The use of cannabis as a recreational drug has been outlawed in many countries for several decades. As a result of long-fought legalization efforts, several countries such as Uruguay and Canada, as well as several states in the US, have legalized the production, sale, possession, and recreational and/or medical usage of cannabis. The broad legalization of cannabis in this fashion can have numerous effects on the economy and society in which it is legalized.[ citation needed ]
There is evidence that ready access to legal cannabis is associated with a number of health harms including increased need for emergency medicine, and increased incidence of cannabis use disorder and road traffic accidents. [1]
Studies indicate that cannabis decriminalization and legalization lead to fewer cannabis-related arrests. A 2019 analysis of Prince George's County, Maryland found a 54% decrease in county-wide arrest rates for cannabis possession following decriminalization. However, this coincided with a 1,031% increase in cannabis possession citations, suggesting a possible "net-widening effect" where more individuals overall faced enforcement action through citations rather than arrests. [2]
Research suggests that cannabis legalization and decriminalization have little impact on general crime rates, with some studies indicating potential decreases in certain areas. A fifty-state study comparing violent and property crime rates between 2010-2014 found that crime rates tended to be slightly higher in states where cannabis was completely prohibited, though this difference was not statistically significant. [3]
Research has identified several potential risks of adolescent cannabis use following legalization, including impaired cognitive functioning, increased risk of developing cannabis dependence, elevated rates of school dropout, elevated risk of developing psychotic illnesses, and increased rate of engaging in risky behaviors. Weekly cannabis use under age 18 has been associated with decreased intelligence among those who develop persistent dependence. Studies indicate adolescents may be more adversely affected by heavy use than adults, particularly in domains of learning, memory, and working memory. [4]
A 2021 study from the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank, found that many strong claims made by both advocates and critics of state-level marijuana legalization are substantially overstated and in some cases entirely without real-world support. The study concluded that state legalizations have generally had minor effects, with tax revenue being a notable exception that has exceeded some expectations. [5]
A 2015 study found that medical marijuana legalization increased use and abuse by those under and over the age of 21. [6] A 2017 study found that frequency of marijuana use by students increased significantly after recreational legalization and that increase was especially large for females and for Black and Hispanic students. [7]
While overall arrests have decreased, racial disparities in cannabis-related arrests persist post-legalization. In Washington state, following retail legalization, disparities in arrest rates between Black and White adults grew from 2.5 times higher to 5 times higher, despite an overall 87% decrease in possession arrests for both groups. [3]
A 2017 study found that the introduction of medical marijuana laws caused a reduction in violent crime in Americans states that border Mexico: "The reduction in crime is strongest for counties close to the border (less than 350 km), and for crimes that relate to drug trafficking. In addition, we find that [medical marijuana laws] in inland states lead to a reduction in crime in the nearest border state. Our results are consistent with the theory that decriminalization of the production and distribution of marijuana leads to a reduction in violent crime in markets that are traditionally controlled by Mexican drug trafficking organisations." [8]
A 2020 study found that junk food sales increased between 3.2 and 4.5 percent in states that had legalized cannabis. [9]
A 2022 study found that legalization had led to a 20% increase in use of cannabis in the US. [10] Pharmaceutical companies had lower returns. [11]
Cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, resulting from heavy cannabis use, is characterized by nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. It can lead to severe dehydration, seizures, kidney failure, and cardiac arrest, with at least eight reported deaths in the United States. Since its documentation in 2004, there has been a significant rise in reported cases. Accurate tracking of the condition is difficult due to inconsistent recording in medical records. Researchers estimate that up to one-third of near-daily cannabis users in the U.S. may experience symptoms, ranging from mild to severe, affecting approximately six million people. According to data from the nonprofit Health Care Cost Institute, cannabis-related diagnoses among individuals under 65 with employer-paid insurance increased by over 50 percent nationwide between 2016 and 2022, rising from approximately 341,000 to 522,000. [12]
Legalization has led to a decreased perception of cannabis use as "risky" and "potentially harmful". A 2013 study showed that 32.8% of people surveyed in Utah, a state where Marijuana use is illegal, believed that they had a risk of harm from Marijuana consumption, whereas only 18.8% of people surveyed in Washington, a state where adult-use is legal, believed they had a risk of harm. [13]
In 2019, the US gained a total of 1.7 billion dollars in tax revenue due to the legalization of marijuana. In 2021, that number more than doubled to 3.7 billion dollars. [14] The increase in tax revenue being a driving factor in the legalization of marijuana is similar to the effects of the repeal of prohibition. After prohibition was abolished, the percentage of federal government revenue coming from alcohol increased about 7% in the US. [15]
