Legalization of marijuana on a federal level may benefit society more than cause it harm. When people hear the word marijuana, cannabis, hemp, etc. they tend to compare it to dangerous hardcore drugs. In all reality, unlike these other hardcore drugs, marijuana has many advantages that could possibly outweigh its negatives. For example, federally legalizing marijuana could stimulate growth within an economy by allowing the government the opportunity to reduce expenses on prohibition, create jobs and collect sales tax revenue, create a healthier more organic agriculture through hemp industrialization, and offer a more natural remedy to alleviate medical symptoms.
Marijuana prohibition was supposed to make it more troublesome for
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are less than that of marijuana. From 1991-2000, arrests for marijuana violations have doubled while arrest for more illicit drugs, such as heroine, have fell to about thirty-three percent. (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana, 2003) Violations of marijuana is said to be the fifth most commonly violated law in the United States. In 2006, FBI databases showed that more than 80% of the 700,000 plus arrested were charged with possession of marijuana; costing taxpayers close to forty billion dollars in criminal justice costs, as well as tax revenue loss. (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana, 2007) Repercussions of a marijuana arrest alone are significant by itself. Some penalties may include, but are not limited to probation and mandatory drug testing, loss of driving privileges, loss of federal college aid, asset forfeiture, revocation of professional licenses, loss of certain welfare benefits such as food stamps and removal from public housing, loss of child custody, etc. (Armentano, 2005) Regardless of whether marijuana offenders serve time in prison or not, there is a large portion of generally honest- integral individuals whose lives are unnecessarily decimated over a non-violent charge.
Harvard economist Jeffery Miron (2005) claims that even though legalization of marijuana will mean a loss of revenue from court fines and asset forfeitures, “legalization will reduce the need for prosecutorial,
The cost to keep Marijuana illegal is too expensive and unnecessary for something that does not pose a threat to society. The amount of money that is spent arresting responsible Marijuana users can be used towards something more high priority and important that will benefit the United States. Many Marijuana users are taking up valuable space in jail for possession when they in fact do not pose a threat to society. FBI records show that 829,627 marijuana users were arrested in 2006 which is a 43,000 person increase, for possession alone (Should Governments Legalize and Tax Marijuana). Jeffrey Miron is the director of undergraduate studies at Harvard University and estimates that legalizing marijuana would save $13.7 billion per year in government spending on enforcement of prohibition. Miron states that “First, legalization eliminates arrests for trafficking and possession. Second, legalization saves judicial and incarceration expenses. Third, legalization allows taxation of drug
Growing up everyone is always told “drugs are bad for you” over and over. As children, we have no perspective and do not fully understand the use of drugs. Drugs are always around us, especially marijuana. It is the most commonly used drug in the world. As much as we are told not to use this substance or be around it, many have encountered it in some way before. Marijuana being illegal in most states does not stop people from using the substance. Since this illegal drug is still used no matter the situation why not benefit from it and legalize it throughout the United States? Marijuana could have a positive effect on America in relation to health and the economy.
It is universally known that the legalization of marijuana comes with certain risks. But none of these risks are not already existing, legalizing marijuana would only help with regulating the usage and the sale of the substance. At the same times it would also have positive effects on the environment including the people. Of course the possible money gain to support schools, infrastructure and to fight criminals would be one of the biggest
The dispute over the legalization of cannabis sativa, more commonly known as marijuana, is one of the most controversial issues ever to take place in the United States. Its use as a medicine has existed for thousands of years in many countries across the globe. Legalization should be considered despite efforts made by groups who say marijuana is a harmful drug that will increase crime rates and lead users to other more dangerous substances. The legalization of marijuana can improve our society by helping with our economy, freeing legal resources, and benefiting the overall health of the nation though medical uses.
In the United States institutionalized prohibition-based cannabis policies defy widely accepted societal values, delegitimizing the state's authority of law, neglecting its responsibility to respect individual free will and ultimately, the right of self-determination. These unjustified policies take a heavy financial and social toll on society, forcing law enforcement to spend time and money to arrest a majority of non-violent, low level-offenders. In addition, marijuana policies and enforcement have been seen as inherently biased and discriminatory. Not only that, but the medical applications of cannabis are increasingly becoming recognized and accepted as a standard in terms of treating diseases and relieving physical or mental ailments. Furthermore, statistics have shown that legalization leads to a decreased use of marijuana among teens and minors. Dollar wise, cannabis
Marijuana has a greater beneficial impact on society then many people realize. Marijuana should be legalized for medical as well as recreational purposes. This is a highly controversial issue that is being debated throughout the country. In essence marijuana is evaluated by the effectiveness of the drug. It is defined as the dried flowered clusters and leaves of a hemp plant smoked for the intoxicating effect. Whether it should be legalized or not is the real question.
