To Weed or Not to Weed: Should Cannabis Be Legalised?

'Drugs are bad, m'kay, so, if you do drugs, you're bad, m'kay, because drugs are bad. They can hurt your body, m'kay, cause drugs are bad, m'kay'- Mr Mackey, from the South Park episode 'Ike's Wee Wee, 27 May 1998

*NOTE: I'm not authorising any readers to start smoking cannabis, but if you're that way inclined I won't stop you. It's your life. Just make sure that, if the police search your house and find some, pick a good hiding spot. They don't give the tupperware back either...

17 October shall be a day of great historical magnitude. Sorry to disappoint Mr Henry Goscomb (he turns 25- many happy returns to him, the old bastard) but his birthday shall be eclipsed by news coming out of the United State's cooler neighbour. Cold puns aside, 17 October will see cannabis prohibition come to an end in Canada, making weed legal for purchase and consumption in the country. Uruguay was the first nation to make cannabis legal after a vote in December 2013, with pharmacies stocking them up for the public in the summer of 2017. With numerous US states permitting the use of the drug, and medicinal marijuana to become available to UK patients on 1 November, it appears that weed is on the way to being legalised on a grand global scale.

The True North strong and free (to smoke weed)!

The 'woke' generation are jumping up and down with joy, their Doritos spilled all over the floor that is already sticky from Mountain Dew. Those with a very negative approach to drugs hang their heads in despair at the thought of the masses kicking back on park benches and enjoying a spliff after a day of hard work. As with any drug, there is always stiff opposition to their usage and marijuana is no exception. If you've sat through drug lectures given by teachers forced to becoming 'experts' for a day or by police officers trying to scare students into submission, then you surely know the pros and cons by now. Or, you found out about the wide range of substances you can submit your body to and wonder how many you will consume in your life. Both are viable outcomes.

So here's the burning question of the week then: what are the pros and cons of marijuana, and is it a good idea to make it legal? Through basic economic analysis, the power of science and some opinions/statements thrown in for good measure, we should have ourselves a joint wrapped tightly in knowledge. Facts would have been ground perfectly and spread evenly, making sure no pesky bad buds of falsehood are mixed in. It shall be lit with a flame of understanding and all of us shall be high off a well-balanced debate that will make us all smarter and happier for partaking. Marvellous.

Or use 'The Knowledge Bong', that would work too

WHAT THE HELL IS A MARIJUANA?

That's an excellent question. Before we blaze up this debate doobie, let's first establish what exactly cannabis is. It's the drug of many names, two of which are listed in headings further on in this post. For now, here are a few:

• Grass
• Ganja
• Pot
• Weed
• Mary Jane
• Giggle Smoke
• Girl Scout Cookies (since both are highly addictive and people will do anything for them)

The list is pretty extensive and is worth your time looking through if you're bored at work or school. Yet this collection of nicknames explains nothing really, so here are the basics. Cannabis is a psychoactive drug (something that plays around with your brain so your mood, behaviour and all that changes) that is generally used for fun or medical purposes. The tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) found in the plant is what gives you all those funny feelings, and is just one of the 483 other compounds in cannabis. Expect some increased appetite, reddened eyes and a fondness for dumb humour when smoking, eating or finding other strange ways of utilising the drug. Seriously, there are some weird people out there.

Exhibit A (love you Lady Gaga) 

Cannabis has been cultivated for centuries, with hemp being used for clothes, rope and even paper by the Chinese for example. Thanks to the Aryan civilisation (an Indo-Iranian culture), Middle Eastern peoples began to incorporate the plant into religious ceremonies or for their own pleasure if that way inclined. As global trade expanded over time, word of mouth spread of this strange green stuff in a similar fashion to how coffee made its way around the world. Hemp continued to be used by the global empires for rope, and plantations began to appear in the Americas. Even Napoléon Bonaparte allowed his troops to partake in a smoking session or two due to a lack of alcohol during his Egyptian campaign of 1798-1801. That would explain a lot, come to think of it.

