Should Marijuana Be Legal?

Governor Jerry Brown has just signed into law SB 65 [Hill] in the form as negotiated by RBOC.

Proposition 64 permitted adults 21 years or older to have and utilize cannabis for recreational purposes. The measure made two new assessments, one required on the development and the other on retail cost. Income from the taxes will be spent on medication research, treatment, and requirement, wellbeing and security stipends tending to cannabis, youth programs, and keeping natural harm coming about because of unlawful cannabis creation.

The measured passed with an overwhelming majority with a margin of 80% approval from residents (Kuruvila). This is yet another example of Californians showing support for the legalization of marijuana through ballot initiatives. This measure is yet another step towards the legalization of marijuana in the

“According to the Colorado Department of Revenue, the regulated marijuana market generated more than $156 million in state tax revenue and license fees in FY 2015-2016.” (The Impact of Legalization in Colorado,2017). The amount recognized in the quote was not including local taxes. The taxes generated from recreational marijuana use can be used for the state of Colorado to spend on many valuable things in the state. Such as schools, public transportation, or natural parks. This benefits the economy by creating more money for the state to spend and putting more money into circulation.

Cannabis, also known as Marijuana, has been used by humans throughout history for medical, recreational, as well as spiritual purposes. Its fiber, oil, and seed are also refined into products such as hemp oil, wax, rope, cloth, and paper (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 2013, para. 1). With 56% voters overwhelming supported for medical cannabis, California became the first state in the United States to pass Prop 215 in 1996 ensuring the patients and their primary caregivers to “have the right to obtain and use marijuana for medical purpose” (California Department of Public Health, 2013, Text of Law section, para. 1).

In 1996, California voters passed the Compassionate Use Act, which allowed for the cultivation and usage of marijuana for limited medical purposes. The proposition was the statewide ballot on the issue of medical marijuana which had been passed. It was enacted with 55% of the population in favor, 45% opposed, a fact which in and of itself

In 1996, California Proposition 215 passed with 55.6% votes in favor and 44.4% against it (Baird 2011). That is more California votes than Bush, Clinton, or most other elected presidents have received. Proposition 215 was the first statewide medical marijuana voter initiative adopted in the USA. This proposition was envisioned by San Francisco marijuana activist and owner of the San Francisco Cannabis Buyer’s Club, Dennis Peron, in memory of his partner, who smoked marijuana to help with symptoms of AIDS. Initially, California claimed its support for the legalization of medical marijuana by voting 80% in favor of Proposition P, the San Francisco medical marijuana initiative in 1991 (Baird 2011). Three California polls show a majority siding with Proposition 215, which would require only a ' 'doctor 's recommendation ' ' for marijuana use by patients with AIDS, cancer, glaucoma ' 'or any other illness for which marijuana provides relief (Goldberg 1996). ' ' A Field Poll ending Oct. 9, 1996 showed that 56 percent of those surveyed would vote for the measure, a private poll in the same period by the campaign for Proposition 215 found 57 percent supporting it, and a Los Angeles Times poll found 58 percent in favor. The opposition

the marijuana accordingly to help stimulate the economy. “If you made it licit, and taxed it, the

Marijuana growers in Mexico have felt the competition in the marijuana market in the United States. Domestic Marijuana has ramped in places such as Colorado and Washington, the prices for marijuana have fallen. “Two or three years ago, a kilogram [2.2 pounds] of marijuana was worth $60 to $90, but now they're paying us $30 to $40 a kilo. It's a big difference. If the U.S. continues to legalize pot, they'll

Proposition 64 had similar attempts with proposition 19 and 215 in having related marijuana being legalized or only for medical purposes. The supporting groups such as; NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws), democratic

It is estimated that marijuana is the largest cash crop in California, with annual revenues approaching $14 billion. A 10% pot tax would yield $1.4 billion in California alone (time). The taxation of marijuana would create more jobs and stimulate the economy.

At last count 64% of the Nevada population support recreational legalization of marijuana. The medical market there is already active and growing.

One of the greatest appeals of this law was the revenue that would be brought in from the sales of products of marijuana. Not only will the Commonwealth be able to implement an excise tax of 3.75%, there will also be an optional local sales tax of up to two percent of the total sales price by the retailer that will be directly applied to the city or town in which it was implemented. All revenue including state taxes, application and licensing fees, and civil fines will be placed in a Marijuana Regulation Fund and distributed for the usage of administrative fees, enforcement officials, and regulation staffing. Administrative fees will

Marijuana; So Many Uses By Stacey Price Brown Nov 5, 2009 We are all familiar with the Marijuana plant but because of its use as a recreational drug, no one can fully appreciate the many purposes associated with this plant. It was not until recently that scientists began to admit that this plant indeed has a place in the medical community because of its unique properties. Anyone who has tried to grow the plant knows that it is easy to grow; it is frost tolerant, requires no pesticides or herbicides, and can reach heights of twenty feet at maturity. One acre will produce as much paper as two to four acres of trees.

Proposition 205 was on the November 2016 ballot in the state of Arizona allowing voters to decide whether or not marijuana should be legalized. The major arguments behind bringing legal recreational marijuana to Arizona consist of legalization denting the black market, affecting people similarly to alcohol, and the obvious: helping schools. Legalization is predicted by the Arizona Joint Legislative Budget Committee to “take in $30 million three years after Prop. 205 passes… not enough to buy a single textbook for every Arizona student,” (Bennet). Pro-legalization commercials tote that marijuana taxes would bring in more than $55 million for schools, when in actuality the $55 million number is the total tax revenue for the entire state. This commercial used a fallacious argument to coerce and mislead voters into passing Proposition 205 – and potentially allowing the state to fall into a similar situation as Colorado, where the Denver school superintendent contends that “’The only thing that the legalization of marijuana has brought to our schools has been marijuana,’” (Sanchez). Arizona missed legalization, and facing the same fate that Colorado public schools face this election year: Proposition 205 did not