Legalization is anticipated to reduce the resources expended on arrests and prosecution for marijuana-related crimes. A 2007 analysis found that legalization could result in a potential savings of $10.7 billion per year. [16] A 2010 report predicted that full marijuana legalization could save the United States more than $13 billion a year, with $8 billion of that amount resulting from no longer having to enforce prohibition. [17]
The legalization of marijuana has created significant job opportunities. The industry supports nearly 430,000 full-time jobs, with projections suggesting this could rise to over 1.75 million jobs in the near future. [18] With over 100,000 jobs created in 2021, there was approximately a 33% increase from the previous year, significantly outpacing the projected 8% increase in jobs in the business and financial sector. [19]
In Colorado, effects since 2014 include increased state revenues, [20] violent crime decreased, [21] [22] and an increase in homeless population. [23] One Colorado hospital has received a 15% increase in babies born with THC in their blood. [24]
Since legalization, public health and law enforcement officials in Colorado have grappled with a number of issues, serving as a model for policy problems that come with legalization. Marijuana-related hospital visits have nearly doubled between 2011, prior to legalization, and 2014. [25] Top public health administrators in Colorado have cited the increased potency of today's infused products, often referred to as "edibles", as a cause for concern. They have also highlighted the risk that edibles pose to children, as they are often undistinguishable from ordinary foods once they are removed from their packaging. [26] Youth usage has also been a major aspect of the debate surrounding marijuana legalization and a concern for state officials. Overall youth usage rates have increased, although not enough to be deemed statistically significant. [27] Looking at students in the eighth, tenth, and twelfth grades, a survey study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that usage rates had not increased among any of the different age groups in Colorado, although statistically significant increases in usage rates amongst eighth and tenth graders were reported in Washington. [28]
Oregon legalized cannabis in November 2014. Effects have included an increase in cannabis-related calls to the Oregon state poison center, [29] an increase in perception among youth that marijuana use is harmful, [29] a decrease in arrest rates for cannabis related offenses, [29] stores sold $250 million in cannabis products which resulted in $70 million in state tax revenue (higher than a predicted $36 million in revenue), [30] 10% decrease in violent crime, and 13% drop in murder rate. [30]
Washington D.C. legalized cannabis in 2015. Cannabis possession arrests decreased 98% from 2014 to 2015 and all cannabis offenses dropped by 85%. [31]
Effects of cannabis legalization in Uruguay since 2013 include other countries in the region loosening laws concerning cannabis and lower costs of illegal cannabis. [32] The percentage of female prisoners has fallen. [33]
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A victimless crime is an illegal act that typically either directly involves only the perpetrator or occurs between consenting adults. Because it is consensual in nature, whether there involves a victim is a matter of debate. Definitions of victimless crimes vary in different parts of the world and different law systems, but usually include possession of any illegal contraband, recreational drug use, prostitution and prohibited sexual behavior between consenting adults, assisted suicide, and smuggling among other similar infractions.
The prohibition of drugs through sumptuary legislation or religious law is a common means of attempting to prevent the recreational use of certain intoxicating substances.
Commonly-cited arguments for and against the prohibition of drugs include the following:
In the United States, the non-medical use of cannabis is legalized in 24 states and decriminalized in 7 states, as of November 2023. Decriminalization refers to a policy of reduced penalties for cannabis offenses, typically involving a civil penalty for possessing small amounts, instead of criminal prosecution or the threat of arrest. In jurisdictions without penalty the policy is referred to as legalization, although the term decriminalization is sometimes used for this purpose as well.
In the United States, increased restrictions and labeling of cannabis as a poison began in many states from 1906 onward, and outright prohibitions began in the 1920s. By the mid-1930s cannabis was regulated as a drug in every state, including 35 states that adopted the Uniform State Narcotic Drug Act. The first national regulation was the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937.
Drug liberalization is a drug policy process of decriminalizing, legalizing, or repealing laws that prohibit the production, possession, sale, or use of prohibited drugs. Variations of drug liberalization include drug legalization, drug relegalization, and drug decriminalization. Proponents of drug liberalization may favor a regulatory regime for the production, marketing, and distribution of some or all currently illegal drugs in a manner analogous to that for alcohol, caffeine and tobacco.
The use, sale, and possession of cannabis containing over 0.3% THC by dry weight in the United States, despite laws in many states permitting it under various circumstances, is illegal under federal law. As a Schedule I drug under the federal Controlled Substances Act (CSA) of 1970, cannabis containing over 0.3% THC by dry weight is considered to have "no accepted medical use" and a high potential for abuse and physical or psychological dependence. Cannabis use is illegal for any reason, with the exception of FDA-approved research programs. However, individual states have enacted legislation permitting exemptions for various uses, including medical, industrial, and recreational use.
