Argumentative Essay: The Legalization Of Marijuana

A controversial topic often being advocated for by sitting governors is whether the legalization of marijuana is more beneficial or harmful to the economy. Marijuana, also known as weed, is a mixture of the dried and shredded leaves, stems, seeds, and flowers of the cannabis sativa plant. It’s the most widely used illegal drug in the United States, even though studies have shown results that the benefits of using marijuana for medicinal or recreational reasons far outweigh the negative matters that may be associated with its use. While marijuana is still a controlled substance under federal law, thirteen U.S. states currently have compassionate use laws in place, which allow for regulated medical marijuana use. By legalizing marijuana, the government is helping the economy by reaping medical and financial benefits, not only at the state level, but also at the federal level. Taking into account the numerous studies done with marijuana on whether it is for recreational use or medical purposes, the government cannot go wrong in legalizing marijuana because of such an impact it will have. Marijuana should be legalized for recreational purposes because it will help society economically and socially.

Marijuana, the most abused drug in America, has had a lot of publicity recently. Marijuana has caused multiple economic problems within the U.S. A controversial question has arisen from the increased popularity and troubles of this drug. The question is whether or not the U.S. government should legalize marijuana possession and sale in the country. Many Americans believe that the drug should be legalized for various reasons; others, however, are against the legalization of the dangerous drug. While legalization has both pros and cons, the positives of legalizing marijuana for those people over the age of twenty-one far outweigh the negative aspects of legalization.

The legalization of marijuana became a heated political subject in the last few years. Twenty-one states in America have legalized medical marijuana. Colorado and Washington are the only states where marijuana can be purchased recreationally. Marijuana is the high THC level part of the cannabis plant, which gives users the “high” feeling. There is ample evidence that supports the argument that marijuana is beneficial. The government should legalize marijuana recreationally for three main reasons. First, I will present two common arguments against the legalization of marijuana and then refute them. Second, I will explain how there is no proof of harmful effects from marijuana and that there are many health benefits prominent. Third, I will describe how legalization would bring in tax revenue for the government. Finally, I will go into detail on how legalization would decrease crime rates.

Legalization of marijuana also provides a unique opportunity for government to gain revenue due to potentially high income from taxation of the substance. The cost of marijuana prohibition runs to billions of dollars annually. This expense can be turned into revenue by the legalization of the substance for medical purposes. Legislators should consider the benefits of marijuana as a substance with medicinal value. There are many people suffering from chronic conditions and personality disorders who can be effectively treated using marijuana to complement the medication provided by pharmaceutical companies. Research has shown that legalizing marijuana holds both economic and medicinal benefits. It is therefore in the best interests of the society as a whole to allow marijuana to be used for medical purposes by all those who need its medicinal

Recently, the topic of marijuana legalization, has raised controversial questions on whether decriminalization of the recreational use of marijuana is beneficial or not towards the society. Some may argue that marijuana should stay illegal because it is dangerous for the mind as it can mentally strenuous for the user. From this perspective, marijuana can especially affect the young minds of children as their minds have not fully developed. Therefore, the chemical toxins released by the use of marijuana can be harmful and affect the development of the mind. Conversely, Marijuana can also be beneficial towards the entire society as a whole. In New York City, “the total fiscal impact of legalizing marijuana in New York City at roughly $431 million annually.” With this in mind, it would make more sense to legalize marijuana as it would prove as an effective income source for the government given the relative safety of the drug while also freeing up police resources.

The legalization of medical marijuana will do more good than harm to the patients and the United States. The arguments toward this subject have been discussed more frequent, so this will focus on the medical feild of other legalized drugs, the history of marijuana, what marijuana truly is, and overall how marijuana will do more help than harm. Marijuana has been very popular more than ever, since many states have accepted it into their state laws for medicinal and recreational use, while the federal government still hasn’t made it legal to let doctors and patients make the decisions. Over twenty-three states and the District of Columbia have now changed their laws and views about how marijuana will be useful to many Americans ("23 states”).

