should cannabis be legalised in the uk essay

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A Question of Cannabis Legalization in UK

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Should Drugs Be Legalized in the UK?

Current Drug Situation in the UK. The main recreational drugs are found in today’s society are:

People take drugs because they want to change something about their lives. People use drugs to feel good. For real, it does feel good because most drugs act directly on the limbic system, in the brain. At this point, it can be considered recreational use. Here are some of the reasons that young people take drugs:

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Young people are most at risk because they think drugs are a solution. They don’t have any knowledge of the consequences of taking drugs. They just want to change their situation and their life style. If they’re depressed, they want to become happy.

If they are stressed or nervous, they want to relax, and so on. By taking drugs, young people often think they can be the person they want to be. Therefore eventually, the continuation of taking drugs becomes the problem.Young people have to remember that no matter what, drugs won’t help them in any situation.

Difficult as it may be to face the current problems, the consequences of drug use are always worse than the current problem one is trying to solve with them. If friends try to pressure into it say to them that they can ruin their bodies but they need to keep their own body away. Young people also have to remember that drugs won’t help to change their life, not one bit. Therefore, the real answer is to get the facts, stand up to that negative peer pressure with high self-respect and confidence as well as have a group of friends who will encourage to resist an unhealthy lifestyle and be a positive influence and finally not to take or try drugs in the first place.

Drugs are not all the same. Different drugs have different dangers associated with them.

Some drugs (such as alcohol, heroin and tranquillisers) have a sedative effect which slows down the way the body and brain function. These sedative drugs can lead to fatal overdose if a lot is taken. They can also affect co-ordination making accidents more likely. Use of sedatives can also lead to physical dependence and withdrawal symptoms while others drugs like cannabis cannot.

Other drugs (such as amphetamine, cocaine, crack and ecstasy) have a stimulant effect giving a rush of energy and making people more alert. These types of drugs can produce anxiety or panic attacks particularly if taken in large quantities. They can also be particularly dangerous for people who have heart or blood pressure problems.3.

A third group of drugs (such as LSD and magic mushrooms, cannabis and ecstasy) have a hallucinogenic effect. This means they tend to alter the way the user feels, sees, hears, tastes or smells. These sorts of drugs sometimes produce very disturbing experiences and may lead to erratic or dangerous behaviour by the user, especially if they are already unstable.Legal SituationUnder the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, illegal drugs are placed into one of 3 categories.

Class A, B or C based on their harmfulness either to the user or to society when they are misused. The class into which a drug is placed affects the maximum penalty for an offence involving the drug e.g. Class A drugs attract the most severe penalty can be an unlimited fine and life in prison as they are considered likely to cause the most serious harm.

Drugs controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act are illegal to have, produce, give away or sell.There the maximum penalties for drug possession, supply (dealing) and production depend on what type or ‘class’ the drug is.Class DrugPossession Supply and ProductionACrack cocaine, cocaine, ecstasy (MDMA), heroin, LSD, magic mushrooms, methadone, methamphetamine (crystal meth)Up to 7 years in prison, an unlimited fine or bothUp to life in prison, an unlimited fine or bothBAmphetamines, barbiturates, cannabis, codeine, methylphenidate (Ritalin), synthetic cannabinoids, synthetic cathinones (e.g. mephedrone, methoxetamine) Up to 5 years in prison, an unlimited fine or bothUp to 14 years in prison, an unlimited fine or both.

Anabolic steroids, benzodiazepines (diazepam), gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB), gamma-butyrolactone (GBL), ketamine, piperazines (BZP)Up to 2 years in prison, an unlimited fine or bothUp to 14 years in prison, an unlimited fine or bothShould the laws change in future?The arguments for legalising drugs

The arguments against legalising drugs

It is because it highlights more danger than benefits to the society. Drug is a dangerous substance and cause many health problems, if overdose can cause death. People have a genuine concern about the danger of drug abuse to society and certain individuals. Drug users become more selfish in continuing their habit that has nothing to do with well-being of the society.

Young people who are most at risk, will find it more difficult to buy drugs (drug dealers don’t check ID, but liquor stores and pharmacies do). It will also prevent diseases such as AIDs, HIV by distributing clean and fresh meddles with legal purchase.EvaluationI am against legalising drugs in UK because I think illegal drugs aren’t good for anyone, but they are particularly bad for a kid or teen whose body is still growing. It can damage their brain, heart, and other important organs.

Cocaine, for instance, can cause a heart attack even in a kid or teen. While using drugs, a student is also less able to do well in school, sports, and other activities. It’s often harder to think clearly and make good decisions. People can do dumb or dangerous things that could hurt themselves or other people, when they use drugs.