Napoleon Borntoparty

As the world moved through the ages, cannabis became more regulated. By the time of the 20th century, nations were pushing for a total ban on the substance and it became a sign of resistance to the pushy politicians in power. With the United States declaring a 'War on Drugs' in the 1970s and 1980s, the country pushed for cultivation to be cut completely and exports were watched vigilantly in case any marijuana arrived on American soil. Even though the Dutch had classed cannabis as a lesser drug in 1972 (allowing people to carry a small amount on their person legally), cannabis was seen as a menace to society. Science then decided to throw a spanner in the works as the relieving effect of the drug was helpful in treating cancer and AIDS patients who were in a great amount of pain. Thanks science!

Thank you, Jesse

Over the last few decades, more and more nations have begun to become more liberal about cannabis. California became the first U.S. state to legalise medicinal marijuana, and since that state is super cool and hip then it set a trend for everyone else to follow. Even Belgium decriminalised it in 2003 to keep pace with all the cool kids doing drugs. Considering cannabis was the most used drug in the world in 2010 (according to the United Nation's World Drug Report), it's no wonder that there are plenty of people calling for it to be legalised.

YO, PASS ME THE WHACKY TOBACKY!

So there's a brief history of cannabis, as the handy source of rope evolved into the darling of university students, hippies and all the other fringe members of society. As "the man" bums everyone out by cracking down on its usage, the cool cats among us raise their voices and present the arguments in favour of using marijuana. For example, all that THC releases dopamine in our brain. That's the chemical produced when we feel great about something, whether it's food, sex or scoring a last minute screamer. It's hard to deny this positive outcome of consuming cannabis, as we all like being happy.

Zut alors!

Medically, cannabis is a knight in shining armour. The good feeling produced by marijuana helps patients who suffer from depression, PTSD and that dreaded foe social anxiety. As mental health cases continue to rise, it's imperative to assist those in need as soon as possible, and it appears that a helping of weed can help. The studies done in the 1970s and 1980s when using cannabis to treat cancer and AIDS certainly gives a bonus to the argument of legalisation, as using it in treatment causes a decrease in nausea and vomiting after going through chemotherapy. More recent studies also indicate how cannabidiol oil (a derivative of marijuana) can reduce epileptic seizures, treat bowel diseases and even stop cancer from spreading. Apparently, Olivia Newton John uses it to treat her breast cancer. If it's got her blessing, then you know it's good.

'Tell me about it, stud'

Cannabis can also boost economic prosperity through a variety of methods. Tax revenue from the marijuana industry fills the coffers of the authorities; in 2017, over $247 million was collected in Colorado thanks to factors such as taxes on selling marijuana and license fees on businesses selling the drug. Nurseries and dispensaries require manpower, so legalising cannabis can actually lead to a reduction in unemployment rates. An RCG Economics and Marijuana Policy Group study in Nevada produced findings that legalising recreational marijuana could support over 41,000 jobs until 2024, simultaneously generating over $1.7 billion in labour income. Legalisation could also lead to a crackdown on the black market, and free up police time to focus on more serious crimes. Hell, all that weed smoking means a lot of people will get the munchies, so more disposable income goes into stocking up shelves full of food and drink for those smoking sessions. Just as long as they buy locally grown produce and support their hometown businesses.

Name a more iconic duo

Well, doesn't all that sound lovely. A drug that makes you feel good, helps deal with medical ailments and boosts the local economy. Cannabis must be the miracle drug, right? Now, before you take to the streets and demand Theresa to legalise, let's not get ahead of ourselves. Everyone likes fighting for something, making placards and chanting, but the other side of the debate needs to be discussed. This is a democracy, after all, and none of us want to deal with any authoritarian stances. Too messy, always ends in tears.

GET THAT DEVIL'S LETTUCE AWAY FROM ME!

