Should Marijuana Be Legalized?

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.

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

The legalization of marijuana has been a debate that has been going on for the past decade. Many Americans (about 80 percent surveyed) do believe in the legalization while others disagree. With the correct facts in place, it is easy to prove that the legalization of marijuana is a huge benefit to the American people and those who disagree are disagreeing for the wrong reasons. One reason it should be legalized is marijuana can be used for medical purposes, others say it can help lower the debt in America by taxing marijuana. Many of these arguments favoring marijuana are outlined in this paper.

Have you ever wondered what could happen if marijuana was legalized? There are many laws in the United States that make this drug illegal to use and possess. However, if this was legal the number of arrests would decrease and it could help that state increase revenue. This product is currently sold without any taxes and no regulations on how strong the drug should be. The people and states are not benefiting from having this drug sold on the streets. By making this drug legal it could help to decrease the number of people who purchase this drug illegally to help with a medical issue.

Marijuana is a monumental industry capable of reaping billions of dollars, but at its present illegal state is only helping drug dealers and growers while simultaneously costing our government money. Dr. Jon Gettman makes a claim in his 2007 case study that “the U.S. marijuana industry is a $113 billion annual business that costs taxpayers $31.1 billion in lost tax revenues (Krulik)”. 31.1 billion dollars is a huge loss to take for essentially, no reason. If we find cigarettes acceptable to be legal despite the very obvious health risks why would we not legalize marijuana too, even if there are a few minor risks. Gettman has also come to the conclusion that 10.7 billions dollars a year are being spent on marijuana related arrests, most of which are simply minor possession cases. Between the 31.1 billions dollars being lost on sales and the 10.7 billion dollars being spent on law enforcement of the plant, about 41.8 billion dollars in revenue are being lost solely because the government would rather keep marijuana illegal than oversee and regulate the growth, distribution and consumption. 41.8 billion dollars could save programs in schools, fund highways, and stimulate the economy in a way we may have never seen before. Legalizing marijuana would also be the start of a massive new market creating countless jobs. Just as cigarette and alcohol companies, marijuana could

Marijuana (also called pot, weed, or Mary Jane) is the name used to describe the seeds, flowers, and leaves in the hemp plant of the genus Cannabis. There are three main species of Cannabis, Cannabis Indica, Cannabis Sativa, and Cannabis Ruderalis. The main type of marijuana that has been used throughout history has been Cannabis Sativa. Marijuana is typically found as a shredded, green-brown mixture of the flowers, leaves, and stems from Cannabis Sativa. Most people smoke marijuana by rolling it like a cigarette, called joints. People also put it in hollow cigars, called blunts, and some people even mix it into food such as brownies and tea.

Marijuana is the most frequently used illicit drug and has been used by nearly 100 million

Marijuana, also known as, cannabis, pot, weed, or hemp, has been a topic of intense debates for many years, but today, it is in the spotlight more than ever. The issue about the use of this drug is becoming more and more topical because people are debating whether or not to legalize it. Marijuana, is the most commonly used drug in the world. In fact, around 3.8 percent of the world’s population or 158.8 million people around the world use marijuana, according to United Nations. And the number is continuously rising. As of June 2014, 23 U.S. states and Washington D.C. have passed laws legalizing marijuana in some form with three more states considering it. As what Major Neil Franklin (Ret.), a former police officer and current head of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP), said, “The legalization of marijuana is good for law enforcement, good for families, and good for our communities” (Washington Post). The benefits and reasons to legalize marijuana are many, and overbearingly outweigh the arguments against legalization.

Cannabis, otherwise known as Marijuana, is illegal in most parts of the world including the United States. However, the drug is now gaining acceptance worldwide as evidenced by the number of countries that are reducing or lifting penalties for possession of small amounts of marijuana. In the United States, there are a growing number of Americans demanding that marijuana be legalized medically. Although the federal government is presently opposed to legalizing marijuana, its legal status is changing on a state level.

