, and in spurts continues to this day. Nevertheless, over the past one hundred-odd years, a sufficient amount of research has been conducted to draw some conclusions. The first of these was the study of 1893 when the British Parliament created the Indian Cannabis Commission. Then scientists said that limited use does little or no harm. In 1925, a similar study was conducted among American soldiers in Panama. The commission concluded that "the influence of marijuana is exaggerated." The same conclusions were reached by the LaGuardia Commission of Medical Experts in New York in 1944.
Now a great emphasis in research is placed on the study of the medicinal properties of marijuana, with the help of cannabis vaporizer. This is because for a large part of the scientific community it is now vital to prove the necessity of using marijuana in certain areas of medicine and to achieve its relative decriminalization.
There are such pros of legalization
- Marijuana has several medicinal properties.
Indeed, smoking cannabis in many ways can have a beneficial effect on the human body. Marijuana will improve appetite and taste sensations, relieves muscle tension and pain symptoms, positively affect the prevention of allergic dermatitis.
- Marijuana is less dangerous than most drugs.
Comparing marijuana with other drugs is difficult. Moreover, it seems difficult in comparison with alcohol, because, as psychotherapists say, each person has a predisposition to this or that kind of addiction.
- People can use the marijuana vape pen to make the process easier.
- Legalization will bring substantial revenues to the national budget.
What can we say about the cons:
- Marijuana can adversely affect health.
There are arguments that smoking cannabis can be harmful to humans. For example, frequent use of marijuana can adversely affect the immune system, increases the risk of severe vomiting and inflammation of the gums. After the use of marijuana increases the likelihood of getting into an accident (an indirect argument, but worth mentioning).
- Legalization will lead to an increase in the number of smokers.
It is likely that if cannabis enters the open market and becomes a commodity for large companies, advertising will play its promotional role. “Grass” has long been an attribute of many subcultures, musical styles, and performers. Therefore, in the case of legalization, cannabis may well become a part of popular culture, like the Marlboro cigarettes or the Budweiser beer at one time.
- Smoking herb vaporizer can be the first step towards heavier drugs.
- Marijuana is no different from other drugs.
Possible legalization has many supporters and opponents. Some talk about the medicinal properties of marijuana, citing the example of centuries-old practices and modern experiments. Others claim that hemp can be the first step in the transition to more dangerous drugs and apathetic behavior. Indeed, both points of view have a right to exist, but in themselves, it is essential to have a different vision of this problem, and, accordingly, an active public debate.
Christina Matthews, the journalist who studies the latest news in the health industry. Now she studies the effects of smoking and vaping on health and reasons for such its popularity.