Legalization of Marijuana in Texas

Recently, legislators in Texas have been proposing for a change in the existing policy that criminalizes the sale and use of marijuana. The legislators have cited that legalizing its use and sale will be more beneficial than criminalizing it. There are several bills that have been submitted consecutively for discussion to legislators in Texas over the last four years (Brown et al. 43). The last bill was submitted in November 2014 and it is more comprehensive than the preceding bills. There are numerous negative impacts of criminalization of marijuana that are explained in the latest bill. Also, the bill offers solution to the issues that are associated with legal prohibition of marijuana (Brown et al. 43). In regard to the contents of the bill, this paper argues in support of the proposed policy that legalizing marijuana will be more beneficial to the society and economy of Texas than maintaining the current laws that prohibit its use and sale. Firstly, the paper explores the existing issues surrounding the use of Marijuana that are expressed in the bill. Secondly, the paper examines the proposed and available solutions to the existing issues. Lastly, the paper presents an expression of my support to the issue.

Issues

There are numerous issues that are associated with criminalization of sale and use of marijuana that are explained in the bill. One of the key issues explained in the bill is that irrespective of the presence of laws criminalizing it, the rate of production and use in Texas and other parts of the US has been increasing over time (Brown et al. 45). This is also evident in the results of empirical studies. Recent surveys have shown that marijuana is used by more than 25 million people in the US. Even after punishing people with hefty penalties, the rate of marijuana use has been rising, rather than decreasing. In fact, no other cash crop is grown in the US more than cannabis (Haverty 39). The statistics reflect current status of Texas (Brown et al. 45). Another major point in the bill is that criminalizing marijuana makes it valuable and expensive, hence giving teenagers and other people an easy way for making cash through selling it. This view is also supported by scholars. Scholars have emphasized that one of the issues that lead young people to engage in drug use is lack of easy channels to make money (Hanson, Venturelli and Fleckenstein 405). For instance, there are instances in which children from low socioeconomic backgrounds fail to pass exams and hence, fail to qualify for well paying jobs. When this happens, such children start perceiving a big gap between them and the children who succeed academically. At the same time, they have a wish or a drive to improve their socioeconomic statuses (Hanson, Venturelli and Fleckenstein 405). As a result, such start thinking about how they can make money using illegitimate means since they are unable to bridge the socioeconomic gap through the use of legitimate means. One of the available options for such children is to sell marijuana and make excessive profits (Hanson, Venturelli and Fleckenstein 405). The excessive profits that they make are likely to attract other young people, who might have even have potential to succeed through the use of legitimate means. In short, criminalization of marijuana supports an increase in the sales of marijuana among young people, as indicated in the bill.

The bill also suggests that criminalization of marijuana leads to flow of money from the economy of Texas to other states of nations. Since Marijuana is expensive in Texas and other parts of the US, criminal gangs import it from other countries where it is not expensive (Maxwell et al. 44). Importation of marijuana into Texas and the US as a whole leads to flow of cash from the local economy to other countries from which the product is sourced. This has a negative impact on the development of the economy and balance of trade of Texas (Brown et al. 46). Further, the bill posits that criminalization of marijuana encourages the use of hard drugs such as cocaine and heroine. This observation is also supported by scholarly studies. Studies have shown that when people are allowed to use marijuana, the rate of use of the hard drugs reduces (Longaker 97). This is due to the fact that the users of the hard drugs perceive marijuana as a cheaper alternative than the hard drugs. However, criminalizing the sale and use of marijuana means that it becomes as expensive as the hard drugs. Thus, the users may opt for the hard drugs since such drugs have more effects on the body than marijuana (Longaker 97).

