Should Marijuana Be Legalized In America?

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.

The decision whether to legalize marijuana, the third most popular drug in America is still a very debatable issue today. Some supporting arguments for legalizing marijuana include that the drug is not any more harmful than alcohol or tobacco if used in moderation, there are medical benefits of certain use, police and court systems would be freed up, it would create a source of additional tax revenues, the FDA could regulate quality and safety, less people would be subject to lifelong criminal behavior due to arrests associated with marijuana that trap people in the system, and the plant also has several industrial/commercial uses, over 25,000 products can be made from crop. Opposing arguments include that marijuana is a stepping stone/gateway to harder drugs eg. heroin and cocaine, driving and other dangers would increase, and that it would increase the chance of kids gaining access to the drug at an early age (Messerli, 1).

Finally, the main reason millions of Americans want marijuana decriminalized is the positive effects it could have on our despicable economy. First off, decriminalizing marijuana will prevent users from going to prison which will save all us tax payers a whole lot of money. In California alone, the cost of marijuana enforcement can be estimated at over $200 million per year (Gieringer). The money is being spent on state prison, jail costs, court and probation, felony arrests, misdemeanor

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.

One of the primary focuses of America 's War on Drugs is the controversial drug Marijuana. Marijuana remains the most widely used illegal drug and stirs up constant debate everywhere. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime from the World Drug Report 2004 an estimation of about 4 percent of the world’s adult population (162 million) consume marijuana annually (156). For thousands of years human beings have attempted to find ways to get passed the struggles of everyday life. With the pain of the world stopping people from enjoying simple pleasures, sometimes there is a need for help. Marijuana brings millions of people relief from pain flet on a day-to-day basis. This completely natural plant which previously helped so many people has puzzled the leaders of our nation for a long time. The effects of the drug on a individual level is what 's prevented the product from being legalized. Many issues involving this plant, like the speculation of it being a gateway drug, has put yet another block on its legalization. Even with the drugs known speculations, the benefit that it brings to the table most definitely out way its disadvantages. Marijuana can also alleviate several symptoms associated with cancer and Aids treatments and disorders. While Marijuana is effective as a medicine, it is also extremely lucrative. The economic benefits that Marijuana brings to the table are endless. Non legalization is a waste of societies hard earned money to continue to enforce

To legalize or to not legalize drugs, that is the popular question lately. The current repeat visitor to each states legislative sessions is making marijuana legal. Currently in the United States there are twenty states with legal medical marijuana and the District of Columbia. Out of those twenty only Colorado and Washington have also legalized marijuana for recreational use. When it comes to legalizing drugs marijuana appears to be the most popular one being advocated for. However, does that leave the door open for other drugs to be advocated for as well? Should they all be legalized or just a select few?

Marijuana is a substance that has become very much a part of American culture. Nearly 65 million Americans have either used it occasionally or regularly. The use of marijuana hit mainstream America about thirty years ago and it has been accepted by a large segment of society ever since (Rosenthal 16). The debate on whether this substance should be legalized or not remains a very hot topic today. Despite government efforts

Since the very first day marijuana began dominating our country over 30 years ago, federal control of the drug has been the topic of an continuing arguments. Marijuana is a crushed up blend of dried out herbs, seeds and stems of the plant cannabis. Most people inhale it in the shape of cigarettes for pleasure and relief. Should marijuana be made legal? Advocates of the drug argue that there are multiple medical advantages and that tobacco and alcohol are far more harmful for us than the drug itself. This causes us to believe that banning this drug interferes with our rights to freedom. Within the past 10 years, a very high number of operations to allow the use of marijuana have been significantly strengthening in size. Based purely off of the 2011 Gallup survey, 50% of Americans argue that marijuana should not be banned. This high number marks a 4% increase in comparison to the year before. In 2000, this number was only 30%, increasing to 40% in 2009, before reaching 50% in 2011. What this proves, is that aside from our federal attempts to eradicate the use of it, marijuana is seemingly more attractive in society. Not only does it provide medical advantages to the deathly ill, it could also be the root of tax earnings and could be the reason that taxpayers save millions, if not billions of money that is used in the budget for prosecuting these people. It seems as though we are blowing huge amounts of government funding to imprison the citizens participating in nonviolent

