Introduction
The legalization of marijuana is debated worldwide today, with advocates arguing that it eliminates black-market drug sales, increases tax revenue, and reduces crime. Proponents of legalization further argue that marijuana is less addictive than other drugs like alcohol and tobacco and that regulating it may deter use by minors (Denham, 2019). Opponents argue that legalization would increase the use of the drug among youth and cause an increase in traffic accidents and fatalities (Zvonarev et al., 2019). They further claim that it will soon open the floodgates to a wave of addiction and crime (Zvonarev et al., 2019). Some have said this is just a ploy by corporations to make money at the expense of lesser-educated individuals. This paper will discuss and evaluate both sides, looking at the practical and intangible benefits of marijuana legalization and the dangers it can have on individuals, families, and society.
Current Study
The current study is to determine whether or not marijuana should be legalized. It is a very controversial topic, and many factors must be considered before deciding.
Research Question
The research question for this study is: “Should Marijuana be legalized?” The researcher believes that marijuana should be legalized because it has many benefits and only a few downsides.
Research Hypothesis
The research hypothesis for this study is: “Marijuana should be legalized.” The researcher believes that legalizing marijuana will help reduce the number of people who die from drug overdoses, generate tax revenue, and reduce crime rates.
Method
Research Design
The research design for this study of marijuana legalization is an experimental one. The study has defined a set of criteria for participants to meet. Then they will be placed into groups, each receiving one of two treatments: marijuana or a placebo. The use of internal validity is important in this study because it is not only testing whether or not marijuana has the same effect on all subjects but also testing whether or not it has any effect. The study is based on the idea that it will be easier for participants to correctly identify whether or not they have been given marijuana than if they have been given a placebo. If a participant meets all of the requirements and receives marijuana, then the probability that they will report feeling high is high. However, suppose the participant meets all requirements but receives a placebo. In that case, there is no way for them to accurately guess whether or not they received marijuana because there was no difference between these two groups besides what the participant believed about themselves.
Sampling
Population
The sampling population for this study is the United States population. The study has chosen to focus on the US population because it is the most populous country in the world. Therefore its decisions are likely to have a significant impact on other countries. The researcher also believes that many people worldwide are interested in what happens in the US because it has so much influence over international affairs. In addition, the country is one of the most heavily researched countries regarding marijuana legalization, and it has seen a lot of changes in its laws. This argument means that the study can find plenty of data and statistics on how much public opinion has changed in recent years. The Population can be defined as all Americans 18 years or older, except those convicted of a felony drug offense.
All subjects in this paper are the group of people who are considered to be in favor of the legalization of marijuana. It is a very large group, but it still has its subdivisions. The first is people who have never smoked marijuana, and the other is people who have tried it but do not care for it. There are also many sub-groups within these two categories. For example, some people have tried marijuana but do not understand why it should be legalized, and people who have tried it do not feel t,here is a need for it. However, most individuals who fall into these categories believe that cannabis should be legalized because they believe it does not harm others or themselves. For the researcher to write an effective research paper on this topic, the study must conduct thorough research on both sides of the issue. It includes reading books by experts on each side and conducting interviews with individuals who belong to different social groups.
Sampling Methods
The Sampling Methods used in this study will be a combination of convenience and quota sampling. The sample size is estimated at 200 individuals, with a 95% confidence level and a 5% margin of error. Convenience sampling is the simpler of the two methods. It involves using whatever sources are most convenient for the study; in this case, that means using marijuana users who are easy to find (Rotermann, 2020). The goal is to create a sample representing all parts of society. Thus the study will need to get individuals from all walks of life, including those who work in jobs that do not involve marijuana use, as well as those who do. Quota sampling is more complex than convenience sampling because it involves identifying specific groups with different characteristics and finding representative members within each group. The research will use this method because it needs the sample to be representative not only of society as a whole but also of a specific group: marijuana users who have been arrested for drug possession at some point during their lives.
Research Data
Type of Data
The paper’s main point will be to present statistics supporting the use of marijuana as a medicine. The study will use quantitative data to support my claim that marijuana should be legalized. The first piece of quantitative data that the study wants to discuss is the number of people who die from smoking cigarettes in America each year. An estimated 450,000 Americans die from smoking cigarettes yearly (Rotermann, 2020). This statistic shows that there are more deaths from cigarettes than there are from marijuana.
Another quantitative data that the study wants to discuss is how many people have died from using marijuana. Zero deaths have been reported from using marijuana (Denham, 2019). It tells people that it is safer than cigarettes when it comes to dying from using them. The next quantitative data that the study would like to bring up is how much money is spent by taxpayers on medical marijuana research or treatment programs each year. It has been estimated that taxpayers spend $1 billion yearly on medical marijuana research and treatment programs (Denham, 2019). It shows many benefits associated with the legalization and usage of medical marijuana.
Data Collection
This study will explore the data collected from two sources: an online survey and a series of focus groups. The online survey was conducted over two weeks, during which participants were asked to answer questions about their opinions on marijuana legalization and how they felt about specific issues related to marijuana use (Cheng et al., 2018). The focus group sessions were conducted with a group of people who identified as current users or former users and with a group of people who did not use drugs at all (Rotermann, 2020). These groups were asked to discuss their own experiences with marijuana use, what they thought about legalizing cannabis, and why they felt this way. Both types of research provided valuable insight into how different people view the issue in question.
Measurement
The study will first identify the independent variable, the legalization of marijuana, and the dependent variable, which is the economic impact resulting from its legalization. In addition, the study will also use scales of measurement, validity, and reliability of scales used in the study. Validity refers to whether or not the instrument used for collecting data accurately measures what it is supposed to measure (Zvonarev et al., 2019). Reliability refers to whether or not the instrument used for collecting data gives consistent results across different samples of people or other things being measured. Therefore, the study will use validity and reliability tests on the scales to ensure they accurately measure these variables. The researcher will use two variables: Legalization of Marijuana as an independent variable and Economic Impact as a dependent variable. It will use scales for both variables to measure them accurately. Since it measures economic impact, the study can use the gross domestic product (GDP), employment rate, tax revenue, and other relevant statistics to gauge how legalizing marijuana would affect these factors.
References
Cheng, C., Mayer, W. J., & Mayer, Y. (2018). The effect of legalizing retail marijuana on housing values: Evidence from Colorado. Economic Inquiry, 56(3), 1585-1601. Web.
Denham, B. E. (2019). Attitudes toward legalization of marijuana in the United States, 1986-2016: Changes in determinants of public opinion. International Journal of Drug Policy, 71, 78-90. Web.
Rotermann, M. (2020). What has changed since cannabis was legalized? Health Rep, 31(2), 11-20. Web.
Zvonarev, V., Fatuki, T. A., & Tregubenko, P. (2019). The public health concerns of marijuana legalization: an overview of current trends. Cureus, 11(9). Web.