As I have mentioned before some people take drugs to change the current trouble they are going through. But drugs won’t solve their problems, of course. And using drugs often causes other problems on top of the problems the person had in the first place. A person who uses drugs can become dependent on them, or addicted.

This means that the person’s body becomes so accustomed to having this drug that he or she can’t function well without it. Once a person is addicted, it’s very hard to stop taking drugs. Stopping can cause withdrawal symptoms, such as vomiting sweating, and shaking. These sick feelings continue until the person’s body gets adjusted to being drug free again.

While doing this assessment, my attitude towards the drugs stayed the same, negative. However, from researching, I picked up some interesting facts that I wasn’t aware of before. But, whenever I am in a dilemma about this topic, I always seek advice either from my parents or friends. But I think, I find friend’s advice more useful since they are the same age as me, they would understand the peer-pressure more than parents.

They also know the situation more as well. With my parents, there is also the generation gap between my parents and me therefore, sometimes it’s hard for them to understand the situation I am in. Finally, in future, I would like to find out more about drugs through independent research which helps me to learn and remember the information as well.

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Should cannabis be legalised?

Cannabis is the world's most widely used illegal drug. British school children have the highest (around 40 percent) and adults the second highest use compared with the rest of Europe.[1] About one in five 16-29 year olds have used it in the last year, one in eight within the last month. The majority of young people believe it is safe and should be legalised or at least decriminalised. Only a third of adults believe cannabis to be harmful. The pro-cannabis lobby has attracted massive support from the public, media and even political parties such as the Liberal Democrats. Successive governments have however rejected such pleas. Recently, the Conservative Party's shadow home secretary announced their 'zero tolerance' policy for cannabis possession; and eight members of the shadow cabinet immediately confessed to having used it!

Although much is known about cannabis and its effects, arguments for and against its use are complex and cannot be resolved because we lack an adequate knowledge base. Many organisations have attempted to summarise the evidence impartially.[2,3,4,5,6] Given this level of interest, it is clearly important for Christians to know how to respond in order to be salt and light to the world.

Biological basis

Cannabis is derived from the hemp plant Cannabis Sativa . Used since antiquity, it was around in Jesus' day though not mentioned in the Bible. It contains over 400 chemical compounds (several thousand when smoked) including more than 60 cannabinoids -compounds unique to this plant genus. Cannabinoids interact with cannabis receptors in the body: like opiates, they substitute for endogenous compounds (eg anandamide) that interact with these receptors. Of all cannabinoids delta-9- tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) has the greatest effects on the brain.

It is illegal to grow, possess, produce, smoke or supply cannabis to another person; allowing your premises to be used for these purposes is also against the law. Cannabis and most cannabinoids are both Schedule 1 (absolutely prohibited from medical use) and Class B (attracting prison terms of up to five years for possession or 14 years for dealing). This consumes a lot of police time, accounting for three-quarters of all drug offences and seizures. As the police frequently use their discretion, a wide gap has opened up between law formulation and practice. The Police Foundation recently recommended that cannabis be reclassified as Schedule 2 (allowing medical use) and Class C (reducing the penalties involved). Indeed they stated: 'The evidence strongly indicates that the current law and its operation creates more harm than the drug itself'.[7]

Cannabinoids as medicines

We need to know if cannabis's potential benefits outweigh its risks. How does it compare with the alternative treatments available? The recent BMA review concluded: '...cannabis itself is unsuitable for medical use, (but) individual cannabinoids have a therapeutic potential in a number of medical conditions (see table) in which present drugs or other treatments are not fully adequate... present evidence indicates that they are remarkably safe drugs with a side-effect profile superior to many drugs used for the same indications'. They further stated that such therapeutic use should be confined to cannabinoids given as a tincture, oil or aerosol.[8] While two orally psychoactive cannabinoids (nabilone and dronabinol) can be prescribed legally in the UK, slow onsets of action and plasma level variability limit their therapeutic roles.

Evidence for effectiveness

Reasonable evidence Analgesic Antiemetic Appetite stimulant Muscle relaxant

Non-medical use of cannabis

Major obvious effects of cannabis.

The effects of cannabis depend on the amount and mode of use and the user's expectations and mood. When smoked the effects begin in a few minutes and last up to one hour with low doses or two to three hours with high doses. The most obvious effects of being 'stoned' are being relaxed, talkative and laughing easily (giggly and silly in naive users), followed by 'sleepiness' (folloed by sleepiness). Users may experience 'the munchies' (hunger) and heightened sensory perception (eg colours or music). Sometimes they have difficulty in thinking, problem solving, walking or remembering the immediate past. Some users also become anxious, suspicious or paranoid and panic attacks can be precipitated. At high doses hallucinations may occur. Chronic use leads to a prolongation of these effects, often in association with low energy and poor motivation, work or educational performance. Perhaps five to ten percent of regular users become addicted, finding it difficult to stop and experiencing a mild withdrawal syndrome when they do.