Also, bill posits that the criminalization of marijuana in Texas is mainly based on disinformation and lies, which is evident from facts. It is true that excessive and misuse of marijuana has negative effects on the body (Maxwell et al. 45). However, the dangers associated with the use of marijuana are usually exaggerated and in most cases, they are not based on medical and empirical evidence. The perception ignores the positive impacts of marijuana when it is used well. Medical evidence indicates that marijuana can be used for medical purposes. Health professionals have recommended the use of marijuana among people who are suffering from serious ailments (Brown et al. 476). It has been found to be effective in relieving people from pain spasticity and nausea. In fact, it is already used for medical purposes in countries such as India. Further, the bill suggests that criminalizing marijuana is expensive for the justice system of Texas and the whole of the US. For instance, police in the US arrest around 750,000 people every year due to the possession of marijuana (Brown et al. 46). The time that the police use in arresting such people could be utilized in doing other responsibilities. The time and funds used by the criminal justice systems in the process of arresting, trying and trying to correct people who use marijuana could be used for other important purposes (Brown et al. 47).

Another important issue raised in the bill is that people who sell and use marijuana do not perceive it as a bad drug. Rather, they stand firm against its criminalization and have been very active in the fight against criminalization (Brown et al. 47). They have been pushing the state and federal governments to legalize it. This implies that marijuana use and sale is persistent and there is no evidence that it can be eliminated or reduced. At the same time, surveys indicate that the public is increasingly supporting the use of marijuana. This is true to the extent that in the past, marijuana was hardly used by adults and it was perceived as a preserve for young criminal people. However, studies indicate that even elderly people aged above 75 years are increasingly using it (Maxwell et al. 51). Importantly, the bill suggests that criminalization of marijuana has been acting as a major obstacle in growing hemp as an agricultural product in Texas. Hemp contains seed, oil and fiber. Canada and many and many European countries have been growing hemp and using it as a source of fuel and other products. They achieve this because they do not concentrate on punishing people who use marijuana and sell it, even though they do not have laws legalizing its use. However, efforts to grow it in the US are hampered by the presence of too much concentration of the government on the use of marijuana (Brown et al. 47).

Another issue present in the bill is that crimination of marijuana amounts to violation of the liberty of people of Texas. Right to liberty is a fundamental right that requires human beings to be allowed to use their properties in the way they desire as long has the use does not lead to harm to self, other people or the environment. As mentioned earlier, research findings and medical evidence indicate that marijuana does not have significant harm on human beings when it is used properly. In fact, one of the points contained in the bill is that medical evidence has proved that alcohol is worse than marijuana (Longaker, 97). Therefore, marijuana should be treated as a product that does not lead to significant harm to human beings. The choice of whether to misuse it should be left the user, just as the choice of how to use alcohol is left to the user.

Solutions

The key and the most important solution proposed by the bill to the issues surrounding criminalization of marijuana in Texas is legalization of marijuana. The state government of Texas should support the motion that seeks to decriminalize sale and use of marijuana. A better move would be to recognize its use in laws (Brown et al. 47). After legalizing it, the government should focus on taxing the sellers. However, the rate of taxation should be low to avoid making marijuana expensive. As explained in the bill, the move will have a positive impact on the economy of Texas since more revenue would be collected (Brown et al. 48). At the same time, people who have been exporting marijuana to Texas and other parts of the US will stop or the amount imported into the US will reduce significantly. This is due to the fact that the sellers would not be earning excessive profits from the sale of marijuana.

Another solution is proposed in the bill is to promote the production of hemp as cash crop in Texas. The state government can promote the growth of hemp in various ways. Firstly, the state government can promote the production of hemp through supporting the growth of industries that purchase the product from farmers and process it to produce products such as fuels, paper, pulp, cloth, rope, resin and wax. The products can then be sold locally or exported to other states or countries (Brown et al. 48). In doing so, the state government will support the economy of Texas since more revenue will be gained from the foreign economies, leading to an improvement in the balance of trade of Texas. Importantly, the government of Texas will divert the attention of the people who benefit from the sale of marijuana. Farmers will start focusing on selling hemp to industries and their interest ion selling marijuana to young people will decline. More people will venture in the production of hemp (Brown et al. 48).