Legalizing the recreational use of marijuana would have many benefits for the United States. This is a very common argument with people of all ages in 2016. Marijuana is a dried bud and leaf from the Cannabis sativa plant, which can grow anywhere in warm, humid weather. This plant also goes by many names, including pot, grass, weed, hemp, hash, ganja, and many others. Many people look at the legalization of marijuana as a way for potheads to smoke without getting busted for it anymore. For this very reason, people want to keep this drug illegal. Marijuana is more than a quick high a quick high at a party. This drug is used for preventing seizures, to cure Glaucoma, and much more. Marijuana will not only benefit the United States for several health reasons but also in the economy. This controlled industry could bring in billions of dollars in tax revenue for federal, state, and local governments. Cannabis could be the next best thing for the U.S.

In the debate to legalize Marijuana, there are people for the legalization and there are people who are against the legalization. Before I get too far into my own side and the opinions I have to go along with it, I’m going to give you some information to help you better decide your own side. The main thing going around right now to legalize Marijuana is Prohibition 48. Prohibition 48 is the amendment to the state constitution proposed by the people of Mississippi. In my research on the subject I found that prohibition 48 is said to be the ending of Marijuana prohibition in Mississippi. This prohibition will legalize medical and recreational marijuana use. It will also follow up with growing up Marijuana and all Hemp products. Forgiveness will be given to all offenders that aren’t violent. The only thing is that recreational marijuana will be taxed and I am not particularly sure how I feel about that. According to Yes to Prohibition 48 “Proceeds from these taxes will wholly and directly benefit Mississippi schools.” The end of this prohibition will bring with it many changes to legal, economy, educational, and healthcare systems. Throughout all of my research on the subject of legalizing marijuana my opinion on the subject has grown tremendously. Marijuana will be a great contribution to our medical systems and the research that will be done on it will give way to greater medicines than we could possibly imagine.

It is common to hear opinions about the pros and cons of legalizing marijuana. Many people will benefit from this policy, and there are many other important reasons why passing this policy beneficial for the country. Also, instead of costing money to the government, it will be a form of income. Like I mention before, if the country stops the prohibition of marijuana and replace it with a system of legal regulation, we can use Colorado as an example: “The Colorado Department of Revenue in June collected slightly more in tax revenue than the month before, according to its recent sales report. The state collected $4,775,679 from marijuana-related sales tax in June 2014, up from $4,511,668 collected in May 2014. To date, Colorado has collected $25,307,067 in pot taxes. Officials projected the state would collect $60 to $70 million by the end of the fiscal year (June 2015)” If the policy gets passed, all the income that is collected from taxing marijuana can be used towards higher education. There are many students with high potential who cannot afford college, and this can be a great opportunity to develop an educated society. Health is another area where the money would be used. Since there is not enough research on the effects of marijuana on the human body, this income can help to pay for research to create new affordable and quality

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.

In the debate to legalize Marijuana there are people for the legalization, and there are people who are against the legalization. Before I get too far into my own side and the opinions I have to go along with it, I’m going to give you some information to help you better decide your own side. The main thing going around right now to legalize Marijuana is Prohibition 48. Prohibition 48 is the amendment to the state constitution proposed by the people of Mississippi. In my research on the subject I found that prohibition 48 is said to be the ending of Marijuana prohibition in Mississippi. This prohibition will legalize medical and recreational marijuana use. It will also follow up with growing up Marijuana and all Hemp products. Forgiveness will be given to all offenders that aren’t violent. The only thing is that recreational marijuana will be taxed and I am not particularly sure how I feel about that. According to Yes to Prohibition 48 “Proceeds from these taxes will wholly and directly benefit Mississippi schools.” The end of this prohibition will bring with it many changes to legal, economy, educational, and healthcare systems.

Obviously, the Swiss later improved upon their first experiment. However, the Swiss “needle park experiment” is the example that drug war advocates like to cite when claiming that decriminalization isn’t effective; however, there isn’t a cookie cutter method for harm reduction and decriminalization. In fact, one of the best kept secrets in America is the success other countries have had from experimenting with decriminalizing drugs. The rate of drug use in America is the highest in the world, whereas many other countries, in particular many European countries, have reduced their drug usage with a more laissez faire approach. Various countries have implemented different policies which open the door for creating a hybrid model from other countries.