Comparison of cannabis with alcohol and cigarette smoking

Both alcohol and cannabis are often used for their intoxicating and euphorant effects. Both produce many similar effects on the brain although those due to cannabis are typically milder. Admittedly, chronic heavy cannabis use does not cause the range of problems that alcohol does (eg brain damage and liver cirrhosis). With the exception of nicotine and cannabinoids, cigarette and cannabis smoke contain the same toxic constituents. However, cannabis smoke contains a substantially higher proportion of particulate matter; more carcinogens and tar are inhaled longer and more deeply, causing increased daily cough, phlegm and wheezing, in addition to chronic respiratory disease such as chronic bronchitis. Tobacco smoking causes cancers and has toxic effects on the heart; as it is so similar, cannabis smoke probably also causes these. If the two are smoked together, the rate of damage is further accelerated.[10]

Cannabis is not a harmless drug. This is not disputed. Experts are also of the opinion that it is less harmful than the other main illicit drugs. 'When cannabis is systematically compared with other drugs against the main criteria of harm (mortality, morbidity, toxicity, addictiveness and relationship with crime), it is less harmful to the individual and society than any of the other major illicit drugs or than alcohol and tobacco.'[11] Overall these reports agree that cannabis or cannabinoids should be legalised for medical use and that there are strong arguments to reduce the penalties associated with its use. A recent internet survey of nearly 1,000 doctors found 54 percent thought the law on cannabis was too strict and only about 12 percent thought it was not strict enough.[12]

God gave us reward systems in our brains so that we could enjoy the good things in life. Drugs of abuse interact with these natural reward systems and addiction is a sign that they have been 'hijacked', resulting in reduced control over their use. As Christians we serve only one master and should seek help if another begins to gain control. We choose not to support the distribution of drugs by potentially violent criminal gangs and oppose the glamourisation of any drug of addiction. We are aware that our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, to be kept pure and holy. The Bible advises against intoxication with alcohol[13] and no doubt the same should apply to cannabis. Furthermore, we must not do anything that might make our brother stumble, in order to reflect more fully the glory of Christ. Overall we need to support strategies which ensure that those patients who will benefit from cannabis's therapeutic properties can have access to it, whilst at the same time dispelling myths, increasing awareness of its harmful effects and actively discouraging its harmful use.

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Five Reasons Why We Should Legalize Cannabis

Cannabis use in the United States has had a long and complicated history. For decades, people who used cannabis were subject to social ostracization and criminal prosecution. However, attitudes toward cannabis have been evolving in recent years. An increasing number of states have started to legalize cannabis for medical or recreational use. This shift in policy has been driven by a variety of factors including changing public attitudes and the potential economic benefits of legalization. In this article, we will explore the potential benefits of legalizing cannabis in our country.

1. Legalization for the Environment

Legalizing cannabis can have significant benefits for the environment. When cannabis is grown illegally, it is often done in environmentally damaging ways, such as using chemical pesticides or clearing primary forests to make room for crops. Legalization could allow customers to support more environmental growers. This will incentivize more responsible growing practices, such as the use of organic farming methods or the use of renewable energy sources to power indoor grow operations. In addition, the culture of growing cannabis can help to discover and preserve precious marijuana seeds , increasing biodiversity and facilitating a deeper understanding of cannabis plants and their cultivation.

2. Legalization for Justice

Where cannabis is illegal, people are being arrested and charged for possession or sale, which leads to costly court cases and a burden on the criminal justice system. Legalization would free up law enforcement resources to focus on more serious crimes and simultaneously reduce the number of people incarcerated for non-violent drug offenses. This could help to reduce the overall prison population and save taxpayers money.

In addition, legalization can have significant benefits for justice and equity, particularly for marginalized communities that have been disproportionately affected by the criminalization of cannabis. Communities of color have been particularly affected by the war on drugs, with Black Americans being nearly four times more likely to be arrested for cannabis possession than white Americans, despite similar rates of use.

By regulating cannabis cultivation and sales, legalization can help to eliminate the black market and reduce the involvement of criminal organizations in the cannabis industry. This can lead to safer communities and reduced drug-related violence in communities that have been most affected by the criminalization of cannabis.

3. Legalization for Public Health

Cannabis has been shown to have many beneficial and therapeutic effects on both physical and mental health. However, people may be hesitant to seek medical marijuana treatment due to fear of legal repercussions if cannabis is illegal. Legalization can allow more people to enjoy better health outcomes. It can also promote the safer use of cannabis by educating the public on appropriate cannabis use and providing quality control measures for cannabis products. Legalization can also lead to increased research into potential medical applications of cannabis and could lead to the development of innovative treatments.

