Before I start I also found this blog that is supporting the decriminalisation of marijuana. I found it very interesting, there is plenty on there that discusses this topic.
I do not completely agree with the above video. I think we should decriminalise marijuana but not all drugs. I feel is it time to forget about the fight of trying to catch all consumers of marijuana, as this will never happen. I do however agree with the comments made about alcohol and smoking.
There are numerous arguments for and against decriminalising marijuana, not just in New Zealand but all over the world. The Department of Personal Opinions asked the public of New Zealand is we should legalise marijuana or not, and to state why. However I will be discussing the decriminalisation of marijuana. A few of the points I will be making are that marijuana will help support the economy, with the decriminalisation of marijuana police can catch real criminals and it is not physically addictive or harmful to the body.
I am not alone when I say marijuana will help support our economy. 3 News asked the question 'Should we legalise cannabis?' majority of the responses made were for the decriminalisation of cannabis for the same reason as I am; because the economy will be better off. As marijuana is sold daily and has such a large consumer rate, taxing it will be one of the best choices made by the New Zealand government. In 2011 Don Brash was calling for the decriminalisation of marijuana, he says as an estimation there are 400,000 New Zealanders using marijuana regularly, 6,000 people are prosecuted yearly over the use of marijuana and $100 million of taxpayers' money is being used to police this law. Think what could be done for our country with that $100 million as well as the extra money if marijuana was taxed. Don Brash also makes a good point when he says "by criminalising it (marijuana) you simply give power to the gangs." Is that what you want? I personally am not comfortable knowing that gangs have so much untaxed money that they can use to do and buy whatever it is they please. This brings me to my next point.With the decriminalisation of marijuana New Zealand Police can catch real criminals, keeping our streets safe from gangs as such; instead of arresting people just for smoking some marijuana. According to NORML 540,000 New Zealand adults, 70,000 a day using marijuana. This also relates to the earlier point made, think how much of taxpayers money is used simply to not only arrest these people but then put them on trial, then imprison them. Lately in the news there has been a situation in Ohio about three girls that were kidnapped 10 years ago, they have just been found alive because one of them managed to escape and get help. In this time police had visited the house where the girls were held captive, what does this say about the police? If we decriminalise marijuana in New Zealand our police would be able to keep our streets safe from predators such as these and not waste their time on catch someone who was just smoking marijuana in there care in and empty car-park. They could also keep our streets safe from gangs, in Wanganui in 2007 a 2 year old girl was shot dead because of a gang related drive by shooting. These things could be stopped as our police would have more time to investigate and take gangs off the street, preventing further problems. Think of what this girls family has been through.
Not only would decriminalising marijuana be beneficial for our economy and safety, but it is also not harmful to our bodies. Smoking cigarettes and alcohol have a dangerous affect on ourselves and everyone around us, so why are they so easily accessible and legal? In Medical news today says 'smoking is responsible for several diseases, such as cancer, long-term (chronic) respiratory diseases, and heart disease, as well as premature death.' they also say that 90% or lung cancer patients have lung cancer because of smoking. So why is it that we allow people to smoke all around us? Second Medical Plus so why do we allow it to be sold and consumed at such an alarming rate? We also have the health problems of 'legal weed' also known as synthetic marijuana. The below video shows an example of the problems faced by many when they consume this 'legal weed'.hand smoke can also cause lung cancer. Cigarettes contain tar and nicotine, tar is composed of several poisonous chemicals, and 70% of tar inhaled from cigarettes remains in the lungs. Nicotine is highly addictive and this is what keeps people smoking. It only takes 15 seconds for nicotine to reach the brain after being inhaled. This is why marijuana isn't addictive because it doesn't contain nicotine, nor does it contain tar. Therefore the health risk is next to nothing compared to smoking, as marijuana is only a herb. Long term affects of alcohol consumption are bleeding from the oesophagus or stomach, swelling and damage to the pancreas, damage to the liver in severe cases, it often leads to death. cancer of the oesophagus, liver, colon, head and neck, breast, etc; states
Now I ask the question, if marijuana can be used for medical reasons why don't we just decriminalise it? Doctors are fine with giving it to patients in pain or suffering from depression, glaucoma and cancer, so there clearly isn't anything wrong with marijuana; because if weren't supposed to smoke it, don't you think our doctors would be the first to say no, due to health risks. Doctors wouldn't want to be blamed for having out someone in hospital, they don't want to ruin there reputation. The following video is an American doctor that gives some background of himself, he prescribes marijuana to patients because he knows for a fact it isn't harmful.
In conclusion if one of the worlds most powerful people is in support of the decriminalisation of marijuana why don't we all get behind him and decriminalise it? Because there are a lot of positive changes that would happen in New Zealand if we simply decriminalised marijuana and it is a whole lot safer than smoking and alcohol but our government seems to be fine with having these consumed in our daily lives.