Those who use marijuana often come to depend on the drug, leading to an addiction. “In 2011, approximately 4.2 million people met the diagnostic criteria for abuse or dependence on marijuana”(Public Health). The use of this drug has been considered to be associated with respiratory illness and addiction. A major cause of hospital visits is because of marijuana and “ is also the second leading substance for which people receive drug treatment”(Public Health). Studies showed that in the past twenty years the use of marijuana had nearly tripled. If this drug were to be legalized the use of it would increase due to the increase of availability and acceptability. We see this with alcohol and tobacco, which are used more often than illegal drugs due to the availability. With this growth in the consumption of the cannabis, the public health and financial costs would increase. Alcohol and tobacco are both legal and taxed, they result in a higher social cost than the revenue they produce. Alcohol by itself is approximated to cost the society fifteen times the actual revenue gained by their taxation. If we were to legalize this drug how are we sure that the social cost is going to be close to the revenue it can produce? Sure it may help at first, but what if this was to happen in the long

Opponents state that the U.S. government wastes far too much money arresting, prosecuting, and jailing small-time marijuana offenders. They believe states should legalize marijuana and allow it to be sold on the retail market, using the generated tax revenue to fund drug awareness and treatment programs (Infobase Learning). Opponents believe legalizing it would result in higher usage rates, particularly among young people. Marijuana has posed serious public health problems in states that allow its use. Encouraging a commercial marijuana market will lead to the same abuses and immoral marketing techniques seen in the alcohol and tobacco industries (Infobase Learning).

The legalization of marijuana would, to many Congress men and women, is thought to bring significant revenue to this country just on the taxes alone. It may even boost the job market by creating jobs for the federal government to employee workers at federal marijuana farms. The Obama campaign though does not believe that if the bill were passed that this would help reform the nation’s economy in any way (Montopoli, 2009). Even though marijuana may be viewed as a casual drug in today’s society, if it were legalized the effects it would have would have negative repercussions on people physically, mentally, legally, and socially.

The controversy on the topic is that Americans link marijuana to uneducated, unemployed, and lazy individuals who deal with addiction. Though there are valid points for the legalization of the drug, there is a worry about how the drug will affect the users. Although opponents say that legalizing medical marijuana is a “back-door method of legalizing the drug for recreational use,” the U.S. should legalize medical marijuana because it will reduce crime, increase revenue, provide more research, and will help treat numerous medical conditions.

Medical marijuana has been a touchy subject the last few years. From being legalized in multiple states to being enforced more heavily by the DEA. It has been under scrutiny because of the people that use and sell it. The uses of marijuana not only medically but economically are quite vast and could benefit us greatly. This essay will put forth the reasons why it can stimulate our economy and society while disproving the arguments of why it is bad.

About two weeks ago, Alaska, Oregon and Washington D.C. joined Colorado and Washington State as the only states and provinces in the United States where it is completely legal to recreationally enjoy marijuana. Over the past few years, the debate on the legality of the cannabis plant and its uses has gotten much more attention as these states begin to change their laws, and the issue is brought to the federal level. Both sides of the matter have substantial reasoning for their stance, as well as holes in their arguments that need filling. Even though any two people do not have the exact same stance on the matter, I will look at the two polar sides of the debate and a middle-ground compromise that many are also calling for. An increasing majority of Americans believe that marijuana should be completely legal for

The legalization of Marijuana is a topic that has been discussed for many years. It has had many support as well as opposition. This topic has caused a lot of controversy over the years. In today’s society the amount of marijuana or cannabis that is being consumed is, for the most part, consumed by teens and adults. Although marijuana is an illegal drug, that does not stop people from getting a hold of it. The use of marijuana can be for many reasons such as, socializing, obtaining a high, escaping depression or for medical reasons. The legalization of marijuana is beneficial to the economy, society, and health.

One of the most divisive issues in America today is whether to legalize the cultivation, sale, and possession of cannabis. The prohibition of marijuana cost tax payers an annual of 12 billion dollars a year to prosecute recreational users as criminals which was a component in our deficit today. The current prohibition of marijuana makes criminals of otherwise law abiding cannabis users. Legalization will provide medical benefits of marijuana, and economic benefits of legal marijuana, and the re correct the societal harm that results from the current prohibition of marijuana on the federal level and the majority of states. Those in favor of the current prohibition claim “there are no good reasons to legalize marijuana”, but they do not know all of the plants benefits.

For many generations, the legalization of marijuana has been a great debate but recently this debate has gained much attention. For many years the United States and other nations have spent millions on the ‘war on drugs’, although this war is not successful. The legalization of marijuana would not only be a brake-threw movement but would help many issues the United States is facing today. Cannabis has legitimate medical effects. The sales in many states have shown a great increase in revenue, not to mention prohibition has enormous social cost. Many may argue that the legalization would lead to higher use in other drugs, although studies show marijuana is not a gateway drug.