Another potential perk of cannabis legalization is that it could reduce the use of more harmful drugs. In the absence of cannabis, people may turn to more dangerous drugs like heroin or fentanyl to manage chronic pain or other conditions. By legalizing cannabis, we can provide a safer alternative for these individuals and could reduce the overall demand for these more dangerous drugs. States that have legalized cannabis found a decrease in opioid overdose deaths and hospitalizations, suggesting that cannabis are an effective alternative to prescription painkillers.

4. Legalization for the Economy

The legalization of cannabis can generate significant tax revenue for governments and create new economic opportunities. When cannabis is illegal, it is sold on the black market, and no taxes are collected on these sales. However, when it is legal, sales can be regulated, and taxes can be imposed on those sales. In states that have legalized cannabis, tax revenue from cannabis sales has been in the millions of dollars , with California registering a whopping $1.2 billion in cannabis tax revenue in 2021. This impressive income can be used to reduce budget deficits, fund various public services such as education and healthcare, and create new opportunities for investment in projects that revitalize the economy.

Aside from tax revenue, legalizing cannabis can create new jobs. The cannabis industry is a rapidly growing industry, and legalization could lead to the creation of new jobs in areas such as cultivation, processing, and retail sales. This can help to reduce unemployment and create new gainful opportunities for people who may have struggled to find employment in other industries. Legalization can also lead to increased investment in related industries, such as the development of new products or technologies to improve cannabis cultivation or the creation of new retail businesses. There are now several venture capital funds and investment groups that focus solely on cannabis-related enterprises.

5. Legalization for Acceptance

Finally, legalization could help reduce the stigma surrounding cannabis use. Before cannabis legalization, people who use the plant were often viewed as criminals or deviants. Legalization can help change this perception and lead to more open and honest conversations about cannabis use. Ultimately, legalization could lead to a more accepting and inclusive society where individuals are not judged or discriminated against for their personal and healthcare choices. By legalizing cannabis, we can harness the power of a therapeutic plant. Legalization can heal not just physical and mental ailments of individuals but also the social wounds that have resulted from its criminalization.

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Should we legalise cannabis?

In any public debate there may come a point when the evidence for a shift in direction clearly outweighs that against. Has this point been reached for drug policy reform?

Several UK medical bodies have decided it has. The Royal College of Physicians of London, the Faculty of Public Health, and the Royal Society for Public Health all now support decriminalising non-medical use of drugs such as cannabis, cocaine, and heroin. In this they agree with the World Health Organization and the UK government’s own independent Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs. The other medical royal colleges and the BMA have no official position. In 2016 the BMA’s annual representative meeting called for legislation to prioritise treating rather than criminalising drug users, but a motion in 2018 to publicly support decriminalisation was defeated. The BMJ has called for a regulated legal market in currently illegal drugs for any use (doi: 10.1136/bmj.k2057 ; doi: 10.1136/bmj.i6067 ; bmj.com/war-on-drugs ).

Of the royal colleges with no official position, three might be said to represent doctors working at the sharpest end of the war on drugs: those of general practitioners, emergency medicine, and psychiatrists. Their views therefore hold particular sway, especially the psychiatrists, and especially among politicians, whose fear of public opinion on this issue was recently reaffirmed when Conservative leadership candidates rushed to endorse the current law despite their own admissions of previous drug taking ( https://blogs.bmj.com/bmj/2019/06/19/drugs-are-decriminalised-in-the-uk-if-you-are-a-white-privileged-mp ). So a debate held this week at the annual meeting of the Royal College of Psychiatrists on whether cannabis supply should be legalised is an important event. We carry both sides of the debate (doi: 10.1136/bmj.l4468 ).

It’s interesting to see where the battle lines are drawn. Both sides agree on the greatly increased risk of psychosis from daily use of high potency cannabis, of the sort that is widely available in the UK. But what would be the effect of legalisation? Molly Meacher and colleagues cite evidence that low potency cannabis can be consumed safely and conclude that a state controlled, regulated market would protect health as well as raising tax revenues. They would set age and potency limits and ban advertising. Robin Murray and Adam Grindley concede that legalisation wouldn’t necessarily increase use and potency, but they want to wait and see what happens in the US and Canada. In the meantime they support decriminalisation of people who take drugs.

Perhaps the Royal College of Psychiatrists will take courage from this and follow suit.

Should Cannabis be legalised in UK? Essay

Should Cannabis be legalised in UK? Essay.