The United States of America stands as one of the leading territories in the consumption of forbidden
Cannabis has been illegal since the Marijuana Tax act of 1934. Yet out of a population of 284 million American citizens, 70 million Americans claim to have smoked cannabis at some point in their lives. Prohibition of cannabis is therefore apparently ineffective at changing the habits of a population, just as prohibition of alcohol was ineffective in 1919-1933. Making otherwise law-abiding citizens fugitives does nothing more than fill the prisons and alienate the populace from their government. In fact the total cost to taxpayers of solely marijuana-related incarceration (in local, state, and federal prisons and jails) of 15,400 people exceeds $1.2 million per year.
Marijuana can boost sales and taxes, promoting millions of dollars in additional tax revenue. Marijuana also creates a new industry. Job growth will spike, marijuana needs effective care being grown and packaged. By keeping marijuana illegal the government spends unnecessary money on enforcement; unregulated and untaxed. In this case law enforcement can focus on more important offenses; providing prisons with more space for those who deserve to be there. Our world could easily become safer with an advantage such as this. By limiting marijuana use, the government is also intruding on our personal freedom. It is an individuals job to decided wether or not one wants to consume marijuana. Ones freedoms should be taken into consideration, without compromising. Legalizing medical marijuana can bring positive
The General perspective that society throws on marijuana is that equal to any drug; negative. However, many researchers have found that the effects of marijuana for medicinal purposes can be beneficial to the right patients, as well as the United States government. The negative effects from marijuana use in a medicinal environment are far less than that of most over the counter drugs, while the benefits remain the same. There are instances in which marijuana was legalized for people with prescriptions from licensed doctors; however, full legalization is leaps and bounds away from the current status. Another way full legalization could help is money the government uses to try and fight marijuana
The decriminalization of marijuana has been a great issue and has contributed to the arrests of thousands. In Jon Gettman’s article, “Arrests, Usage, and Related Data,” he reports on the reasons for arrests in California. Gettman asserts that, “Marijuana arrests in California have increased from 61,375 in 2003, to 74,024 in 2007.” This suggests that law enforcement has focused on this issue immensely, and it has proven to affect many lives. It goes to show that the arrests for marijuana possession are only increasing as the years go by as well. Gettman also claims that, “Marijuana possession arrests accounted for 80% of all marijuana arrests in California during 2007”(Gettman).This suggests that so many people have a marijuana offense on their record for simply having it, and not being caught using it. If marijuana is legalized, as much as 80% of these users would no longer face arrests as possessing marijuana would no longer be a crime. In his article, “California Arrested Nearly Half a Million People for Pot over the past Decade,” Christopher Ingraham also stresses that although an effort to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana in 2011 was made, thousands are still getting arrested for it. Many are getting arrested for misdemeanors and felonies. The perfect records of many are being destroyed
The war on drugs has ravished our nation since President Nixon declared it in 1971. Today, twenty-six states have legalized some form of marijuana; either recreational or for medical use. This likely has an effect on crime cycles across the states that have legalized marijuana for recreational use and is worthy to be studied to decrease the overflowing prison systems and also bring revenue for those states.
Marijuana legalization is something taking the world by storm at the moment and each state is getting cannabis legal sooner than you think, at the same time it's being debated by citizens whether they want it legal in their state or not. I think we should legalise it due to the amount of pros compared to cons and our individual right for the pursuit of happiness. Ravin V. State is a court case which states any adult can own a small amount of marijuana for whatever they want. When it comes to the common good there's really not too much that could hurt it, it could create jobs and treat tons of mental and physical disorders, although more traffic accidents could happen. The government plays a part in cannabis legalization due to them growing
The use of recreational marijuana is illegal in the United States. Although cannabinoids--the active compounds in marijuana may have the potential to help manage certain symptoms. Researchers around the world, including some in the United States, are continuing to explore the potential of the marijuana drug in use to help patients who benefit from the drug. According to our class notes, marijuana and Tabaco contain almost the same amount of chemical’s at over 500. The side effects include health risks similar associated with tobacco. Throughout the essay the benefits of legalizing marijuana for the government economically, for medical purposes, as well as negatives of marijuana will be introduced.
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.