Cannabis in Oregon is legal for both medical and recreational use. In recent decades, the U.S. state of Oregon has had a number of legislative, legal and cultural events surrounding the use of cannabis. Oregon was the first state to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of cannabis and authorize its use for medical purposes. An attempt to recriminalize the possession of small amounts of cannabis was turned down by Oregon voters in 1997.
In Colorado, cannabis has been legal for medical use since 2000 and for recreational use since late 2012. On November 7, 2000, 54% of Colorado voters approved Amendment 20, which amended the Stateonstitution to allow the use of marijuana in the state for approved patients with written medical consent. Under this law, patients may possess up to 2 ounces (57 g) of medical marijuana and may cultivate no more than six marijuana plants. Patients who were caught with more than this in their possession could argue "affirmative defense of medical necessity" but were not protected under state law with the rights of those who stayed within the guidelines set forth by the state. The Colorado Amendment 64, which was passed by voters on November 6, 2012, led to recreational legalization in December 2012 and state-licensed retail sales in January 2014. The policy has led to cannabis tourism. There are two sets of policies in Colorado relating to cannabis use: those for medicinal cannabis and for recreational drug use along with a third set of rules governing hemp.
Colorado Amendment 64 was a successful popular initiative ballot measure to amend the Constitution of the State of Colorado, outlining a statewide drug policy for cannabis. The measure passed on November 6, 2012, and along with a similar measure in Washington state, marked "an electoral first not only for America but for the world."
In the United States, the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act defined the word "drug" as an "article intended for use in the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease in man or other animals" and those "(other than food) intended to affect the structure or any function of the body of man or other animals." Consistent with that definition, the U.S. separately defines narcotic drugs and controlled substances, which may include non-drugs, and explicitly excludes tobacco, caffeine and alcoholic beverages.
In the early 21st century, advocacy for drug legalization has increased in Latin America. Spearheading the movement, the Uruguayan government announced in 2012 plans to legalize state-controlled sales of marijuana in order to fight drug-related crimes.
The legal history of cannabis in the United States began with state-level prohibition in the early 20th century, with the first major federal limitations occurring in 1937. Starting with Oregon in 1973, individual states began to liberalize cannabis laws through decriminalization. In 1996, California became the first state to legalize medical cannabis, sparking a trend that spread to a majority of states by 2016. In 2012, Washington and Colorado became the first states to legalize cannabis for recreational use.
Cannabis in Massachusetts is legal for medical and recreational use. It also relates to the legal and cultural events surrounding the use of cannabis. A century after becoming the first U.S. state to criminalize recreational cannabis, Massachusetts voters elected to legalize it in 2016.
Cannabis in Nebraska is legal for medical use. First offense for possession of small amounts was reduced to a civil infraction in 1979.
Minors and the legality of cannabis is one of the issues around the legalisation of cannabis, with most jurisdictions placing strict age limits in a similar way as is done with the drinking age for alcohol.
Cannabis in Washington relates to a number of legislative, legal, and cultural events surrounding the use of cannabis. On December 6, 2012, Washington became the first U.S. state to legalize recreational use of marijuana and the first to allow recreational marijuana sales, alongside Colorado. The state had previously legalized medical marijuana in 1998. Under state law, cannabis is legal for medical purposes and for any purpose by adults over 21.
The Cannabis Act (C-45) of June, 2018 paved the way for the legalization of cannabis in Canada on 17 October 2018. Police and prosecution services in all Canadian jurisdictions are currently capable of pursuing criminal charges for cannabis marketing without a licence issued by Health Canada. The Supreme Court of Canada has held that the federal Parliament has the power to criminalize the possession of cannabis and that doing so does not infringe upon the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The Ontario Court of Appeal and the Superior Court of Ontario have, however, held that the absence of a statutory provision for medical marijuana is unconstitutional, and to that extent the federal law is of no force and/or effect if a prescription is obtained. The recreational use of cannabis has been legalized by the federal government, and took effect on 17 October 2018.
In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, there is a general prohibition, deriving from the Word of Wisdom, against intoxicating substances; cannabis was explicitly banned by the church in 1915. The church has also sought to influence "appropriate" legal resolutions on medical cannabis.
Cannabis rights or marijuana rights are individual civil rights that vary by jurisdiction. The rights of people who consume cannabis include the right to be free from employment discrimination and housing discrimination.
The lead researcher says her study isn't meant to advocate against marijuana legalization, but inform it.
Analyses of the available data suggests that: 1. legalizing the recreational use of marijuana resulted in fewer marijuana related arrests and court cases; 2. legalizing marijuana did not have a noticeable impact on indicators in states that bordered those that legalized; and 3. there were no noticeable indications of an increase in arrests related to transportation or trafficking offenses in states along the northern or southern borders.
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