Over the years, there has been several debates and discussions on the legalization of cannabis in the UK. Cannabis legalization has been a subjective issue in many countries. Different countries differ on the various use necessitating its legalism; this raises a serious question about the legality of cannabis. My project centers on the legality of cannabis in the UK. In this project, I shall be looking at the medical benefits, both medical and social as well as issues in regards to the use of cannabis, countries that have legalized cannabis, and the legalization of cannabis usage.

My project will conclude on my personal view on the subject matter. Literature review Cannabis is a psychoactive drug from the Cannabis plant intended for medical or recreational use. This drug would also be famously known as Weed, hemp, Marijuana, Pot, Blunt, etc. Not only is it the most illegal used drug in the United States, it is also legalized in many other countries. Other countries not including the UK.

There is a numerous amount of cannabis in this world and more yet to discover. A few would be Black beauty, super glue, Buddha’s sister, Bullrider, Grape Kush. From studies, it has been stated that each type of cannabis gives a certain effect to the individual’s body, with somewhat ‘strengths’ to the level of how strong the type of cannabis that they are inhaling.

‘’Gateway drug?” Studies state that it is suggested that marijuana has a likely chance to forego the use of licit and illicit substances and also a gradual development of an addiction to the use of other substances that are linked to cannabis. Due to an Epidemiological Study of Alcohol Use and Related Disorders, it has be found that the adults who reported marijuana use during the first wave of the survey were more likely than adults who did not use marijuana to develop an alcohol use disorder within 3 years; while the people who had used/ use marijuana with an alcohol use disorder were at greater risk of their alcohol use disorder worsening. The use of marijuana can also be linked to other substance use disorders which include a nicotine addiction.

Other studies state that by partaking of cannabis, human risk being inexorably led to harder drugs such as cocaine and heroin. As the NIDA (National Institute on Drug Abuse) says ‘’Early exposure to cannabinoids in adolescent rodents decreases the reactivity of brain dopamine reward centres later in adulthood” which ‘’to the extent that these findings generalize to human, this could help explain the increased vulnerability for addiction to other substances of misuse late in life that most epidemiological studies have reported for people who begin marijuana use early in life.” Cannabis is more of a harmless drug compared to all the other known drugs (Heroin, crack, LSD, etc.) it is the fact that the potential of cannabis being a gateway drug has come from its prohibition.

Many people crave for something more if they are unable to get it easily while knowing it may be illegal, due to many cravings from different individuals this leads to the use of illegal markets, often from dealers who do not just sell cannabis but other substances also; not leaving any barriers nor blocks to these other stronger substances. It is an automatic force that will drive cannabis users to harder narcotics which are also just as illegal, and the illegal dealers will not hesitate to sell these harder narcotics. The prohibition that cannabis has, is what causes the connection. When the prohibition and connection between cannabis and dangerous narcotics are removed, it is argued that the dangerous narcotics will no longer be present in the equation any longer.

Countries, where cannabis is legalized There, are many countries in the world that have legalized the use of cannabis, which may include cannabis stores and cafes. Some of these countries are Austria. From studies, ‘’As of January 2016, possession and purchase of up to 5 grams of cannabis for personal use is decriminalized and offenders will not be punished, given that they cooperate with the health authority and undergo therapy”. However, there are some boundaries to this law as it states ‘’Cultivation, sale and transport of small quantities (200g) are punishable by up to 5 years imprisonment, or up to 3 years if the perpetrator is addicted. Regardless of a criminal conviction, anyone caught with cannabis by the police may have their driving license revoked unless they show prolonged abstinence from cannabis in several supervised urine tests.” Another country is Belgium. Since 2003, adults in Belgium over the age of 18 are allowed to possess up to 3 grams of cannabis and grow up to one cannabis plant on the privately-owned property. The sale and transportation of cannabis remain illegal. This shows the leniency that Belgium has compared to Austria. Thirdly, Estonia. ‘’ The law defines a big amount of any drug as sufficient to cause intoxication in ten people, which, in the case of cannabis, the authorities currently choose to interpret as 7.5 grams or more of dried flowers. 80–90% of non-criminal drug offenders are fine, 10–20% are arrested for up to 30 days. Sale, transport, and cultivation of psychoactive cannabis remain criminal offenses in the country. Medical use of cannabis has technically been legal since 2005, yet up until 2016, only one Estonian patient had been prescribed cannabis-based medicine (nabiximols) for cancer pain.” Studies show that Estonia has the highest mortality rate from illegal drug users ages 16-64 in the world. Germany. The possession of cannabis is illegal, while consumption itself is legal on the basis of it being considered self-harm, which is not considered a crime. The possession of small amounts is prosecuted, but charges are virtually always dropped. The definition of this “small amount” varies depending on the federal state, the state of Berlin being the most liberal, allowing 15 grams for personal use in most cases, while most states do not prosecute up to 6 grams.

