Should Marijuana Be Legalized?

Recently states have started to move towards the direction of decriminalization or legalization of marijuana. The first states to have done it were Colorado and Washington in 2012. Since it has now been more than four years since this happened we can now start to see the effects that the legalization of marijuana had on these states. For example just last year, Colorado earned more money in tax revenue from weed than alcohol sales. This is money that the state could not have gotten

This paper will look at the benefits and drawbacks to legalizing marijuana by looking in at Colorado.The state made forty million dollars by taxed marijuana in 2014 alone, also Colorado saved countless millions because of the extremely lower amounts of marijuana arrest and court cases. It is not clear how having new recreational marijuana stores opening will affect the cannabis market, or businesses expanding around them. Gov. John Hickenlooper says that the economy is thriving with record setting numbers of tourists (73.1 million). 49 percent of those tourist said that legal marijuana influenced their decisions to vacation in Colorado. The ER’s in Colorado have also seen a rise in numbers of marijuana related cases and those cases in non-residents have almost doubled. An unexpected situation that arose from legal cannabis was the amount of electricity that is being use to grow the drug. Some cannabusinesses have to go green with solar or wind power. There are many varying views on the effects of legal marijuana have developed in Colorado since marijuana became legal in 2014.

Marijuana is amongst one of the most disputable subjects in political issues. It is the most exploited drug in the United States and can even be around the globe. Marijuana is the main source of substance reliance other than alcohol in the United States. Numerous groups in recent years have come forward and claim that marijuana use has been beneficial with numerous medical conditions. In fact, it has helped numerous people with diseases, for example, Glaucoma, Cancer, and any other physical or mental pain. Medicinal cannabis should be legalized in Florida, but should be regulated accordingly. The clear majority trust that marijuana use would be more beneficial if it was not criminalized but most still believe that the government should keep it as a controlled substance. In 2008, 4 million out of the 7 million individuals, ages 12 and older, characterized as having a reliance or abusing marijuana. This implies that two out of every three Americans experiencing any substance abuse have developed marijuana reliance. The legalization of marijuana in the United States such an issue for so many individuals today. Some believe that marijuana should not be legalized in Florida because of physical health, mental health, effects of driving under the influence of marijuana, and increase in use. Others believe that is it marijuana should be legal because of its harmless if used in moderation, limits of personal freedoms, and potential FDA regulations.

The legalization of marijuana will lead to a boost to the economy. With the United States being trillions in debt, an increase in tax money would be a big help to lower the national debt. Colorado, one of the first states to legalize marijuana for recreational and medicinal uses, is showing valuable data of an increase in tax money, “In 2015, Colorado collected more than $135 million in taxes and fees on medicinal and recreational marijuana. Sales totaled over $996 million” (Krishna, Mrinalini). Now, Colorado is joined by seven other states, Washington, Oregon, California, Alaska, Maine, Massachusetts, and Nevada, in the full legalization of marijuana. With these states joining with Colorado, the United States is seeing sales “[grow] by 30%, to 6.1 billion, in 2016 and a projected 20.1 billion in 2021” (Krishna, Mrinalini). With that in mind, these sales are shared among only eight states, add another forty-two states and the rates could surpass the trillions. Considering the evidence, the act of not legalizing marijuana would be foolish.

Should marijuana be legalized? Many Americans have been asked this question or have heard some type of news about the issue. Marijuana is commonly known as cannabis which refers to the dried up hemp plant cannabis sativa, even though marijuana is a plant and has no chemical additives it has been a tropic of controversy for many years but nowadays it is in the spotlight more than ever. For centuries, marijuana has been used by people throughout the world for religious, recreational and medical use. A few countries like the Netherlands and Uruguay have already legalized marijuana for recreational use and many other countries are taking a step towards doing so. Is it finally time for the United States to take a closer look into possibly legalizing marijuana. Marijuana should be legalized for medical and recreational purposes because it would aid in the War on drugs, it would become an important source of revenue for the government and reduce overpopulation of American jails.

