Argumentative Essay On Legalization Of Marijuana

Legalizing marijuana will lead to many societal benefits that will reduce illegal activity while helping the government control the use of the substance and making a profit that can be used to help taxpayers. Marijuana is not a dangerous drug and should be legalized because it does not cause harm to anyone and by legalizing marijuana the government will take control of marijuana distribution and it can benefit a lot of people in many ways. If the government controls the market for marijuana people would no longer be in danger of trying to acquire it illegally and there would be tax for selling marijuana which will benefit both the government and society. By legalizing marijuana the government can make laws about its use.

The legalization of marijuana has been a hot topic in the media for many years now. There is a major divide in those who believe it should be legal, those who do not, and those who think it could be legal with modifications on the usage. The number of those who support the legalization of marijuana is on the rise with nearly 50% supporting recreational marijuana legalization, and 81% supporting marijuana legalization for medical treatment as of 2015 ("Public Support for Marijuana Legalization, 2015”). Marijuana should be legalized on a federal level because it is safer than alcohol, it will increase the economy, and there is an unfair criminalization of marijuana.

Many people from all around the world believe that marijuana is an addictive drug that has ruined the lives of millions. The U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that more than 37,000 annual U.S deaths are the effects of alcohol alone. Alternatively, there is not even a category for the deaths caused by marijuana. Many of us think that marijuana kills brain cells but studies show teens that use marijuana as well as alcohol suffered significantly less damage to the white blood cells in their brains. Alcohol use contributes to aggressive and violent behavior while marijuana will only make a person feel more comfortable. “Alcohol is clearly the drug with the most evidence to support a direct intoxication, violent relationships, whereas cannabis reduces the likelihood of violence during intoxications” (Shuette, 2013). The government does not even track violent acts specifically related to marijuana use. Marijuana and alcohol should be switched where marijuana is legal and alcohol is not because it will benefit people more than alcohol will.

On the other hand, marijuana which has proven to be much less damaging, continues to be illegal in the majority of states. The article, “7 Facts That Prove Alcohol is Way More Dangerous Than Marijuana” states, “The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that more than 37,000 U.S. deaths are attributed to alcohol use alone while on the other hand, the CDC does not even have a category for deaths caused by the use of marijuana” (Short). It is also shown that medical related expenses are significantly greater for users of alcohol versus users of marijuana. Also, while alcohol has been linked to both brain damage and certain forms of cancer, marijuana actually has properties that act to protect brain cells from impairment. In a 2006 experiment directed by Dr. Donald Tashkin from the University of California at Los Angeles, it was determined that marijuana users do not have an increased risk for developing lung cancer and that use of the drug actually decreases the risk of lung cancer happening because of the drug’s “neuroprotective properties” (Short). While alcohol is very addictive producing detrimental and sometimes fatal withdrawal symptoms when it is consumed chronically, marijuana has been found to not create any significant

For starters, the legalization of recreational use of marijuana would boost the economy. For the states that have already legalized weed, the tax collection surpassed expectations.

      There are many ways that marijuana would benefit the economy if legalized. An economy benefits when there is a healthy flow of monies within. This means internal spending by citizens on items of their choice. Citizen spending is what keeps the economy going. The use of citizen?s tax money would also be greatly affected. Tax money would be allocated more properly and used in more strategic ways. The taxation of items such as legalized marijuana brings a flow of money into the economy that would otherwise not be there. This increase of government funds would allocate more money to federal programs that are in financial need. Federal programs include public education, health education, treatment programs, etc. When the public?s way of

Marijuana usage is a topic that has been discussed for some time now but the recent medical and recreational legalization of this drug has brought about a new area of unchartered territory. The business industry will have to revise many of their employment and safety requirements. After viewing some current policies many businesses are likely to be forced to established new protocols for intra and inner state practices. There are many types of complications as to why the marijuana usage laws should stay at the federal level and not within the state.