Malta. ‘’ Simple possession of cannabis is officially listed as an “arrestable offense”, however, possession of a minimal amount of drugs for personal consumption is effectively decriminalized. First-time offenders will be handed fines of between €50 and €100 in the case of cannabis possession. Repeat offenders will appear before a Drug Offenders Rehabilitation Board, headed by the retired Chief of Justice, which will set conditions for rehabilitation. Breaching the conditions would be tantamount to a criminal offense.” A much-known country, popular for their law of legalized cannabis in The Netherlands. Possession of up to six grams of cannabis is legal in the Netherlands for use in coffee shops, while possession of the same amount is decriminalized for public use. Cultivation of up to 5 plants is also decriminalized in the Netherlands, but plants are generally still destroyed if discovered by law enforcement. The sale of cannabis is legal in licensed coffee shops but remains illegal outside of licensed premises. Cannabis is allowed for medicinal use in the Netherlands.

However, the critical analysis of these countries where cannabis have been legalized shows many flaws in the parameters applicable to determining the legal quantity and quality of cannabis. Although, proper policing and clear regulating parameters such as quantity of daily intake by the users, an amount that can be cultivated and the quantity that can be purchased at a time. I believe with adequate monitoring and policing armed with clearly defined parameters such as quantity to be in possession, cultivate, and purchased, the UK can successfully legalize cannabis and control its social effects. Discussion Health and safety issues As it may not have a large impact on an individual, this drug still has its side effects that many may ignore or have no knowledge of. From an epidemiological study, a light had been shed on the relationship between cannabis use disorder (CUD) and social anxiety disorder (SAD). From the findings, it has shown a significant amount of individuals with CUD while also having SAD. Furthermore, SAD is associated with a greater severity of cannabis-related problems. Almost all individuals with both CUD and SAD have had at least one additional clinically significant psychiatric disturbance. ‘’Dr. Julia D. Buckner at Louisiana State University, Dr. Richard G. Heimberg at Temple University, Dr. Franklin Schneier at Columbia University, and Dr. Carlos Blanco’s team at the New York State Psychiatric Institute analyzed data from the 2001?2002 National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC). Their results confirmed previous observations that patients with CUD experience high rates of SAD.” From a survey they have taken, out of the 43,093 respondents to the survey, 3,297 has reported to having drug issues consistent with CUD at a point in their lives. While there hadn’t been any documented deaths from a cannabis overdose, should not assure anybody that cannabis will have no side effects or is harmless. “The main risk of cannabis is losing control of your cannabis intake,” Mark Kleiman, a drug policy expert at New York University’s Marron Institute, said. “That’s going to have consequences in terms of the amount of time you spend not fully functional. When that’s hours per day times years, that’s bad.” As many cannabis users believe that the substance is harmless and it will not hurt them, this leads to a constant and addictive use of the drug. From some researches, ‘’the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine found that pot poses a variety of possible downsides — including respiratory problems if smoked, schizophrenia and psychosis, car crashes, general social achievement in life, and potentially babies in the womb.” Indicating that the effects are not short-term but also a high risk of longer-term effects. However, it is known for some issues but it does not show any correlation to issues that may be linked to tobacco such as lung cancer, head and neck cancers. Studies also show that it comes with benefits. Benefits in which will help some of these things: Chronic pain, multiple sclerosis and chemotherapy-induces nausea and vomiting. Basic effects cannabis can have on an individual includes the heart rate speeding up, the breathing passages relax and become enlarged, blood vessels in the eyes expanding resulting in bloodshot eyes.

Marijuana may also cause orthostatic hypotension which is head rush or dizziness upon standing up which has the greater risk of fainting or falling. A few studies have shown a clear link between marijuana use in adolescence and increased risk for an aggressive form of testicular cancer (nonseminomatous testicular germ cell tumor) that predominantly strikes young adult males. The legalization of cannabis use Until this day, it has been debated whether legalizing cannabis will or not lead to more use due to contention. It is argued that regulating the use of this drug may reduce It while making the use safer while it can also be argued that the legalization of cannabis will make it more easily accessible therefore resulting to it being more widely used and abused. A study shows the dependence of cannabis that the impact it has on certain age groups ‘’A comprehensive study from researchers at the RAND Corporation found that laws that allow medical marijuana dispensaries correlate with increases in overall pot use and dependence for adults 21 and older but only rises independence among youth. The findings suggest that allowing businesses to sell marijuana leads to more access and use, particularly for adults.” This increasing trends in the usage of the cannabis among young person or youth, as witnessed in some American States where marijuana has been legalized is not surprising, this has even led to increases in mental health issues causing depression, schizophrenia, and psychotic disorders to heavy users. This heavy consumption is directly related to legalization which makes cannabis and marijuana more readily available to consume without proper parameters to monitor or policing control. Another study shows how the legalization of cannabis leads to binge drinking. ‘’

