Should Marijuana Be Legalized?

A controversial topic often being advocated for by sitting governors is whether the legalization of marijuana is more beneficial or harmful to the economy. Marijuana, also known as weed, is a mixture of the dried and shredded leaves, stems, seeds, and flowers of the cannabis sativa plant. It’s the most widely used illegal drug in the United States, even though studies have shown results that the benefits of using marijuana for medicinal or recreational reasons far outweigh the negative matters that may be associated with its use. While marijuana is still a controlled substance under federal law, thirteen U.S. states currently have compassionate use laws in place, which allow for regulated medical marijuana use. By legalizing marijuana, the government is helping the economy by reaping medical and financial benefits, not only at the state level, but also at the federal level. Taking into account the numerous studies done with marijuana on whether it is for recreational use or medical purposes, the government cannot go wrong in legalizing marijuana because of such an impact it will have. Marijuana should be legalized for recreational purposes because it will help society economically and socially.

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.

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 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.

Since the first efforts to legalize marijuana in the 1960s, Americans have become progressively more accepting of requests to liberalize laws restricting possession and use of marijuana, but the shift has not been a straight line. After 11 states decriminalized marijuana possession in the 1970s, recoil led by suburban parents led too much harsher implementation of drug laws. But since California legalized medical marijuana in 1996, outlooks toward the drug have relaxed significantly.("A Brief History of Public Opinion on Marijuana Legalization.")

Colorado, California, Oregon, Washington, Maine and even the nation’s capital has turned a new leaf and began this transition on marijuana being legal. For example, Marijuana has been legal in Colorado for more than a year. It’s a new industry, so it took some work to get it up and running. So far, Colorado has become the talk of the nation especially being the first state to officially legalize marijuana recreationally, not like other states where it was only legal medically. The rise of marijuana in Colorado has brought in more job opportunities and brought in 44 million dollars in taxes, which still comes 30 million dollar short from what the state expected. Either way, the amount of revenue coming in to the state shows the leverage of a brand new industry and the promise it has in the near future. One big issue still going on is that marijuana is cash business and under federal law, marijuana is still classified as a schedule 1 drug and banks are insured federally. Dispensaries across the U.S are still using personal safes inside their facility to store cash. President of Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, Kelly Brough said, “I think we worry about the banking issue. I think it’s a real issue. It’s a cash business which I think can put employees at risk, people around at risk, because that is a lot of cash to be moving around.” Now this could lead to some violence across the state but there

Marijuana usage is a topic that has been discussed for some time now but the recent medical and recreational legalization of this drug has brought about a new area of unchartered territory. The business industry will have to revise many of their employment and safety requirements. After viewing some current policies many businesses are likely to be forced to established new protocols for intra and inner state practices. There are many types of complications as to why the marijuana usage laws should stay at the federal level and not within the state.

Marijuana is a drug that is constantly talked about all over the media. There is an ongoing debate on whether it should be legalized or not and if it was to be legalized, how would that work. These questions are things the government must take into account. There is a big divide between people’s beliefs on this matter. Some people think it should be, others think it shouldn’t, and some think there should be with some modifications on its usage. The controversy over marijuana usage has gained momentum over the past few years, and there are about ten states that have now legalized the use of marijuana. A further eighteen states, have

Marijuana is the most popular street drug in America, if not in the entire world. It is a Schedule 1 drug which puts it in the same category as Heroin, LSD, MDMA, Ecstacy, etc., which are the most dangerous drugs in the world that can seriously harm someone. But Marijuana is now legalized in Twenty-Six states, plus the District of Columbia, for medicinal and/or recreational use. Even though cannabis is an illegal drug, hundreds of millions of people are still finding ways to get a hold of Marijuana and the other illegal drugs. There is only so much the law enforcement can do if the people do not wish to listen. It is beginning to impact the lives of americans in a positive way, where they can help themselves why being sick and it allows

The purpose of this content is to strategically examine the overwhelming plethora of information surrounding the legalization of marijuana. Many sources available have been used to identify the mental, physical, economic and social issues surrounding the facets of marijuana use on both ends of the spectrum. While the judicial system is holding to the values entrusted to them through society; they are red taped by the economic repercussions. The health benefits that are aspired through marijuana are undoubtedly alluring to those who suffer with chronic illnesses. Research shows marijuana has the potential to enhance medical innovation and patient well-being. Weighing all aspects of both sides is the only fair way to determine whether the legalization of marijuana will be beneficial to society and the judicial system.

