In America, marijuana has been legalized for medical use and recreation in over 16 states, thereby drawing debates from different sociological perspectives among different social groups and organizations. The major factor to highlight in the issue of drug use and legalization can be viewed in the perspective of sociological theories that offer guidance on ethics and how human behavior and practices affect both individual and communal living. Therefore, through the conflict social theory and application of personal views, drug use and legalization can be analyzed to view the benefits and harm associated with its medical and recreational use.
The conflict sociological perspective is a view of how the society hosts different interests and groups that compete for resources and power. Hence, current pressure on the legalization of drugs reflects a change in the political, economic, and social structures that lead to a capitalist system in the United States (Waddington & Smith, 2013). Although marijuana remains illegal at the national level, the current conflict that has seen fair treatment for states that have legalized such drugs may soon see its countrywide legalization and use due to more advocates of drug legalization. More Americans have been exposed to recreational marijuana industry and those controlling this business seem to gain more support day by day. State lawmakers, stakeholders, attorneys general, and industry participants have condemned enforcement against marijuana in states where the pot is legal, clearly indicating that the groups in control are winning (Cerdá et al., 2012). There is substantial evidence supporting the drug legalization, as its contribution in economic growth is notable in states such as California, which leads in the global recreational marijuana market.
I think that despite the classification of marijuana by the DEA as illegal, the previous medical use clearly indicates that its benefits outweigh associated health and social concerns. Although its current situation in the US can be viewed as a conflict of perspectives, its continuing medical utilization support review into the classification of this drug as Schedule I during the 1970s (Choo et al., 2014). I believe marijuana is a safer drug that can be effectively utilized because its prohibition will encourage high illegal, wrong, and non-prescribed usage. Additionally, I think the current conflict of interest in legal marijuana draws from political justification and not medical. However, I do not support the use and legalization of nonmedical psychotropic drugs because the dominant social order disapproves unrestrained indulgence into drugs.
Furthermore, I strongly support the idea of keeping non-medical drugs such as heroin illegal to prevent increased abuse and their effects on the community, especially youths (Choo et al., 2014). However, the existing US legal structure of lengthy incarceration of those found in possession of heroin, marijuana, and other drugs such as cocaine are non-justifiable morally. The federal legal system may be viewed as irrational for allowing the over-the-counter legal purchase of alcohol, tobacco, and caffeine, which are mainly pleasure-producing with high health risks, while drugs such as marijuana that have medical values remain illegal with lengthy imprisonment for possession or use.