Emory University researchers found that after some states legalized medical marijuana, they saw increases in overall marijuana use and, for adults 21 and over, a rise in binge drinking. The increase in binge drinking is particularly worrying because while marijuana carries few health and social risks, alcohol causes many serious public health and safety issues, such as liver damage, fatal car accidents, and violent behaviors that can spur crime.”. Regarding this findings, a study has shown that excessive use of cannabis and marijuana can affect the brain and distort the ability to control one’s desire for alcohol and substance abuse Legalisation of cannabis will not just have an effect on the society but also financially. ‘’As governments struggle with decreased revenue and rising expenditure, 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 a 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.”

Therefore a boost in revenue will have a positive impact, linking to the debate of whether cannabis should be legalized or not. It is obvious that more income will be generated but the question now is if some funds will be set aside to tackle some possible social and health problems that may arise after the legalization of cannabis. Funds from taxes and licensing should be made available for use when issues arise due to the legalization. The revenue generation and cost saving aspect argue that the money spent on trials of cannabis-related offenses and maintaining the convicted persons in the prisons will be saved and plowed back into the economy if the cannabis is legalized. The State will also generate income from sales taxes and license of dealers and distributors. Legalising cannabis includes a number of medical benefits. The most notable medical benefit is the treatment of patients who underwent chemotherapy. Therefore, certain states like California have executed resourcefulness for the legalization of the drug for medicinal purposes. By legalizing cannabis, and limiting the use of it brings personal freedom into the equation. Whether or not the drug has side effects, it will up to the right of each individual to decide on whether it them or not. Cannabis is highly addictive. Studies show up to one-in10 users develop dependence over time. Stopping marijuana use can lead to withdrawal symptoms like anxiety and irritability.

Over half the 7.3 million people classified with illicit drug dependence or abuse in the United States are addicted to marijuana. Making it legal will mean more people will use it – including youngsters – and more people will become addicted Conclusion In the conclusion of this project after taking into consideration the relevance of cannabis, it will be of many benefits to legalize cannabis in my opinion. It is quite understandable that cannabis has side effects on its users but there has been a continuous rise in its usage in the country. There is also fear in some quarters that legally making cannabis available will lead to abuse and addictions, as well as increase the number of drug users in the society.

However, the legalization of cannabis will not only allow the government to regulate the market but also generate revenues through tax and license instead of a current strategy that enriches the illegal pushers. It will save the state huge costs in the criminal justice system and prison expense on cannabis-related offenses and reduce pressure on available resources. Also, the drug is known to be of benefit for health and medical use, the current shortage of supply will be removed by making it legal to purchase. More so, the crimes and violence related to illegal dealings of cannabis will be reduced, if not eradicated.

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Should cannabis be legalised in the UK Essay Example

Cannabis, weed, grass, hemp, shit, ganga, marijuana; they are all the same.

Completely harmless, and completely misunderstood. 260 million people worldwide use it for its potential advantages. Those who don't use it, in my opinion, are missing out. In 1973, the drug was banned from use in Britain, much to the dismay of its users.

Since then up to now, people have fought for the right to use it as a drug, unsuccessfully. Many people believe that cannabis has a worse effect on the user than tobacco in cigarettes. This is untrue.One argument is that smoking cannabis when young can lead upto mental health problems such as schizophrenia, paranoia and depression.

If it is smoked before the age of 14 it is more likely for the user to have these problems later in li

fe. But shouldn't this be upto the people who want to smoke cannabis? If they don't mind taking a risk then I say let them. Just like when people smoke cigarettes they are taking the risk of getting lung cancer, but that choice is theirs and yet cigarettes are legal. However cannabis is definitely 10 times worse for the lungs when mixed with tobacco, but alone, cannabis is a lot less harmful.When smoking cigarettes you are getting tar and many of the other chemicals in your lungs, but when smoking cannabis you don't get anywhere near as much chemicals in your body that will effect it in a bad way. Tobacco contains over 2000 other chemicals, such as tar and nicotine, which effect the body in negative ways.

Alcohol is also worse for the body than cannabis but yet that has been

made legal. Alcohol not only effects the body in the long term, but there is also the risk of drink driving. A lot more people die from drink driving and cigarettes, than from smoking cannabis.Another major point is that cigarettes and alcohol are addictive, whereas, it is impossible to become physically addicted to cannabis.

