Marijuana
Marijuana
Marijuana is the most abused drug in Los Angeles County. Reports from public health indicated that most clients who visited health facilities for drug treatment were using marijuana. The drug also contributed to high drug-related mortality and arrests (Guerrero et al., 2011). This study will examine the connection between marijuana and the increase in criminal activities in Los Angeles.
According to Pacula and Kilmer (2003), report from the National Research Council indicated that the prolonged use of marijuana altered the nervous system and increased aggression among the users hence promoted violence, theft, and property damage. Theft cases have also been associated with marijuana abuse as drug users engage in acquisitive property crimes to generate funds for acquiring drugs. Moreover, a link between abuse of marijuana and violent crime had been detected among juveniles in the area. The Uniform Crime Reports (UCR) supported this assertion based on the number of arrests that were made.
The psychopharmacological paradigm indicates that drug users engage in crime because drugs contribute to acute psychoactive effects on the users increasing their risk of violent behavior especially among the adolescents. In support of the statement, there has been an alarming high number of adolescents arrested and charged in courts for violent and property offences ( Pacula & Kilmer, 2003). Marijuana abuse has also resulted in indiscipline among Los Angeles high school students, with a majority (37.6%) admitting to have ever used the drug (LA County Report, FY 09-10).
Marijuana use has also been associated with drug related homicide cases. Drug abuse may lead to mental illness and paranoia that can cause extreme violence and murder cases. According to Goldstein et al. (1997), there was a close relationship between drug abuse and homicide cases in America arising from domestic violence and disagreements among drug dealers.
Conclusion
Although some studies indicate there is no connection between marijuana and crime rise, it is still evident that marijuana abuse can numb human thinking and result in criminal activities. Therefore, more stringent measures should be placed on the use of marijuana for crime reduction to be realized.
References
Goldstein, P., Brownstein, H., Ryan, P., & Bellucci, P. (1997). Crack and homicide in New York city. Crack in America: Demon drugs and social justice, 113-130.
Guerrero, E. G., Pan, K. B., Curtis, A., & Lizano, E. L. (2011). Availability of substance abuse treatment services in Spanish: A GIS analysis of Latino communities in Los Angeles County, California. Substance abuse treatment, prevention, and policy, 6(1), 1-8. https://substanceabusepolicy.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1747-597X-6-21
Los Angeles County Participant Reporting System, FY 09-10
Pacula, R. L., & Kilmer, B. (2003). Marijuana and crime: Is there a connection beyond prohibition?. https://www.nber.org/system/files/working_papers/w10046/w10046.pdf