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Social Analysis Proposal

Should Marijuana be legalized for Recreational Purposes?

Name:

Ro-shane Whyte (300 )

Andr Levy (300 826 634)

Global Citizenship and Equity GNED 500

Professor: Milan Jelenic, PhD
October 12, 2015

1. What is the social problem/issue that you will be researching (your topic)?
- The research will focus on why marijuana should be legalized for recreational usage.
Recreational usage is considered to be the act of consuming marijuana for enjoyment
when one is not working, primarily during ones leisure time. As such, recreational
usage brings about its own unique challenges such as substance abuse, regulatory
problems, and economic constraints.
2. What do you current know about this topic?
- In modern day Canada, there is still a negative social stigma surrounding marijuana
usage; however, there exists a significant push to legalize the drug for recreational
usage. Research into a similar industry (e.g. alcohol) shows that identical conditions
surrounded alcoholic beverages as prohibition was enacted in all ten provinces
between the years 1901 1921. Today alcohol, although not easily accessible like
many other countries, has become a part of conventional recreation during Canadian
leisure time. A similar situation can be anticipated if provincial and federal law allows
marijuana to become legal for recreational use. Marijuana is not a hallucinogenic
drug therefore most of the reports of users becoming insane, scientifically, should be
attributed to some other variable. Unlike its legal counterpart, alcohol, marijuana is
not a depressant and also it is seldom attributed to violent acts such as domestic abuse
or violent attacks on people/ property. It is true that marijuana impairs ones ability to
make rational decisions but it rarely results in a negative effect to bystanders like that
of alcoholic impairment.
3. Why does this problem/issue concern you?
- Recreational marijuana usage is of particular concern due to three main reasons, first
is its negative long-term mental health effects, the monopoly that would exist if large
manufacturers are allowed to commercialize its distribution, and finally the drug
related public exposure to violence. The hallmark of marijuana has been the feeling of

euphoria supplied by the Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) component of the plant.

However there are negative health effects that have been linked to marijuana such as
addiction, laziness, and long term decrease in cognitive abilities. Secondly, almost all
businesses strive to become a monopoly, therefore it is completely acceptable to
pursue a monopoly on marijuana production. However, the relative ease with which a
marijuana plant can be harvested by a small business owner prevents large
corporations from monopolising the industry as they did with the resource intensive
production of alcoholic beverages. Finally, the potential to drastically reduce drug
related crimes is a key concern as marijuana prohibition has only increased in its
perceived value. According to (D. Mark Anderson, 2013) an increase in supply like
any other product will be met with a decrease in demand over time due to its relative
availability. Hence by deduction marijuana is most valuable if it is difficult to obtain
(i.e. illegal) which further supports the stance for its legalization, if even for
recreational use where the plant is most frequently consumed.
4. How does this problem relate to your personal/professional?
- In terms of ones professional life, employers require that their employees not be
under the influence of drugs hence they perform regular blood tests to detect drug
use. Therefore, one would not participate marijuana usage. In terms of personal life,
one would approach its usage just as one does alcoholic consumption however again
from a professional approach one would refuse to use it. For those whose employers
do not require blood test its usage is just as acceptable for recreational usage. Like
any substance that impairs ones perception of reality its usage should only be
matched to the long term health effects it has on the human body. Hence one sees

recreational marijuana usage no different than that of smoking a cigarette or drinking

a glass of rum.
5. What questions do you have about this problem/issue?
- Wont small business owners be put out of business if marijuana becomes
commoditized?
The argument of small marijuana business owners being put out of business is grossly
overstated as research based on the legalization of marijuana in Colorado and
Washington (for production and commercial distribution) shows that under federal
law commercial production and distribution is still prohibited; however, sale of the
plant in very small quantities is still an activity supported primarily by small
businesses. If federal law advances to fully legalize commercial production and
distribution then legalization would be detrimental to small business owners to some
degree, yet; the results in Colorado have shown that this is not the case as long as
-

federal law prohibits commercial marijuana from the consumer market.

Will recreational legalization remove the stigma from marijuana therefore allowing
it to become more mainstream?
If one examines other social recreational activities of adults between the ages of 21
45 years old smoking and drinking during leisure time are among the most popular
activities. Just as drinking alcohol was once seen as taboo but now mainstream or
smoking was once viewed as an upper class ritual so too can smoking marijuana
become acceptable. Public perception will be key in allowing marijuana to become

even more mainstream.

6. How will you go about/structuring your analysis (social analysis paper)?
- The structure of the paper will be based on two contrasting views using the prochoice argument to disprove arguments against the legalization of marijuana for
recreational usage. The social analysis is expected to address the major issues
preventing the legalization of the plant for recreational purposes. Finally the analysis

should focus on North America, more so the effect legalization would have on
Canadian citizens.

Annotated Bibliography
D. Mark Anderson, D. I. (2013). The Legalization of Recreational Marijuana: How Likely Is the
Worst-Case Scenario? Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, 1-10. Retrieved
from http://pirate.shu.edu/~rotthoku/Liberty/JPAM%2021727_Point.pdf