Washington and Colorado were the first two states in America that allowed the sale of marijuana to its residents over the age of 21. According to Bushan, "Both states found previous marijuana regulatory laws to be an inefficient use of law enforcement resources that could be better utilized by targeting violent crimes instead" (192). This means that these states have decided that using resources on relatively minor marijuana-related offenses could be put to better use. So far, legalization seems to be working in the states favors. According to drugpolicy.org, the rate of low-level offenses have lowered while tax revenue increased. Since 2012, Oregon, California, Nevada, Alaska, Maine, and Massachusetts have also legalized recreational

In a study by New Frontier data, it is predicted that after the nationwide legalization of recreational marijuana, the marijuana industry will create around $132 billion in tax dollars in the next decade. In the 2017 fiscal year, the federal deficit was $666 billion dollars. Tax revenue from marijuana sales can lessen the deficit if legalized nationwide. Colorado is just one example of this – from January 2014 to May 2017, its tax revenue from marijuana exceeded $500 million. Colorado used the extra revenue mostly for K-12 education, but also for public health initiatives and infrastructure projects. Brian Vicente from the Vicente Sederberg Law Firm, which specializes in marijuana law, says “the impact is really felt at the local level. Some counties have done 20 years of infrastructure work in just one year's time,” he said. “They've provided lunch for kids who need it.” These things are crucial to Colorado’s well-being, but also stimulate the economy. In another state where recreational marijuana, Washington, the revenue from marijuana income and processing fees was $319 million in the 2017 fiscal year. In Washington, the excise tax is 37% for retail sales of marijuana. This high tax rate contributes to the substantial revenue from Washington’s marijuana industry. Washington uses $3 million of its revenue from recreational marijuana to fund substance abuse prevention programs and drug education. The

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.

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If marijuana is legalized it should be regulated and taxed similarly to alcohol and tobacco. As of now, marijuana is fully legal in Colorado, Oregon, Alaska, Washington State, and Washington D.C. According to a 2010 survey from Cato, “Legalizing marijuana would generate eight billion, eight billion, seven hundred million, dollars in federal and state revenue annually.” (Huffpost,2013). In 2014, Colorado legalized marijuana for recreational use, as of now Colorado marijuana industry is worth one billion dollars. Legalizing marijuana would benefit states by providing them with much-needed tax revenue. According to Colorado Department of Revenue, in the first two months, the state collected six million dollars in tax revenue. (CDOR,2015) According to Colorado Department of Revenue, in 2015, the state saw nine billion, nine hundred sixty-two million, dollars in sales of marijuana. Colorado collected more than one hundred thirty-five million, dollars in taxes from the marijuana sales in 2015. (CDOR,2016) Washington State plans to raise nearly two hundred million dollars in marijuana tax revenue and fees in the next four years. Colorado uses a portion of their marijuana tax revenue to fund their

A recent Drug Policy Alliance report found that Colorado, Washington, Alaska and Oregon have all benefited from a dramatic decrease in marijuana arrests and convictions, as well as increased tax revenues since the adult possession of marijuana became legal. At the same time, these states did not experience increases in youth marijuana use or traffic fatalities (DPA).

The decriminalization and legalization of Cannabis in select states in the United States has so far proven to be a positive economic attribution to the states that have passed legislature, ending the status of prohibition. In November of 2012 the state of Washington and Colorado voted and passed legislature approving the use and sale of recreational marijuana. This historic event in return is currently creating a new market for job opportunities as well as a considerable amount of tax revenue for the state. Keeping nonviolent drug offenders out of the jail system also saves money. Ending prohibition of this substance leads to it being taxed and regulated like alcohol. After all the individuals and distributors of the black market do not pay

If we use the current model of Colorado for the nation, recreational and medicinal will be taxed at different rates. Medical marijuana will be taxed at 2.9 percent, while recreational will be taxed at 15 percent. This led to 16 million from medicinal use and 53 million from recreational use in tax revenue for the state of Colorado in 2014. These numbers are lower than the expected revenue; this is due to the fact that because of taxes it is still cheaper to buy black market marijuana. As production of legal marijuana continues to grow, the prices will drop. There will be more growers trying to sell their wares to dispensaries. This will lead to a higher quality of marijuana which the street dealers will have trouble keeping up with. With the legalization of marijuana a new industry has opened, the pot tourist. Colorado is now home to many recreational pot tours. This not only increases the tax revenue for the state, but also benefits other tourism related businesses. This is all dependent on a well regulated system.

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.

Over the last century, Marijuana has been legalized and decriminalized for numerous different purposes. Marijuana’s popularity had been increasing and shows no signs of slowing or stopping. People still continue to use marijuana no matter what obstacles comes in the way, whether it be the threat of being caught, imprisoned or other more serious federal consequences for simply trying to get high. And since there whether it be illegal or legal there is no stopping the use of Marijuana medically or recreationally. Many states have seen this issue as a business opportunity to tax the sale of marijuana to bring more money and funds into the state power. And In the past decade 8 states have legalized marijuana for recreational use, sale and for medical