You cannot over-dose on cannabis, and people who die after taking it, die from there own stupidity. One problem with legalising cannabis is that if it were legalised, the tobacco companies would jump at the chance to produce tobacco based reefers so they could get more young people addicted to smoking tobacco. However, if someone buys some cigarettes, they are buying them for the pleasurable effects that come with them. If they are buying cannabis, they are buying it for exactly the same reason.There would be no point for people to buy cigarettes that contained cannabis, as the cannabis can give them the same effects. I think that the customers would be drawn towards cannabis, as its effects are less harmful.

Another argument against the legalisation of the drug is that users of cannabis would move on to using hard-core drugs instead. The government has done close to no research into whether cannabis users would move onto harder drugs such as heroine. The main reason people think this is because they believe that doing soft drugs, moves you onto hard drugs.Most heroine addicts smoked cannabis, therefore they think that most cannabis users will go on to use heroine. I don't believe this at all.

In some cases it may be true but if people are stupid enough to go on to

do heroine then that is there own fault. Most people know the consequences of moving onto harder drugs and so I don't think cannabis users would necessarily move onto it. Some people also believe that if cannabis was legalised the amount of violent crime in this country would rise. Alcohol is the country's problem drug and is responsible for a large amount of violence.

Most cannabis users drink little or no alcohol. For them, the drug is an alternative to alcohol, and not an addiction. If marijuana is not legalised for public use, then I believe doctors should be allowed to prescribe the drug to patients that really need it. I heard that it can be useful in the treatment of cancer, glaucoma, AIDS, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy and chronic pain.

If this is true then it could save the NHS a fortune, if they were to allow doctors to prescribe reefers in the place of other painkillers. Arresting people for carrying the drug is stupid as far as I'm concerned.What good does imprisonment do to those people? It doesn't teach them the mistake they made. Nor does it change the way they think. And it definitely doesn't mean that when they leave prison they won't smoke the drug again.

Prisons are overcrowded as it is, without having more people squashed into them just because they were having a smoke. Keeping cannabis illegal is also endangering the lives of some of the people who want to smoke the drug. If people want the drug they have to take a risk. If cannabis was open to public use in the same way that tobacco is, the users would

not be threatened by illegal suppliers.

For example, the small amounts of people, who apparently die from the effects of cocaine are actually dead because they have snorted soap powder. Obviously this isn't true for everyone but to some people it can happen. If cannabis was legalised not only would it give the public confidence to know that any cannabis available to them or their family was quality controlled, but also drawing the line between a soft drug like cannabis and a hard drug like Heroin would gain the authorities a lot more credibility with young people.Most importantly, unlike cigarettes, cannabis only endangers the user and not the 'innocent' public, so if someone wants to take the drug why should anyone else stop them? Legalising cannabis could mean more control over its use. Price, strength and quality could all be regulated. It is not the danger that makes cannabis illegal; it is the misinformed people who prevent it from being legalised.

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Should cannabis be legalised in the UK?
Should cannabis be legalised? Example
Medicinal Cannabis Legalised by Queensland Parliament
Why Marijuana Should Be Legalized
Chart: The Arguments For And Against Marijuana Legalization
What do you think about legalising cannabis in the UK?

COMMENTS

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Why Marijuana Should be Legalised in the UK
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So a debate held this week at the annual meeting of the Royal College of Psychiatrists on whether cannabis supply should be legalised is an important event. We carry both sides of the debate (doi: 10.1136/bmj.l4468 ). It's interesting to see where the battle lines are drawn. Both sides agree on the greatly increased risk of psychosis from ...
Should Cannabis be legalised in UK? Essay
Literature review Cannabis is a psychoactive drug from the Cannabis plant intended for medical or recreational use. This drug would also be famously known as Weed, hemp, Marijuana, Pot, Blunt, etc. Not only is it the most illegal used drug in the United States, it is also legalized in many other countries. Other countries not including the UK.
Should cannabis be legalised in the UK Essay Example
Should cannabis be legalised in the UK Essay Example. Cannabis, weed, grass, hemp, shit, ganga, marijuana; they are all the same. Completely harmless, and completely misunderstood. 260 million people worldwide use it for its potential advantages. Those who don't use it, in my opinion, are missing out. In 1973, the drug was banned from use in ...
Should Marijuana be Legalised?
Judging from the evidence, marijuana should be legalized. Mostly due to the fact that is not as bad as alcohol and it has some benefits. Given the research marijuana is safer than alcohol, and does not come close to the amount of crimes committed under the influence of alcohol. Marijuana's side effects are not nearly as bad as Alcohol.
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Uruguay legalised the recreational use of cannabis in 2013 with people allowed to grow up to six plants at home for personal use. In Spain, it is legal to use cannabis in private places and ...