Should Marijuana Be Legalized?

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Four states have legalized recreational marijuana in certain quantities. Twenty states have decriminalized marijuana, generally making it a minor traffic violation for first time offenders. The federal government has stated that it will not override what the states have passed, but it is still considered illegal. I believe that marijuana should be legalized by the federal government so the medical benefits can be expanded and regulated, to reduce and redirect prison and law enforcement resources, and for the economic benefits it will create.

These states report a boost in their economy through the sales of medicinal cannabis, which brings in millions of dollars in tax revenue. In addition, the unemployment rate decreased since medical marijuana dispensaries are supplying jobs to those people who have no employment opportunities available to them. Crime rates will decrease as well, since law enforcement can now focus on serious crimes like rape, murder, terrorism, and narcotics. Legalizing medical marijuana is the top priority for a better

In spite of marijuana having the potential to be addicting, legalizing marijuana would further enhance our economic stability. According to Gardenier et al., “Agriculturally and environmentally, hemp is a sustainable crop that is incredibly resourceful. There are thousands of products that are produced from hemp and it can be grown almost anywhere and quickly” (117). Increasing the growth of marijuana on United States soil can eliminate taxes from other countries, such as Canada, that we import marijuana from. The United States can also increase the tax on marijuana to consumers in order to further the economic status of our country; making an increase in taxes would increase the amount of money the United States gets to spend on education, health,

Possession and use of marijuana is illegal in over half of the United States, but it is still the third most popular recreational drug in the United States. The debate for this drug to be legal has been going on for many years; some states have legalized the drug for medical use, and some for recreational use as well. Other states seem to disagree; they are not in favor of making the drug legal for medical use or recreational use. It has been proven that marijuana has a positive impact on society. Marijuana should be legalized as it would reduce crime, provide health benefits, and it is a safe drug.

Just as there have been many cases of negative consequences for the legalization of marijuana…there have also been positive cases. Over the years, the marijuana industry has developed rapidly and generated thousands of new jobs. After the legalization of weed over 18,000 full-time jobs were created and added roughly 2.4 billion USD (US Dollars) to the state of Colorado’s economy. Colorado also accumulated over 10 million USD in taxes from retail sales in the first four months (“7 Ways Marijuana Legalization Has Already Benefited Colorado In Only 8

But what needs to be known before a user can safely and completely make the decision if trying Marijuana is a good idea? Many do not want the drug to be legalized because they claim that Cannabis is a “gateway drug”, meaning it will cause people to try harder drugs once their body builds up a resistance to Marijuana, because a stronger drug will be needed to reach a high state. This argument is often falsely related to the medical side of the debate over legalization. It is claimed that this would be a reason not to legalize the drug. This argument, though true, is misleading and should actually be used for a reason to legalize Cannabis. It must first be understood that drug dealers use Marijuana to prey on people who like the high feeling. They convince those doing the drugs to try harder ones such as but not limited to Molly, Heroin, Meth, or LSDs. All drugs that are addictive. Peer pressure is what leads to Cannabis being a gateway drug, a unfortunate scenario that could be eliminated by putting Marijuana on the free market. If it was legal to intake users would no longer have to turn to drug dealers for their supply, therefore eliminating situation in which they could be influenced by peer pressure. So with all this in mind the fact that it is a gateway drug does not mean that it is medically unacceptable. In fact, I strongly believe that health should not be the reason why it it’s illegal and placed on the harmful drugs list because it is 0% addictive and has never

On the other end of the spectrum, many frequent marijuana users are against legalization for the many constraints it will place on their use. The way the states have been regulating the drug disallows anyone under twenty-one to obtain the drug, even for medical needs, and it hinders their ability to drive while the drug is in their system (Evergreen). The stipulations concerning driving will cause inconveniencies for frequent users due to the variations of time in which the drug stays in a person’s system, often ranging from hours, to days, or even weeks. (Evergreen). Many varying conflicts of interest collide when discussing how to legalize the drug. All sides must be considered. There must be stipulations to appease the government, laws for those who need it medically, those who want to benefit from the drug recreationally must be considered, those who do not want the drug at all, and those who want the drug for its business opportunities must all be recognized. The laws created will not be perfect and they will require all parties to afford a bit of flexibility.

