The Influence of Age on the Perception of Decriminalizing Marijuana Research Paper

The Influence of Age on the Perception of Decriminalizing Marijuana - Research Paper ExampleCannabis refers to products which may be obtained from the hemp plant, which is scientifically known as cannabis. Marijuana is obtained from cannabis(Jenkins, 2006). Pacula, et al. (2005) defined the term decriminalization almost literally as the remotion in the criminal status of cannabis possession offenses (P. 348). However, Pacula, et al. (2005) observed that decriminalization remained undefined in the theatre of operations of international policy. It is also worth mentioning at this point that a number of countries and sub-jurisdictions who were popularized to have decriminalized marijuana actually just reduced the penalties for offenses pertaining to possession of marijuana or cannabis for amounts specified by practice of law (Pacula, 2005). The following studies were reviewed either for their direct or indirect bearing on the topic of this tuition McCoun et al. (2009) suggested tha t the force play of the law on decriminalization of marijuana varies among age groups. In adult populations, the law has a epochal effect on marijuana use. Inversely, youth populations appear to be unfazed by regulations and sanctions (as cited in McCoun, et al. 2009). McCoun, et al. (2009) also argued that the furbish up of legal sanctions differs significantly depending on the age group being studied. Results of their analysis of Australian cannabis manipulation show that the youth have a lower tendency to be swayed by legal sanctions. In contrast, adult subjects are largely influenced by government policies. The authors expressed concern most immediately lowest that the youth are less sensitive to marijuana-related arrests because young people are more impulsive and inclined to risky behavior. The McCoun, et al. (2009) study has the most bearing on the current study in the sense that the study tackled decriminalization of marijuana and that the effect of age was studies as a predictor variable. However, the McCoun (2009) work is different from the set out study since the effect of age on prohibition was studied, instead of the effect of age on perceptions about decriminalizing marijuana as proposed in this study. Reyda and Farley (2006) supports the popular notion about young people and marijuana use. The authors cited bear witness revealed in their study that vulnerability of adolescents to be influenced to use marijuana is lessened as they grow older. In addition, it is shown that adolescents are prone to miscalculating risks and developing biases in terms of decision making and judgment than when they grow older. Reyda and Farleys work has indirect bearing on the study, but nonetheless, their findings bolster this researchers position that college students as young people would be supportive of decriminalizing marijuana since marijuana use is tagged to younger people. Meanwhile, Fetherston and Lenton (2005) investigated public perception on th e legalization of cannabis by conducting randomized phone surveys on 809 residents of Western Australia. The respondents were asked regarding their views on cannabis legalization, attitudes towards a proposed legislative model, and their opinion of its perceived effects. Initial participant responses show that majority of respondents office a negative view regarding cannabis. However, most participants consider criminal sanctions against cannabis use as remote and ineffective.