Marijuana legalization and health care

(Abstract)

Submitted to: Submitted by:

Ms.Sambhabi Pattanaik Prerna Basu; 1682073

 BBA.LLB(B)

9thsemester

Abstract.

After withstanding the United States' pressure for 25 years, India finally gave
into the demands of its Western counterpart in 1986 by clubbing marijuana
with other hard drugs and criminalizing it. However, by making it illegal, more
problems have come up. True, marijuana should be kept away from the
adolescents, but its moderate use will not pose any risk to adults. Instead of
spending money on arresting drug offenders and cutting down marijuana
plantations, why can't our government save itself from all this trouble and
legalize a culturally accepted substance that can help in socio-economic
development of the country? Marijuana is the most commonly used illegal
drug in the world with an estimated 125 million people consuming it in some
form or the other every year. In India, marijuana use has been historically
bound to faith and mysticism. It is said to be a drug that helps the user attain
"ecstasy in the original sense of the word". India has consumed and
celebrated charas (hash), bhang and weed for centuries. However,
implementation of stringent narcotic laws in 1986 made the sale,
consumption, production and transportation of marijuana illegal in the
country.

1. It will eliminate illegal trade and associate crimes

Marijuana legalization (or decriminalization) will replace the black market

production and distribution with an 'overboard industry'. There will be rules
and regulations but the trade will be 'populated by the government, farmers,
merchants and retails clerks, not by criminals or drug dealers'.

2. Marijuana addiction is rare

An epidemiological study showed that only 9 percent of those who use

marijuana end up being clinically dependent on it. The 'comparable rates' for
tobacco, alcohol and cocaine stood at 32 percent, 15 percent and 16 percent
respectively.
3. It will create job opportunities

Legalization of marijuana for recreational and medical purposes in Colorado

has created 10,000 new jobs in the area. There are a plethora of jobs that
can be created by the marijuana industry and help reduce India's
unemployment rate.

4. Marijuana use has medical benefits

Studies have shown that marijuana use has dozens of medical benefits. It
treats glaucoma, prevents cancer from spreading to other parts of the body,
reduces anxiety, slows the progress of Alzheimer's disease, improves
metabolism and is even said to spur creativity in our brain.

5. It will help the locals

In states like Himachal Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, where cannabis plants
grow, marijuana is the only source of income for many locals. However,
being a banned substance, the farmers are forced to sell it at a very cheap
price to the drug dealers and they face additional pressure from the police as
well, who are paid to destroy the cannabis plantations. Legalizing marijuana
will end this 'war on drugs' targeting our own countrymen.

6. Legalization will ensure that good quality marijuana is sold to the

consumers

In India, dealers often mix hash and weed with chemicals or other drugs like
afeem to improve the taste, color, texture or 'high' of the stuff. Legalization
will improve the quality of marijuana sold to the users because government
will regulate the production and sale of the drug.

7. Marijuana has limited withdrawal symptoms and it’s use can't be fatal

"I've heard you have to smoke something like 15,000 joints in 20 minutes to
get a toxic amount of delta-9 tetrahydrocannibinol," says Dr. Paul Hornby, a
biochemist and human pathologist. "I challenge anybody to do that." Not only
is it virtually impossible to overdose on marijuana, the users face nominal
withdrawal symptoms after consuming it.
These days, it is pretty easy to buy marijuana in India and its consumption is
widespread among the youth. So it is fair to say that prohibition has failed to
curb the 'problem'. Marijuana consumption was never regarded as a socially
deviant behaviour any more than drinking alcohol was. In fact, keeping it
legal was considered as an 'enlightened view'. It is now medically proven
that marijuana is less harmful than alcohol. Unlike alcoholics, stoners don't
indulge in rash driving or violent fights. They tend to be calm and pleasant
under the influence of marijuana

KeyWords: Marijuana legalization, recreational, medical benefits,illegal trade, crimes .

ResearchObjective To examine and analyse the benefits of legalisation of

marijuana w.r.t. health care and socio economic situation.

References http://europepmc.org/article/med/10575288
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30133781/