Colorado attracts millions of tourists every year mostly because of ski resorts, touring and outdoor trips. This list has been enlarged by a legalized access to recreational marijuana in January 2014. People from other states can now stop by marijuana dispensary and purchase up to ¼ ounce of retail marijuana at once. According to the Marijuana Policy Group research, out-of-state visitors purchase 44% of metro area retail demand and about 90% of retail demand in mountain counties. This demand from tourists has increased income of Colorado marijuana dispensaries dramatically. However, as there are only 2 states in the US, which legalized marijuana for recreational use, it is hard to judge whether it is good or bad for our society, but its legalization would definitely have a positive impact on the US economy.

Marijuana usage should be legalized in the state of Georgia. The legalization of marijuana is going faster than many thought possible. Eight states are considering replacing criminal penalties with fines, and are considering decriminalizing possession. Medical marijuana is on the table for seventeen other states also (Ross, J. K. 2014, 05).

From mandatory crop to illegal drug, cannabis has gone from revered to criminal in the course of United States history. Its fall from grace has been an education in mass hysteria, propaganda, market manipulation and greed. Fortunately, for those suffering debilitating medical conditions and those that wish to enjoy its euphoric effects alike, it appears that the pendulum is swinging in the opposite direction. The close of the 2015 legislative session revealed a potential shift in the way the Texas legislature views the sale and use of Marijuana. While not a complete victory, two bills legalizing the use of marijuana actually made it out of committee (Savage). That is not to say that if the legislative session had

While growing up, everyone is told that drugs are bad for you, time and time again. As a kid people don’t really understand why, but they listen anyways. Do you remember being told this your whole life? As we got older we realized that many people would use drugs even though it is illegal. Some people never understood why somebody would break the law and risk their life just to use drugs. That drug would be marijuana, and it is all around us even if we don’t know it. Now being a young adult and knowing its effects on other people, people wonder why marijuana is not legal. Why is it that this marijuana has become illegal all over the world? Marijuana has been tested and was proven to support a very positive impact on the American

How can marijuana be illegal when it could help so many people who suffer and are in need of help for medical reasons, such as cancer, AIDs, and people who suffer from depression? Can you imagine having a natural way of helping the sick and not using it? Marijuana should be legalized because it would help symptoms for certain medical conditions and would create jobs.

November 2000 Colorado resident voters passed Amendment 44 into law the legalization of the use of medical marijuana. Furthermore in November 2012, recreational marijuana use was legalized when Colorado resident voters passed Amendment 64 into law. Although these laws were passed in Colorado legalizing marijuana, it does not protect an employee’s job from a company zero-tolerance drug policy. Many companies such as Breeze view the use of marijuana as a violation of their policy and cause for termination, especially since marijuana is still illegal on the federal level.

Cannabis, formally known as marijuana is a drug obtained from the tops, stems and leaves of the hemp plant cannabis. The drug is one of the most commonly used drugs in the world. Only substances like caffeine, nicotine and alcohol are used more (“Marijuana” 1). In the U. S. where some use it to feel “high” or get an escape from reality. The drug is referred to in many ways; weed, grass, pot, and or reefer are some common names used to describe the drug (“Marijuana” 1). Like most drugs, marijuana has a very long history. People have been using the plant around the world for thousands of years. The oldest record of the marijuana plant dates back to 2727 B. C. in China where the plant was used as a medical herb for treating conditions like rheumatism, gout, malaria and even absent-mindedness (“Cannabis, Coca, & Poopy: Nature’s Addictive Plants” 1). Slowly, the plant started spreading around the world. By 1545, cannabis was starting to appear throughout the western worlds. Being introduced to South America by the Spanish to be used as fiber. The crop also had many other common uses around the world. In North America, cannabis was often used to make paper, ropes, clothing and other materials (“The Origins of Cannabis” 1).