Prohibition of Marijuana

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Prohibition of Marijuana
Introduction
Marijuana is the most commonly abused illicit drug not only in the U.S but also in the world at large. Supporters of marijuana use base their arguments on its medical use. However, considering the costs associated with its use, it would be more economical to prohibit it. Currently, the anti-drug policies in the US are working well in reducing the use of this drug in most of the States. For instance, in 1971, the rate of abuse of the drug by individuals aged 12 and older was at 13.2%. This rate was comparatively lower in 2008, with a 54% reduction to 6.1% (Beckett & Herbert 8). However, the drug continues to pose a serious threat to the lives of young people in the US and around the world. The use of this drug is illegal in the United States. However, several states are trying to differentiate between the various uses of the drug, with views of the uses that should be legalized and those that should not. In California, for instance, there is a move to legalize recreational marijuana use by 2016 (Nadelmann 2). Nonetheless, the legalization must take into perspective the need for education of the young people in the states. As the discussion in this paper will argue, marijuana in California should remain illegal for recreational use to college students and people under the age of 21 because it can affect their education, learning, and health, negatively.
Marijuana is among the leading cause of substance addiction in the US. For example, in 2008, 4.2 million out of the 7 million people above the age of 12 were using and had developed dependence on the drug. This means that approximately a third of the people in the US suffering from substance disorder are also victims of marijuana abuse. If marijuana use in the US was legalized, its use would significantly increase (Nadelmann 1). Research has revealed that the statistical data of drug use in the US accounts for: 15 million marijuana users, 129 million alcohol users, and 70.9 tobacco users (Marijuana Myths and Facts 1). While the number of marijuana users is lower than that of alcohol and tobacco users, legalizing of marijuana in the U.S would increase its use, surpassing other drugs. Therefore, prohibiting marijuana in California will therefore curb the addition rates in the state.
California has always been a source of marijuana policy reforms in the U.S and these developments should be reflected by prohibiting marijuana use among college students and people under the age of 21. For instance, the State was among the first States to prohibit marijuana use in 1913. Similarly, California was the first State to cut the minimum sentence of possession of marijuana in 1975. California was also the first state to permit the growth and consumption of marijuana for medical uses (Sacco & Finklea 6). The issue of legalization of marijuana in California continues to fascinate serious discussion among ...