Why Marijuana Should Be Legal
Do you see marijuana as a dangerous drug, medicine or the same as having a beer or two on the weekend? Should Australia make cannabis legal?
Cannabis has been illegal since the 1950s as a part of the war on drugs. Marijuana is now legal for medical use nationwide and recreational use in Canberra, ACT. You can now make a decision on whether marijuana should be legal or not in Australia!
The majority of Australians want marijuana to be legal, but the sale and distribution should be regulated like alcohol.
Medical cannabis has been legal since 2016, Canberra is legalising recreational marijuana, and New Zealand is voting to legalise recreational use and sale of weed in 2020.
Table of Contents.
What is Marijuana
“Marijuana” is usually in the form of ground-up leaves and flowers from a cannabis plant that contains high levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
THC acts like the Cannabinoid chemicals made naturally by the body. These chemicals are found in areas on the brain associated with:
- Thinking
- Memory
- Pleasure
- Coordination
- Time Perception
It gives an intoxicating feeling that typically lasts for 1-3 hours. The main difference between hemp and marijuana is THC content. Marijuana has a THC content of 0.3% or more and hemp as has a THC content of less than 0.3%.
Learn about the difference between hemp and cannabis.
5 Reasons Why Marijuana Should Be Legal
1) Reducing Crime
The main argument in Australia to legalising the recreational use of marijuana is to stop young adults from receiving criminal charges for minor use of the drug.
A large portion of the work done in today’s justice system (police, courts and prisons) is spent on drug-related offences. But the drug market keeps growing, and these criminal offences have little impact.
The AFP admitted that the criminalisation of marijuana has not slowed down the drug market. There are ways to promote the safer legal use of marijuana through education.
Many who use cannabis see it as less harmful than legal drugs like alcohol or tobacco and view its prohibition as hypocritical. A legal regulated cannabis market in the UK would reduce crime and could earn the Treasury up to £3bn a year in tax revenues. https://t.co/GD4lt8tvqg
— Paul Delaney (@coaimpaul) September 22, 2019
2) Education And Harm Reduction
A proposed strategy is to redirect resources from punishing people to overall harm reduction with educational campaigns on the adverse effects on the safe use of marijuana.
Normalising safe marijuana use, similar to alcohol consumption, will lower the chance of driving under the influence. It will also create a better and more precise understanding of the safe ways to consume marijuana.
Canada has taken its substantial tax revenue boost from legalising cannabis and put it into education and public safety campaigns that discourage driving while high on marijuana and the dangers of smoking.
.@s_l_lake presenting the important work of @CSSDP on cannabis. Young people are leading the way when it comes to cannabis education and harm reduction informed policies. #stimulus2018 pic.twitter.com/nd2EfS7pXH
— Marilou Gagnon RNPhD (@mlgagnon_XVII) October 3, 2018
3) Tax Revenue
The cannabis industry is expected to give Australia a massive economic boost and generate over $250 million in tax revenue per year. On top of this boost, the Australian justice system is looking to save up to $1 billion after a few years of legalised marijuana.
This tax revenue is coming from newly formed Australian cannabis companies, new jobs, retail sales and the massive trade export opportunity Australia has to become a leader in the world’s marijuana industry.
“Cannabis saved the fireworks show." Marijuana tax revenue looks appealing to some local governments needing to address funding shortfalls. https://t.co/Z83jaNtEHk
— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) February 4, 2020
4) Economic Boost
Legalising cannabis will open new horticulture, tourism, retail and import/export industry built around marijuana.
An estimated $3.6 billion economy boost in Australia within the first few years.
Since 2016, Australia’s combined Cannabis industry has reached almost $6 billion in its market cap. These companies are up-and-coming in providing Asia and America premium-grade medical cannabis.
The legalization of hemp and medical cannabis will be beneficial for ALL of us.
— Paulette Jordan (@electpaulette) November 5, 2018
The cannabis industry is proven to bring an economic boost of millions of dollars, while offering a natural alternative to people in pain and fighting the opioid crisis. #JordanforGovernor pic.twitter.com/j03jwfMDi0
5) Safer Than Alcohol And Prescription Drugs
Ever since marijuana has been used, not one single death from overdose has been recorded . In 2010, over 25,000 people died from alcohol-related causes, and over 38,000 from prescription drug overdoses.
Marijuana use is becoming a popular safe medical treatment for people with epilepsy, cancer (chemo-therapy nausea) and spinal injuries. Compared to most other legal drugs, marijuana is already much safer.
Smoking is never the safest option, but new forms of oil and edible options are becoming widely popular in the medical industry. Australia has strong anti-smoking laws that make oil the most likely and safest choice.
Will Australia Legalise Marijuana?
2020 is a big year for Australia and New Zealand. New Zealand is looking to pass a national vote allowing the recreational sale and use of marijuana. So next to a pack of beer, you may find your new favourite craft cannabis.
Canberra, ACT will be Australia’s first step towards legalisation with the decriminalisation of marijuana. Legalisation will allow people to grow their plants and smoke/eat/consume cannabis without the fear of the police knocking down their door.
Australia: Cannabis Possession Now Depenalized in the Capital Territory https://t.co/w3NIHcFkHv
— NORML (@NORML) February 3, 2020
Over ten new commercial cannabis facilities in Australia will be live and producing medical-grade marijuana for Australians. We are also expecting a legalisation vote in New South Wales and Victoria that will follow the same standards of legal recreational marijuana use as New Zealand (post-legalisation).
James King
James is an experienced writer and legal cannabis advocate in Australia. He answers all the questions about business, legalisation and medicinal cannabis.
Disclaimer: Cannabis Place are not doctors and we recommend consulting health professionals for accurate information. This site may contain information regarding drugs. This medicinal cannabis content is designed for an 18+ audience. Click here for our full disclaimer
