Argumentative Essay On Legalization Of Marijuana

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.

Opening dispensaries to legally sell the marijuana to customers would create thousands of jobs to help with the current economic crisis. The dispensaries have to hire people to help with the growing process and to sell the marijuana in the dispensaries. Legalizing marijuana would also create jobs for the people who grow, process and sell industrial hemp. It would create jobs at farms, manufacturing plants and distribution shops. It creates a whole new industry, therefore creating jobs in every part of the industry.

Marijuana has been used in religious ceremonies or for medical purposes for thousands of years. I have always been against the use of Marijuana up until four years ago when my husband at the age of twenty seven underwent invasive surgery on his knee and has never been the same since. Colorado took a huge step several years ago legalizing marijuana for medical use and in recent years took the plunge to legalize it for recreational use. Marijuana is not always a bad thing nor is it always a good thing. A lot of people will compare it to any other mind altering substance and have very valid points. I would rather have a loved one or myself smoke marijuana or ingest it, instead of popping pain pills or other harmful substances put on the market by the pharmaceutical industry; Recreational use can be safe and accepting if it is regulated correctly and used responsibly.

Marijuana has been used for a very long time throughout the country for many medical uses. Starting in the 1900’s marijuana as well as other drugs such as cocaine and opium were not considered drugs and were in fact very commonly used. Not much later in 1914 the U.S. made cocaine illegal for non-medical purposes, 56 years later in 1970 cocaine was classified as a schedule II substance. The U.S. was very strict about the cannabis laws starting around the 1980’s. Then beginning in the early 2000’s scientists started discovering the medical benefits the marijuana has on people that are sick. Marijuana was used to treat many people with cancer and also people suffering from depression. Shortly after these studies were released the argument for medical marijuana began to grow throughout the United States. The government did not want any kind of marijuana becoming legal but by being able to overrule the government laws marijuana was legalized for medical use only in California in 1996. This was a huge step in the marijuana industry and a few other states such as Colorado and Arizona had also allowed medical marijuana shortly after. There are now 21 states in the United States that have legalized medical marijuana.

Moreover, using marijuana for medicinal purpose is not a recent discovery. In fact, written references to use medical marijuana date back nearly 5,000 years. Western medicine embraced

Legal cannabis can benefit the U.S in many ways but most importantly is the financial support this plant could provide.According to MerryJane.com in 2016 If all states legalized marijuana it would generate an estimated $28 billion dollars in tax revenue. That’s $28 billion that would be reinvested in programs such as medicare,medicaid and social security. Not only will cannabis drive down pharmaceutical premiums for many cancer patients it will also generate money to be put into healthcare and retirement plans creating a stronger more financially sound America. In addition to this, Legalizing Marijuana in all states would create jobs all over the country from legal Growers to front desk “Budtenders”.America can legalize a plant that would create economic growth and jobs but they choose to keep overcharging people for outdated pharmaceutical prescriptions and letting those big companies affect elections and influence politicians.Forbes writer Debra Borchardt states that The legal cannabis market was worth an estimated $7.2 billion in 2016 and is projected to grow at a compound annual rate of

In Colorado, roughly a year after recreational Cannabis use was legalized, the state saw an enormous economic boost, and has been ranked among the United State’s fastest growing economies [21]. The unemployment rate is also shrinking, and is below the national average [21]. In Canada, legalization would result in more jobs being available to citizens, and this would impact our economy greatly.

Marijuana has been made legal for some form of use in 29 of the 50 states in America, with eight states having it legalized for recreational use. Notable states with it legalized for recreational purposes include Washington, Colorado, and California. Marijuana shops create millions in tax revenue and loads of job opportunities for these states. Not only does it generate millions of dollars in revenue for each state, there plenty of health benefits from marijuana. Along with those positives, marijuana is responsible for zero deaths per year, while alcohol is responsible for an estimated 88,000 deaths per year. Marijuana, both recreational and medical, creates jobs and boosts the economy, has a lot of health benefits, is safer than alcohol, and also has its disadvantages. Marijuana should be made legal and available to everyone in every state across America.

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.

