Should Marijuana Be Legalized?

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.

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A couple hits of cannabis are capable of stimulating sensations for the individual that ultimately result in a euphoric experience. The legality of this astounding drug has been a controversial subject for decades. Marijuana officially became illegal in the United States in 1937, on account of the Marijuana Tax Act (Gahlinger 35). Since then, the topic of legalizing marijuana has been discussed, but never exhausted. Many compelling arguments have been made in support for the legalization of marijuana. Marijuana is the most commonly used illegal drug in the United States; in fact, more than 70 million Americans have tried marijuana (Marijuana Myths…).Prohibition has proved to be ineffective and supporters believe that legalization could enhance the quality of American life by spurring economic prosperity and encompassing many health benefits.

Marijuana, otherwise known as ganja, reefer, weed, skunk, pot, mary jane and other numerous names, has been claimed to be the most commonly used drug in the United States, according to 2014 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). Since the 70’s, the opinion on marijuana is continuously being reformed. In result of 24 states legalizing some form of marijuana use, new medical studies on the hemp plant and the consequences from marijuana use, the United States is being forced to rethink its viewpoint on the matter. The elemental argument about marijuana in the United States: Should Marijuana continue to be prohibited to citizens based on its health effects, medicinal values, and costs to the country?

Cannabis, better known as marijuana, is an illicit drug that is commonly used in America today. There are a few different ways to use marijuana, but most people choose to smoke the “dried leaves, flowers, stems, or seeds of the Cannabis sativa or Cannabis indica plant.” (NIDA) Whichever way the user decides to consume marijuana is their choice, but the harmful effects of marijuana are the same. The question “Should marijuana be legal” is controversial in society today and surprisingly twenty-nine states have made it legal for doctors to recommend marijuana for conditions like AIDS, cancer, seizures, hepatitis C, and even just pain in general.

The American coalition- an anti-immigrant group in 1980 had this to say about the drug, “Marihuana, perhaps now the most insidious of narcotics, is a direct byproduct of unrestricted Mexican immigration.” It is through seclusion, Nixon’s outright war on drugs, and society’s fervent dislike for marijuana user that the subculture grew. It came to a point where one could not discern fact from myth about marijuana in the 60s/70s war on drugs, mainly because no research was allowed.

Marijuana should be legalized in all 50 states, when we go to concerts or parties all we smell in the vicinity is marijuana. Many of us have witnessed people smoking marijuana or may know a couple people who smoke marijuana. The main reason marijuana should be legalized is because it is bought by everyone right now illegally. The money people are using to buy marijuana is going into black money basically because the money is being paid under the table, which means it has no taxes. If the United States would just legalize marijuana, this country would be able to make so much more money because the money won’t be black money. Marijuana targets a vast variety of people around the United States. Also marijuana may be used by people who want

Today, more than 20 states are currently approving the use of Medical Marijuana. Gathering statistical data from Gallup Politics in 2013, 58% of Americans say the drug Marijuana should be legalized, for the first time ever recorded. Gallup had first asked the question of legalization in 1969, when only 12% favored legalization. Had I been included in the study, I likely would have been for the legalization. Medical Marijuana had been used for centuries prior to it becoming illegal, and it is important to know what decided the illegalization of medical marijuana, whether there is currently a benefit of treatment with medical marijuana, and the regulation of Marijuana.

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

I decided to do my research paper on the legalization of marijuana for recreational and medical use. Marijuana is one of the most commonly used recreational drugs in the U.S. and according to polls, 51% of Americans believe it should be decriminalized (Barcott, 2015). There is much political debate over whether or not marijuana should be legalized for medicinal purposes and many states within the U.S. have taken it upon themselves to put forth legislation that makes medical marijuana legal at the state and local level, yet it is still illegal at the federal level. Some states have even decriminalized marijuana for recreational use. The legalization of marijuana in the United States would give much needed access to a medication that is needed for a multitude of ailments , drastically reduce crime and help generate tax revenue to

All over the nation we are seeing economic growth due to the legalization of marijuana. In 2014 expected tax revenue from the marijuana industry is an expected $67 million just in Colorado alone. Now in Washington their government is allocating a 25% excise tax on marijuana. While in Colorado they assigned a proposition to enable a 15% excise tax, and a 10% sales tax on recreational marijuana. Marijuana is stimulating businesses all over, whether it be real estate, construction, or candy! Business owners are using the legalization of marijuana to their advantage. With the legalization of marijuana businesses like Whole Foods and The Body shop, that import an estimated 25,000 hemp product, can buy their hemp products from national

I never dreamed that one-day people could walk into a retail store and buy marijuana! The states of Colorado and Washington are already allowing this (Pro & Con 2014 p.20). I feel strongly that the drug marijuana should not be legalized. Marijuana is classified as a Schedule I drug (Pro & Con 2014 p.19). When Colorado legalized this their “state went from the healthiest in the nation to one with thousands of mostly young adults in need of medical treatment (Congressional 2014 p.5). To me this is a big indicator to stay away from it. Some may say that marijuana has benefits but its consequences far outweigh the benefits. I will first inform you of the benefits of marijuana and then inform you of the negative aspects of the drug.

The legalization of marijuana has achieved national attention within the last few years. Twenty-five states and the District Of Colombia have decriminalized marijuana but only 4 have legalized it strictly for recreational purposes. It has been an increasingly popular idea to legalize it across the U.S, but this new trend should not continue. Marijuana consists of very helpful benefits towards medical issues such as HIV, AIDS, and seizures. However, this drug should never emerge to legalization because it causes short-term affects on the users health and specifically the brain. It causes long-term affects including a negative correlation between smoking marijuana and ones income and learning capabilities. It causes dependency to people who smoke it especially before the age of 18. And, it does in fact show signs of a “gate way” drug for a significant amount of people. Citizens should not easily obtain this drug, especially younger kids. This drug should not meet legalization for these reasons stated; however the medical benefits should continue to help with serious health issues.

“Leading medical researchers are coming to the conclusion marijuana, pot, grass, or whatever you want to call it is probably the most dangerous drug in the United States…”(President Ronald Reagan, 1980 Campaign Rally Speech) "We may be able to make some progress on the decriminalization side. At a certain point, if enough states end up decriminalizing, then Congress may then reschedule marijuana." (President Barak Obama, 2015 Vice Magazine Interview)

Drugs are heavily used throughout the entire world. However, it is important to understand and not undermine the variability in which drugs are used. It is clear some are for distinct medical treatment and others are for recreational use. In the United States, marijuana has been and continues to be a very controversial drug. Some states have allowed marijuana consumption for medicinal purposes, while others have completely outlawed the drug. Those who are against the legalization and regulation of marijuana suggest the economical and health risk associated with consumption of the drug are too high. Although there is risk involved with the legalization of the marijuana, our country has already been risking too much banning the drug.