The legalization of marijuana is still among the most controversial topics for American society. At the moment, state laws significantly vary in terms of the limitations imposed on those willing to use marijuana for recreation and as part of treatment strategies. Even dozens of studies conducted to explore the effects of cannabis on physical and mental health do not seem to contribute to the final resolution of the ongoing marijuana debate. Society is still polarized since many people regard nationwide access to marijuana as a potential threat to public health and the young generation. Others, in contrast, claim that its therapeutical characteristics and relative harmlessness support the need for legalizing cannabis in all states. The nationwide legalization of marijuana is not a positive option since it can contribute to motor vehicle crash fatalities, does not reduce crime rates, and affects teenagers’ health.
The Effect of Marijuana Legalization on Road Safety
To begin with, the associations between easy access to legal recreational marijuana and threats to road traffic safety present an important concern related to the nationwide legalization of the drug in question. There is solid evidence to prove that legalized marijuana is among the factors that contribute to unsafe driving and injuries resulting from car accidents, which is specifically alarming when it comes to teenagers and young people. For instance, the statistical study by Steinemann et al. (2018) demonstrates that the legalization of cannabis in Hawaii has led to a three-time increase in tetrahydrocannabinol-positive individuals among drivers involved in car accidents. Overall, modern meta-analytical studies state that those driving after using marijuana are almost 30% more likely to have a car accident (Steinemann et al., 2018, p. 566). Importantly, there are reasons to assume that the countrywide legalization of marijuana would disproportionately affect young drivers since it has been shown that the victims of marijuana-related car crashes are predominantly young people that also neglect safety measures, such as the use of seatbelts (Steinemann et al., 2018). Taking the findings into account, it is reasonable to think that the nationwide legalization of marijuana can pose new threats to traffic safety in addition to drunk driving.
The Effect of Legal Marijuana on Crime Rates
The legalization of marijuana is not beneficial to citizens’ safety since it is associated with increased crime rates, including violent crimes. The proponents of legalization often refer to legal marijuana’s ability to cause reductions in violent crime by bringing cannabis trade out of the shadow economy. However, this assumption does not find support in academic research, and multiple studies prove otherwise. For instance, the comparison of pre- and post-legalization crime rates in more than nine states with legalized medical or recreational cannabis was conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. This research indicates the growth of murder rates after legalization (Zvonarev, Fatuki, & Tregubenko, 2019). Apart from failing to positively influence the general situation with crime, the legalization of marijuana significantly contributes to the demand for this drug since the potential users become less afraid of facing the legal consequences of purchasing marijuana (Zvonarev et al., 2019). Particularly, cannabis use can potentially affect decision-making in mentally ill populations, thus increasing the risks of unwanted behaviors, including crime (Zvonarev et al., 2019). Therefore, it is not accurate to think that the nationwide legalization of marijuana will not contribute to crime.
Legalization and Its Impact on Teenagers’ Marijuana Use and Health
Efforts to make recreational marijuana legal can encourage teenagers to underestimate the related health risks, thus contributing to increases in marijuana-related hospital and emergency department visits. It is widely accepted that children and teenagers are vulnerable to different external influences, and this opinion does not add to the need for the nationwide legalization of marijuana. Of course, the states that allow the use of the discussed drug for recreational purposes do not promote marijuana use among minors. Nevertheless, it has been shown that efforts to legalize cannabis can increase the perceived harmlessness of this drug among underage citizens (Wang et al., 2018). Because of these changing perspectives on the safety of recreational cannabis, teenagers can become more likely to overuse it and develop health issues. For instance, the study by Wang et al. (2018) demonstrates links between the legalization of recreational cannabis in Colorado and increases in adolescent emergency and urgent care visits related to marijuana use. Importantly, the diagnosis of cannabis abuse in teenagers became more common after the drug’s legalization in Colorado (Wang et al., 2018). Therefore, cannabis legalization does not contribute to the young generation’s health.
The Opposing View
The proponents of the nationwide legalization of marijuana would disagree with the arguments presented above by stating that a person’s individual responsibility and good judgment can reduce the actual and potential detrimental effects of marijuana use. Moreover, they are sure that legalization contributes to well-being and mention the positive economic impacts of legalization resulting from the elimination of the illegal market (Steinemann et al., 2018; Wang et al., 2018). From their perspective, legalization can cause a range of improvements by reducing criminal prosecution and promoting more effective use of law enforcement resources (Steinemann et al., 2018). Therefore, those promoting the decriminalization of cannabis use in all parts of the United States tend to give the pride of place to opportunities rather than risks, but it does not always involve stressing the safety of citizens.
It is possible that some of the abovementioned pro-legalization arguments are based on credible evidence. To some degree, they can even add to society’s understanding of the issue by reducing unnecessary demonization of the mentioned drug and attempts to equate it with the so-called hard drugs. However, the problem is that by emphasizing individuals’ right to have access to cannabis and make decisions for themselves, the proponents of legalization do not stress the government’s role in ensuring safety for all people. Additionally, the opposing arguments do not seem to give due consideration to the detrimental health effects of regular marijuana use and its potential contributions to chronic physical and mental health issues.
Conclusion
In conclusion, there are significant links between the legalization of marijuana in some states and negative tendencies, such as increases in cannabis-related health issues in teenagers, violent crime rates, and the risks of car accidents. Taking that into account, it is reasonable to think that the nationwide legalization of medical and recreational marijuana would not lead to positive consequences for citizens in terms of safety and health. Based on this evidence, it is critical to make sure that those participating in the ongoing legalization debate give necessary consideration to all potential effects of easy access to cannabis and use accurate facts. Particularly, by making references to the potential economic improvements resulting from making marijuana legal, it is possible to de-emphasize its effects on health, which is not appropriate when it comes to potentially dangerous psychoactive substances.
References
- Steinemann, S., Galanis, D., Nguyen, T., & Biffl, W. (2018). Motor vehicle crash fatalities and undercompensated care associated with legalization of marijuana. Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, 85(3), 566-571. doi:10.1097/ta.0000000000001983
- Wang, G. S., Davies, S. D., Halmo, L. S., Sass, A., & Mistry, R. D. (2018). Impact of marijuana legalization in Colorado on adolescent emergency and urgent care visits. Journal of Adolescent Health, 63(2), 239-241.
- Zvonarev, V., Fatuki, T. A., & Tregubenko, P. (2019). The public health concerns of marijuana legalization: An overview of current trends. Cureus, 11(9), e5806. doi:10.7759/cureus.5806