Time to state the obvious; cannabis is a drug. Drugs don't tend to be great for you, especially in high doses. Science once again puts weed to the test, and studies have shown that excessive usage impacts your memory significantly. When the drug was administered to rats, the results showed that adolescent rats suffered from cognitive impairments in later life as all that THC heads to the hippocampus. This is the part of the brain where information is processed and memories are formed, so any negative stimuli here will lead to trouble. Some people can also suffer from increased anxiety from using marijuana, and the vast majority of users suffer from a small bout of clumsiness and loss of balance. Indeed, your lungs are still dealing with smoke inhalation, so lung tissue will still be harmed. It doesn't matter if it's tobacco or cannabis; your lungs will still feel the heat.

A passive threat

While the money comes rolling in from special taxes and giving out licenses to sell medicinal marijuana, legalising the drug means increased concerns in underage usage. With those studies in smoking weed showing results of decreased brain functionality in adolescents, there's no wonder why some people want to see cannabis off the streets. Mass smoking sessions, although boosting everyone's social life, could lead to a fall in productivity as everyone is too relaxed to go to work or is more susceptible to making a mistake/ causing an accident. The threat of cannabis being a gateway drug to the more dangerous substances out there like heroin or cannabis is also another mark in the negative column. It's not a new discovery that alcohol and weed seem to be found in close proximity, which just leads to even more problems. Implementing legal usage also brings about a heavy bill on the authorities, as time and effort needs to be spent on collecting new taxes and making sure the system now recognises cannabis as legal. Government administration is a bitch.

Or just horrendously incompetent 

There are plenty of negatives to curtail the push for cannabis legalisation, especially when focusing on the youths. The medical effects on those with developing brains are a concern for many, and when the social side is considered then things take another drastic turn. Second-hand smoke is always used as an argument against smoking in general, and introducing another smokable into society makes things a tad worse. It's already been established about the degrading effect smoke has on lungs; people don't really want another threat to their precious organs. Indeed, the impressionable younger generation will be more inclined to pick up a joint if it's legal to be cool like all the adults. Again, the possibility of addiction or a spiral into the dark world of Class A drugs is at play here. That buzz of THC may just edge someone towards trying something much stronger to fulfil that need to feel great. Be safe out there, kids.

Damn teenagers

SO WHAT THE HECK SHOULD WE DO?!

We have a small list of pros and cons, but it's better than having none at all. What we have learned is that cannabis makes us feel swell, alleviates pain and can boost the economy due to increased tax revenue and job creation. Yet it's still a drug, one that is commonly seen as a gateway drug that disrupts cognitive functions and is still being tested on the body in general. Introducing a new legal high into society can lead to the possibility of a decline in productivity as workers are too baked to do anything. The youths will want to get their hands on some cannabis in order to propel themselves up the social ladder, which could easily lead to a very slippery slope. The battle lines are certainly drawn in this relevant debate on whether to legalise cannabis or not.

Countries are slowly making a move towards legalisation, as permitting medicinal marijuana is just the first step into full legalisation. As a very strong smell hangs over the Canadian skyline, there's no denying that other nations will follow the lead of both Uruguay and Canada. It's important for society to find new and improved methods of dealing with medical ailments, especially as the continuing rise in the planet's population means there is a greater need to shorten the queues at the local clinic. Scientists will move forward with their research into cannabis and will hopefully make significant breakthroughs in the near future in order to give the people all the facts and statistics they need. Give it time though; there's no point rushing into anything when we don't have all the information.

So what should we do for now? The best thing to do is to keep up to date with any of the latest developments and, when a debate about legalisation is brought up in the local pub on a Friday night, you are on hand to lay down some sweet, delicious knowledge. Of course, don't come across as an arrogant douche who is apparently an expert since you ate one weed brownie at university and you were sooooooooooooooo stoned (seriously, don't be that guy). Instead, just go with the flow of the debate and everyone will have a good time. Let the natural THC flow up to your brain and get a warm fuzzy feeling of intellectual stimulation. Or just roll up some blunts, put some tunes on and just chill for the whole evening. Call it a 'personal experiment' for the good of society. Go forth, you social warrior!

Take a leaf out of Snoop's book

Ben G 😁 xo