By legalizing marijuana there will be an influx of jobs created due to the demand for dispensaries. Considering the 2.5 million Americans are registered users of medical marijuana, dispensaries alone can make up 2.2 million in one year excluding taxes and owner’s draw and have created thousands of job opportunities just alone in Washington and Colorado. The next pro is the idea that upon legalization there will be a reduction in crime rates. The U.S prisons house up to 6.9 million individuals, 60,000 of those prisoners are there for marijuana use. To house marijuana users it costs the taxpayers around $7-10 billion a year. Approximately 90% of those individuals are in prison for being charged with possession only. The arrests for marijuana possession exceed the arrests for violent crimes including rape and murder. Approximately over 700,000 individuals are arrested each year for marijuana charges. By legalizing marijuana the prisons would have more room for individuals who have committed a violent crime and police forces will be able to do their job and focus on those individuals. This will also give more funding to state agencies and police forces in order to reduce the number of violent crimes. Legalizing marijuana will allow access to health benefits to many individuals, create an increase in job opportunities nationwide providing an influx

Federally legalizing marijuana would bring many new jobs and a very big new source of tax income. "Colorado’s marijuana legalization is quickly turning the state into one of the most prosperous places in the country. Not only has Colorado projected marijuana sales to be a billion dollar industry, but in January of 2014 alone, the state pulled in over $3.5 million in tax revenue from legal pot sales. If that trend continues, the state will enjoy an additional $40 million in tax revenue in the first year of legalization. But that’s not all – you know those dismal unemployment figures plaguing the nation? Not in states where pot is legal. Colorado is reporting 10,000 new jobs, all from the legalization of both recreational and medical marijuana." 10,000 new jobs to each state in the United States would easily improve the market, less unemployment. "The state is now enjoying one of the lowest unemployment rates in the nation – 6% – which is the lowest it has been since the recession started. So much for those old sayings about pot-heads being lazy. That’s an additional 10,000 people in a labor force out working, instead of collecting unemployment. That’s good for everyone." Marijuana tax income in Colorado and Washington have exceeded estimates made beforehand. Enforcing thousands of new jobs, making lots of new money, helping the medical world, and reducing crime rate in the United States it sounds as if marijuana should already be legal

First off, how will marijuana help boost our country and economy. “Average annual trade in marijuana is estimated at $113 billion, which represents nearly $45 billion in taxes slipping through our fingers”(Smith.1). If we would tax it an extra $45 billion, this could really help our country financially.”Right now medical marijuana in California brings in 14 billions dollars a year and with legalization it is expected to rise by 4 billion and that’s only in California”(Derek.1). Legalizing marijuana would take it out of the black market which would end the war on marijuana, that is costing the government billions yearly. Legalization would dramatically cut down on prison spending, “an estimated one and four people are in prison solely because of non-violent drug offenses, including possession, sales,and repeat offenses related to marijuana”(Smith.1). A lot of prisons are becoming over populated, this would more than likely cut down on prison space as well. If one will think about pot legalization this can and will create more jobs, because there will be companies that will produce the drug. This would benefit the economy with extra jobs. That is how marijuana could help boost our country and

There are many controversial topics that are discussed in our society and when we discuss these issues we sometimes can come into conflicts on deciding what is the right decision to make because there are too many perspectives. A controversial issue that has been in America for years and has recently become more popular is the issues of the legalization of marijuana. Should marijuana be legalized? Is the popular question that no one seems to have a solid answer to. In recent New York Times articles, they have covered the topic of the Legalization of Marijuana; all articles differ in opinion about what the necessary precautions are for this issues. After reading and analyzing the articles, one could agree that Marijuana should be legalized because it will stop racial discriminations, lessen the rate of crime and help certain health issues.

Cannabis or Marijuana is a psychoactive drug found in the Cannabis plant. Its use has been noted as far in the past 2000 B.C. The prevalence of Marijuana is constant throughout the United States of America. The legalization of this substance has been widely debated for decades. The large debate has led to a lack of consistency with our laws throughout states; In states such as Colorado, Washington, Alaska, Nevada, Oregon, Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, and California, marijuana is legal recreationally while others may only be legal medically, or not legal at all. Legalizing the recreational use of marijuana has led to an apparent issue of controlling drivers under the influence of marijuana. Police face issues attempting to control inhibited drivers through errors such as a lack of testing and a lack of regulation.

Marijuana, in a lot of people's minds, is a horrible drug that has very harmful effects, but little do the people know that it is actually one of the most helpful drugs in the world. Marijuana is shown to help with many illness’ including P.T.S.D., epilepsy, and even chronic depression. Many states have already learned of these health benefits, and have legalized marijuana medically. For some states it’s even allowed recreationally for everyday usage. Overall, the government is wasting their time busting drug dealers and spending lives and money when they should just legalize it.