In order to more effectively address the growing problem of the ‘war on drugs,’ many countries are striving to decriminalize or legalize drugs such as marijuana, considered to be less harmful than other, more dangerous and addictive drugs. Marijuana is currently classified as a Class C drug in the United States, the inclusion of marijuana in the ‘war on drugs’ has not provided the kind of results expected. Rather than eliminating undesirable drugs from the streets, the war on drugs has had the effect of increasing the level of violence in the drug trade, encouraged the development of organized crime, filled prison cells to unprecedented and beyond capacity levels, consumed huge amounts of government capital and yet has done very little to reduce the presence of these drugs within the general population or the numbers of people who make use of them. More recent theories have suggested that legalizing, or at least decriminalizing, lesser drugs such as marijuana may be a more effective approach as a means of reducing levels of violence, decrease incarceration, allow more individuals to remain productive members of society, and make more resources available to combat more harmful substances and criminals. To more fully understand the issue, available literature and theory regarding the topic of legalization will be examined as well as the results of decriminalization in those pockets of government where it’s been allowed and compare these to drug-related crime and possible

“There’s nothing new about cannabis, of course. It’s been around humankind pretty much forever. In Siberia charred seeds have been found inside burial mounds dating back to 3000 B.C. The Chinese were using cannabis as a medicine thousands of years ago. Marijuana is deeply American too—as American as George Washington, who grew hemp at Mount Vernon. For most of the country’s history, cannabis was legal, commonly found in tinctures and extracts” (Sides). This is how the national geographic article “Science Seeks To Unlock Marijuana’s Secrets” by Hampton Sides was opened. Very good opening sentences that provide a good idea of marijuana and a little history on it as well. There are many problems in todays society, but the argument of

The unjust imprisonment of American citizens with over-exaggerated jail sentences (pertaining to marijuana charges) is a very big problem in the US. I chose this topic because I had heard so many horror stories of people being sentenced at least 9-10 years on marijuana possession charges just to fill prisons, and it made me extremely upset. What angered me even more was the proof of racially motivated arrests/sentencing in many instances of unjust marijuana related arrests. While these people were “busted” for carrying marijuana and subsequently jailed for decades, rapists get out in 8-9 years on average (Sex Offender Attorney). Even more outrageous, almost all those charged with marijuana possession are sentenced/punished, while only 3 of

The consumption of marijuana has long been outlawed around the world. A taboo in most countries, cannabis is now considered a dangerous drug that can lead to disastrous side effects on the human body. This misconception has led to prohibition on marijuana, thus penalizing its consumption and further spreading the misconceptions around the drug. The controversy here lies in the fact that most negative effects attributed to marijuana are sourced from misconceptions, which are in turn hurting the prospect of medical research on the beneficial, therapeutic attributes of the drug. Yet, an increasing number of studies is proving that marijuana, used for medical purposes yields beneficial results. Acknowledging the fact that marijuana us not as harmful as people assume it to be, and that it has many health and psychological benefits, and that it is a cheap alternative to traditional therapy, I believe that Medical Marijuana should be legalised.

The debate about legalizing marijuana concerns whether the state should repeal or review the law to make it legal to produce, sell, and handle marijuana. There is a major rise in controversy over marijuana, the age-old drug, and its consumption both recreationally and medically, and, therefore, it is imperative to resolve marijuana legislation. Some people compare its prohibition to the 1920s while others argue that the drug is less harmful than alcohol (Richter & Levy, 2014). Less than 15% of the American population are regular users while the prisons crowd with prisoners who have committed a victimless crime; hence, decisive and clear legislation should be taken. Simply decriminalization marijuana would not help solve the correction problems. The creation of domestic, legal marijuana industry,