Decriminalization Of Marijuana

Marijuana is currently illegal in New Zealand, as in many other countries and states, because of the health and safety dangers associated with use. Marijuana is made illegal with the aim of minimizing its cost on users and on society. However, many argue that there are significant health benefits for the user and notable benefits for society including the potential taxes gained legal sales and reduced enforcement costs. In this essay the externalities of Marijuana and whether it should be decriminalised, legalised or kept illegal will be discussed and weighed up. Marijuana, also known as Cannabis, is consumed in many ways from smoking to eating it through edibles and generally used due to the high gained from the mind-altering chemical delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Society 's view on marijuana as harmful …show more content…
According to High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area organisation, an offshoot of the Office of National Drug Control Policy in America, marijuana use is 58 percent higher by children between the ages of 12 and 17 in Colorado than the national average. While drug related suspensions leaped 34 percent at Colorado schools after legalisation, while alcohol-related suspensions stayed flat. This shows one significant negative externality on society if marijuana is legalised.

In order for the costs to society to be minimized, the externalities from marijuana use must be internalized. This could involve taking negative effects of marijuana on society and moving them onto the users. If marijuana is decriminalized, those caught carrying marijuana will be fined, and this revenue gained from the fines would be put towards public programs aimed at preventing, treating and regulating marijuana use. However, full legalisation is argued to be a better solution, due to the ability for a large tax revenue, while removing criminal penalties like