Since drug use is decriminalized, “Police arrest more Americans per year on marijuana charges than the total number of arrest for all violent crimes combines, including murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault (Marijuana Decriminalization Talking Points). People are more likely to go to jail for the use of marijuana than murder. Marijuana is not harmless to the world and less discrimination will decrease the amount of patrol stops, and having a criminal record for a crime that brings no harm to Americans. The funds Americans spend on drug stops can be for more severe crimes. Such as, rape and murder. Traffic stops take more paper work, scheduling court dates, and you may go to jail depending on how much you carry, it is really worth the time? The money? Citizens that are find and arrested for the use of marijuana, are more likely get the product from a family or friend. However, marijuana is less harm than

Marijuana has become one of the most controversial drugs in America. Ever since its cultivation began around 1611, marijuana has puzzled people with its effects. Many question marijuana?s classification as a schedule one drug. A schedule one drug is one that has a high potential for abuse and no medicinal value. Some argue that the war on drugs, in particular marijuana, has cost taxpayers billions and is wasting funds that could be used on more important tasks such as improving transportation or education. As drug arrests rise, so do the populations in state prisons. This has become an immediate problem with no real solution. The legalization of possessing small amounts of marijuana can contribute positively to the medical and

Marijuana or cannabis is a preparation of the cannabis plant intended for use as a hallucinatory drug and a medicine as well. The principal hallucinatory constituent of marijuana is Tetrahydrocannabinol or THC. Twenty three states and the District of Columbia has legalized marijuana for medical or recreational purposes in the United States. Legalizing marijuana has many benefits to it. Not only has marijuana been proven to counter act some symptoms of cancer and other diseases, it can also boost the economy and increase tax revenues. Along with all these things legalizing marijuana can also lesson crime rate and allow police and federal agents to focus

Another reason that marijuana should be legalized is the clear connection, it would have on our economy. Now it is no secret that the United States is in debt, but it is less known that marijuana can be a key component in fixing this problem. There are currently “...30,000 prisoners doing time for marijuana-related charges…” ("The War on Drugs Should Not Include Marijuana.") A large part of our economic crisis has to do with the overcrowding of our prisons. Each person in prison is taking taxpayer money that could certainly be better used for a number of things; such as better education, better healthcare, and more. The people arrested for marijuana charges are typically normal American people that used the drug to relax or get rid of stress. They are not drug dealers or violent degenerates that deserve to spend time in prison away from their families. There is also the issue of how much it costs the government to keep marijuana away from people. “...a significant chunk of the ONDCP’s funding has also gone toward media

Legalizing and regulating marijuana has been long sought after by many individuals. It would bring one of the nation's largest cash crops under the rule of law, changing many things in the criminal, medicine, job/tax world. "The criminalization of marijuana used disproportionately harms young people and people of color, sponsors massive levels of violence and corruption, and fails to curb youth access." “There were 658,000 arrests for marijuana possession in 2012, according to F.B.I. figures, compared with 256,000 for cocaine, heroin and their derivatives." With marijuana being regulated and distributed by the government, it would also bring many job opportunities to the market. Federal and local governments would then achieve an amass amount

Marijuana is a generally misconstrued substance that most Americans don 't completely get it. The use marijuana as a medication has been widely investigated and turned out to be one of the "most practical and most secure wellsprings of medicinal worth to the numerous Americans experiencing Aids, Glaucoma, Cancer, Multiple Sclerosis, Epilepsy, and Chronic Pains" (Medical Marijuana). As indicated by the Institute of Medicines, (1999) "cannabis, in its characteristic structure, is one of the most secure remedially dynamic substances known" (Legalization of Marijuana). More assets and contextual investigations will be further examined to move down the case of pot 's therapeutic quality.

Four proposals made it onto the ballot for the Massachusetts general election; the fourth question is for legalizing the use of marijuana recreationally. Over the past few years, several states have started to decriminalize the use of cannabis for medicinal and recreational purposes. In Massachusetts, the legalization of marijuana has been a growing possibility gaining momentum recently. Prior to the 2016 elections, recreational use is legal only in Alaska, California, Colorado, Oregon and Washington. Currently, the possession, use and sale of the drug is illegal in Massachusetts, and there are harsh punishments for any transgression. Some of the benefits of legalizing recreational marijuana are job creation, saving the government money, promoting safe use, and eradicating mobs and cartels from the industry. I believe that these pros outweigh the cons of allowing the recreational use of marijuana and thus it should be legalized.