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- QUESTION
chapter 12 discusses the issues with legalizing drugs. Marijuana is usually the drug that most people refer to when discussing legalization efforts. Visit the website: http://norml.org/laws/
• This website is obviously in favor of legalizing marijuana.
• Click on a few states (in addition to Florida) to learn about their specific laws related to marijuana.
Discussion Questions:
1. Compare and contrast one (1) other state with Florida (must discuss Florida) and their laws and penalties related to marijuana.
2. What are your thoughts about Florida’s recent amendment legalizing medicinal marijuana?
3. Do you support or oppose efforts to legalize recreational marijuana use? Explain your position using empirical research.
4. What is your stance on legalizing "harder" drugs like cocaine and heroin?Make sure to:
• Write a short essay or paragraph of at least 500 words.
• Use concrete examples/details and avoid generalities.
• Address all questions.
• Use proper grammar and punctuation.
• If you researched your topic and are using information from what you learned, remember to cite your sources.
• Do not plagiarize.BOOK
Drugs in Society: Courses, Concepts, and Control, 7th Edition or 8th Edition is acceptable.
Publisher: Anderson Publishing, Co
Author(s): Lyman
ISBN: 978-1455731879 or 9781138202276
| Subject | Essay Writing | Pages | 4 | Style | APA |
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Answer
Drug Legalization.
Introduction
The past decades have seen states experimenting with drug legalization policies. Recently, several states adopted policies and laws that control the recreational markets of marijuana to curb drug misuse (Lyman, 2013). These decriminalization efforts have received state approvals due to the rising costs in managing the illegal use. Additionally, there is a growing body of scientific evidence on the therapeutic values of the marijuana plant, such as the cannabinoids used in pain management.
Marijuana Legalization in Florida and Alabama
Florida has been lagging in the drug legalization polies. However, the state has recently adopted legal mechanisms that control the production, consumption, and distribution of Marijuana products (Lyman, 2013). In comparison with the Alabama state, possession of marijuana for personal use is treated as a misdemeanor punishable by a maximum of a one-year jail term or a fine of not more than $1,000 in Florida, and $6, 000 in Alabama (Salazar et al., 2019). Similarly, possession of marijuana exceeding twenty grams is treated as a felony under the two states' laws punishable by a maximum five-year jail term and a fine amounting to $5,000. In contrast, punishment for the offenders in possession of marijuana exceeding the stipulated amount attracts a fine not exceeding $15, 000 or a jail term of one year or a maximum sentence of ten years in prison.
Furthermore, Florida law prescribes a jail term of three years in prison for having 300 to 2,000 marijuana plants. The regulations also prescribe punishment and fines for individuals involved in the cultivation and sale of marijuana products (Salazar et al., 2019). Similarly, both the states have regulatory measures governing the use of marijuana products. In Florida, for instance, possession of such products is treated as a first-degree misdemeanor punishable by a maximum one-year jail sentence or a fine of $ 1,000. In contrast, possession of Marijuana paraphernalia in Alabama is a class A misdemeanor that attracts one-year imprisonment and a maximum fine of $6,000. Even though the policies of the two states mirror each other, the state of Alabama has enacted the marijuana tax stamp requiring all those who carry marijuana products to have the stamp issued on the goods; failure to adhere to the regulation attracts fines or criminal sanctions.
Personal Thoughts on Florida’s Recent Amendment to Legalizing Medicinal Marijuana.
The amendments designed to legalize possession of medicinal marijuana by the Florida residents is a welcome move as it controls the production, distribution, and usage by restricting the age to adults of 21 years and above (Salazar et al., 2019). Further, I believe that legalizing medicinal marijuana in Florida will control the illegal use and distribution of its products as the new law regulates the activities of the retailers. Similarly, I support the legalization of recreational marijuana use on the following grounds; studies have backed the usage of marijuana among adults while dissociating it with the youths and school-going children, a factor that the legalization policy seeks to address (Salazar et al., 2019). Additionally, several studies have shown the therapeutic benefits of the marijuana plant in managing pain in specific chronic illnesses like cancer, making it a suitable alternative for pain therapies.
Personal Stance on Legalizing “Harder” Drugs
Initially, I believed that legalizing hard drugs will help the government in curbing illegal peddling by reducing the control costs. However, having witnessed the chronic effects of these drugs first hand, I am against the legalization of hard drugs, such as cocaine and heroin because of their impulsive nature. Legalizing the drug will contribute to more cases of drug-related deaths that are already unacceptably high (Salazar et al., 2019). Further, legalizing such drugs will exacerbate societal degradation as the users become addicted to drugs with no moral means of sustaining the condition. Therefore, in as much as legalization will streamline the market, the resultant harmful effects outweigh the benefits.
References
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Lyman, Michael D (2013). Drugs in society: causes, concepts and control (Seventh edition). Cincinnati, Ohio Anderson Salazar, C. A., Tomko, R. L., Akbar, S. A., Squeglia, L. M., & McClure, E. A. (2019). Medical cannabis use among adults in the southeastern United States. Cannabis (Research Society on Marijuana), 2(1), 53.
Appendix
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