Beyond the economic growth through new jobs, taxes on marijuana will also provide the government tremendous revenue. With the legalization comes an increased demand for marijuana, which will allow the government to raise taxes. According to Jason Shubnell, “Colorado recently reported $2 million in tax revenue from recreational marijuana sales for the month of January.” Such a large sum of money collected in only a month of sale shows how profitable the legalization of marijuana in U.S. states would be. The possible heavy taxation, in combination with the economic gains from new jobs, is an adequate reason alone to legalize marijuana. Not only that, but the government will save a large amount of money because the amount of funding needed to hire police to enforce drug-related laws will no longer be as big of an expense. According to the Drug Policy Alliance, Washington state “is now

In addition to helping the economy, making marijuana legal can be very helpful to individuals. A detailed National Institution on Drug Abuse (NIDA) funded analysis showed, “legally protected medical marijuana dispensaries, not just medical marijuana laws, were also associated with a decrease in the following, opioid prescribing, self-reports of opioid misuse, and treatment admissions for opioid addiction. (What is Medical Marijuana?)” Marijuana can help those

Proponents of legalization generally argue that legalizing marijuana will have a remarkable economic impact to the country. It will decreasing spending on the law enforcement stopping the possession and selling of the substance, increasing tax revenues, and create new jobs. With the US exiting the 2008 recession this legalization could boost our efforts to build another strong and steady economy.

Marijuana is a harmful drug and should not be legalized. Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug used in the United States. It is a plant that grows from the ground however, it contains many harmful toxins. There are many pros and cons for the legalization of marijuana although there are more cons than there are pros; one being that children are the ones who abuse marijuana the most. Surprisingly, against other beliefs, marijuana smoking actually does impair the user’s ability to drive a lot like the effects of alcohol and it is more addictive than alcohol. Based on this information, many have concluded that marijuana should not be legalized for recreational use.

Legalizing marijuana is safer to consume than alcohol. For example, “Alcohol is more likely to contribute to acts of violence than marijuana” (qtd. Marijuana Policy Project n.pag.). This means that people are calmer and less aggressive when they consume marijuana than when they drink. “MPP claims that research shows marijuana is less addictive than alcohol and less damaging to your body” (qtd. Marijuana Policy Project n.pag.). Alcohol is hard on your body especially when you are drinking regularly it's hard on your liver, but it doesn't matter how marijuana is consumed it is safer than drinking. “Clinical and Experimental Research, conducted that an estimated 36% of hospitalized assaults and 21% of all injuries are attributable to alcohol use by the injured person. Meanwhile,

In 2007, the American economy took a downturn known as the recession. People began looking for a quick fix to our nation’s economic problems and one fix may be right in front of us, with the legalization of marijuana. The debate about legalizing marijuana has been going on for the last decade with no end in sight. Politicians, economists, and everyday people cannot come to an agreement over this growing issue. Today economists still converse over how marijuana can benefit our nations failing economy as it has in the past. The problem of our struggling economy is not one that can be easily fixed but legalizing marijuana can be a huge step towards fixing it.

By legalizing marijuana the economy can create more jobs. People can work at marijuana dispensaries. If all 50 states would legalize marijuana for recreational and medical use it would create more jobs too. Growing marijuana at home would be a job by having to keep the plants alive and getting people to buy your plants. Marijuana can also boost the economy by new tax revenue. This will increase the money going towards the United States taxes. Since marijuana is legal in Colorado they are already making tax money on it. The state made $70 million dollars in tax receipts. When marijuana is legalized the states should lower prices for more consumers. The cheaper the plant is, the more the consumers will buy and that will boost the economies taxes. When marijuana is legal there will be fewer Americans in jail. This will free most of the Americans that are in jail with marijuana related charges. This will also have less people getting locked up for marijuana and limited impact on drug cartels. Cannabis should be legalized because presidents admitted that they have smoked the herb. Clinton, Bush, and Obama have all said they have smoked marijuana. Cannabis is a product people clearly want. If marijuana is legal the demand for it will not stop. By legalizing cannabis it helps guarantee a safer product. It will allow people to purchase what they want, and to use it as responsible adults. “Marijuana is expected to bring Colorado and Washington

Marijuana has been used by mankind for thousands of years. It has been used medically, recreationally, and for various other purposes since it was first discovered. But in recent years, Marijuana has become a symbol of rebellion and laziness, thanks in part to the War on Drugs. Many argue for and against its legalization but there is one thing that they can agree on; the legalization of Marijuana for Medical and Recreational uses will have a tremendous impact on society and the cultures of the United States.