Cannabis Legalization: A Blessing or a Curse?

Illustration courtesy: Ashleigh Kim

Globally, marijuana has been widely used for decades. In the 1960s, consumption surged, especially in Western Europe and North America (WHO). Since then, global efforts to regulate cannabis have restricted its use, with only a few countries permitting medical cannabis. But this trend began to shift when Uruguay legalized recreational marijuana in 2013, followed by Georgia in 2018. Today, nine countries, including Canada have fully legalized recreational cannabis (Visual Capitalist). Additionally, 24 U.S. states have done the same (DISA). 

Public opinion on cannabis has softened, particularly as more countries allow medical cannabis, according to Johns Hopkins. Economically, legalization has increased tax revenues, with cannabis-related tax revenues reaching $4.8 billion in 2023 (Investopedia). Advocates argue that legalization also prevents wasteful spending on drug enforcement and benefits local economies. A Pew Research Center survey shows that a majority of U.S. citizens support legalization, believing it would create economic benefits and make the criminal justice system fairer. 

However, recent reports link marijuana to harmful effects. The New York Times has reported cases of psychosis and illness among users. Overuse has even been associated with fatalities. In 2022, a Statista survey revealed that more than 61 million people in the U.S. used marijuana, raising concerns about increased health risks as legalization spreads.

While cannabis remains illegal in countries like South Korea, which enforces strict penalties for overseas cannabis use, international disagreements on marijuana regulation complicate efforts to protect citizens, according to the Korea Times. Governments must balance the economic benefits of legalization with the potential harms to public health, and some argue that a rollback on recreational cannabis use may be necessary to safeguard communities.