As noted in the bill, there is likelihood that the middle-men who are currently involved in selling marijuana to young people will now focus on hemp since the sale of marijuana will not be profitable any more (Brown et al. 49). The business can also attract the current users of marijuana. In doing so, the government of Texas will create more jobs that will be attractive to the youth who engage in the abuse of marijuana. Also, supporting the growth of industries involved in the processing of hemp implies that more job opportunities for the youth will emerge (Brown et al. 49). The more the job opportunities are available for the youth, the less they youth engage in drug sale and use. Instead of spending a lot of money in the criminal justice system in the process of pursuing and convicting people who sell and use marijuana, the government of Texas can divert part of that money to support the production and processing of hemp. This will be a step further in support the economy of Texas.

The key reason why many people despise marijuana is due to its negative impacts when it is misused. For instance, too much smoking of marijuana can lead to cancer. However, the misuse of all types of drugs, including those that are administered by the health professionals, leads to negative impacts on the body. Instead of focusing on criminalizing marijuana, the government of Texas should invest in campaigns that inform people about the dangers associated with excessive use of misuse of marijuana (Burnham 83). Part of the money used by the criminal justice system of Texas in convicting people who sell and use marijuana can be channeled to programs aimed at teaching people who use marijuana how to stop or avoid misuse. Lastly, bill suggests that the government should promote the use of marijuana in treating people with severe ailments of people who are in great pain (Brown et al. 49).

My Support to the Solutions

I support the fact that the state government of Texas ought to legalize the sale and use of marijuana. As suggested in the bill presented to the legislators of the government of Texas, I feel that the current laws that prohibit the sale and use of marijuana are playing a major role in supporting the emergence and growth of criminal gangs in Texas. This is due to the fact the gangs have access to marijuana and they make excess profits through selling them. I also believe that the negative impacts of marijuana are exaggerated. In fact, many studies have proved that alcohol has more negative effects than marijuana, yet the sale and use of alcohol is legalized. The government of Texas has not been utilizing the available opportunity involved in the production of hemp, which could lead to a significant boost of its economy. It is clear that legalizing marijuana and supporting the production and growth of marijuana will be beneficial to the youth through opening more opportunities for employment. This is a vital move given that the rate of unemployment among the youth in Texas has been rising during the recent years. In addition to the issues identified in the bill, I feel that the presence of laws prohibiting the use and sale of marijuana amounts to violation of liberty of people of Texas. As a result of the legal restrictions, people who suffer illness that can be treated using marijuana are restricted from enjoying the benefits. In short, I feel that the current laws restricting the sale and use of marijuana are limiting to the growth of the society and economy of Texas. By legalizing the sale and use of marijuana and then supporting the growth of hemp, Texas can be transformed into an economy with the largest Gross Domestic Product in the US.

Conclusion

Overall, the bill presented to the legislators of Texas about the need to decriminalize marijuana has a potential to transform the state’s economy and thus, it should be embraced by all. The legislators ought to give consideration to the fact that the current efforts that involve the use of laws to prohibit the use and sale of marijuana have been futile. In fact, the laws have propagated a fertile ground for the rise of crime. In this regard, legalization of marijuana will transform the society of Texas in a positive manner, in addition to boosting the economy. I am, therefore, in support of the bill
Works Cited

Burnham, Alex. Benefits of Legalizing Marijuana. Norderstedt: GRIN Verlag, 2013

Brown, Lyle, Joyce A. Langenegger, Sonia R. Garcia, Ted Lewis and Robert E. Biles. (2015).

Practicing Texas Politics. Boston: Cengage Learning, 2015

Hanson, Glen R., Peter J. Venturelli and Annette E. Fleckenstein. Drugs and Society.Burlington:

Jones & Bartlett Publishers, 2014

Haverty, Daniel. Lexicon of Prose. Lulu.com, 2014

Longaker, Mark. Controversies: The Legalization of Marijuana. Boston: 40 Acres Press

Maxwell, William, Ernest Crain, Mark Jones, Morhea Davis and Christopher Wlezein. Texas

Politics Today 2015-2016 Edition. Boston: Cengage Learning, 2015

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