The Pros and Cons of Legalizing Marijuana

Marijuana From the Psychosocial Perspective

Perceived Risk

We know that the concept of perceived risk is demonstrated most clearly by use trends related to marijuana use by adolescents. Use has fallen and risen over the course of modern history based on how dangerous the drug is perceived to be. What impact will the current attitude of accepting medical and recreational marijuana have on your generation - today's youth and tomorrow's parents, leaders, and change-makers?

Even before the legalization of marijuana, there was a tacit social acceptance of the drug, particularly within many subcultures such as on college campuses, in the music industry, and amongst artists. Legalizing the drug could theoretically reduce the perception of the drug as a kind of 'forbidden fruit' and actually make it less of a rite of passage of teenage rebellion. It also might make the current use of drug tests for various occupations less accepted or at least call them into question. While it is difficult to imagine marijuana use becoming completely accepted any more than there is likely to be a return to the four-martini working lunch popular in the 1950s, it is possible that someday using marijuana will simply be viewed as a teenage way of testing one's limits, like drinking in college, or as a minor rather than major vice.

In the short run, legalization in Colorado has had some unexpected negative effects. Documented abuse amongst teens has increased as reflected in a rise of school-related problems and visits to the emergency room for edible marijuana (Haun). According to Denver Police Commander William Nagle, marijuana traffic-related accidents have increased but so has the number of people entering treatment, due to reduced stigma (Golstein). The economy has also improved: "it's nearly impossible to find warehouse space in Denver, because of the commercialization of marijuana" (Golstein). Overall, all of these experiences point to the relatively swift acceptance of the drug into the culture of the state as a recreational substance. The positive economic effects for the state are likely to make the drug more attractive to legalize elsewhere. However, drug abuse of any kind is a serious problem for young people (both legal and illicit) and the need for education and treatment of addiction will not abate. Ideally, the funds once devoted to policing the substance will be diverted to treatment but that will not necessarily reduce the risks of traffic fatalities. When a substance is perceived as benign, users may take more risks behind the wheel. There may also be rise in selling goods containing edible marijuana, which is particularly easy to over-consume. As use increases, including the prescription of marijuana as a pain remedy, there will be a corresponding increase in the debate to the extent to which the drug should be socially accepted in various recreational contexts from college parties to work-related socializing.