Should Marijuana Be Legalized?

Legalizing marijuana has been a topic of debate for centuries. In fact, the sale of marijuana has been regulated since the 16th century. Although the U.S. changed their policy on marijuana since that time, legalization is still a topic amongst lawmakers within America. Many want to legalize medicinal marijuana because it is an effective treatment for illnesses, while others oppose the legalization of recreational marijuana because it is a drug that causes the user to become stoned which can lead to impaired judgement and other consequences. Because the consequences of smoking marijuana outweigh the benefits, the state of Texas should only legalize marijuana for medicinal purposes.

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.

Texas has always stood apart in terms of reputation; known for its sprawling landscape, unique geography, proud heritage, and conservative views. Due to these characteristics, it is no surprise that, in the case of Marijuana, Texas has tended to lean towards a strict and firm set of guidelines. The initial piece of Texas state legislation passed concerning Marijuana was in 1919, when Texas decided to prohibit the drug within the state. Texas was the third state to do so inside the United States, and the law’s implementation set the foundation for proceeding policies.

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.

Over the past few years, a portion Texans have joined in with other citizens across the United States to push for the legalization of Marijuana. Since Texas is considered a neighbor of Mexico, legalization of cannabis has its pros and cons. One beneficial outcome would be the use of marijuana medically. However, the drug has been used to make money from being transported illegally across the Mexican border. So far, "twenty-three states and the District of Columbia currently have laws legalizing marijuana in some form" (State Marijuana Laws Map).

There are three major laws in effect in Texas to ensure that marijuana does not deeply affect our society. One of these

Marijuana is a current popular topic today. Currently legalized in 29 states, marijuana has medical benefits, but also some negative benefits. Marijuana should be legalized in Texas because it benefits people with serious illnesses and it financially benefits the state.

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.

It seems every decade marijuana studies show that it has no side effects on users, in turn it become more available like when some states in America had legalized it. Dr Kevin M. Gray believes that the only side effect of smoking weed is the physical addictions it causes, he believes that over 51% of all teens have used weed at least once and the biggest problem we are facing with this rapidly growing drug use is only addiction. Dr Marshall M. Gay believes that the health effects of weed isn’t that much as smoking cigarettes and doesn’t see it a threat to people’s health. “More than half (51%) of adolescents reported that marijuana is fairly or very easy to obtain.2 this ease of availability may have contributed to a recently reported "reverse gateway" from cigarettes use to marijuana”. The more ignored belief is that marijuana can lead to a variety of developmental, mental and physical side effects. The effects of smoking weed can extend to those of smoking cigarettes “studies show regular marijuana use can lead to many of the same

But only 9 percent of marijuana users develop a dependence” (Boffey). Even still, of those 9 percent that develop a dependence, marijuana addiction is dissimilar to that of heroin, alcohol, or nicotine, from which withdrawal is often an extremely painful, physical experience. In addition, the long-held belief that marijuana is a gateway drug has been debunked, and even quietly removed from D.A.R.E’s list of gateway drugs. As far as medical research is concerned, the clear consensus is that marijuana use is less harmful to human health than most other banned drugs. While tobacco causes cancer, and alcohol abuse can lead to cirrhosis, there is no clear causal connection between marijuana use and any deadly diseases. Furthermore, it is less dangerous than highly addictive but legal substances like alcohol and tobacco. Marijuana use cannot, in and of itself, lead to fatal overdoses, and there is little evidence that it causes cancer. Like tobacco and alcohol, public policy concerns support the notion that it should be kept out of the hands of minors. The downsides to marijuana use are less compelling as reasons to foist criminal penalties on its possession, especially not in a society that allows nicotine use and celebrates

Medical Marijuana is a growing legalization movement in the United States. Currently, 23 states have legalized marijuana use for either medical or recreational purposes. Many say that the drug has many health benefits and should be made legal. Marijuana, however, is still a harmful drug and proponents of the drug deemphasize its adverse history and tend to focus on its benefits. Research has shown that not only is marijuana ineffective, but detrimental to an individual’s health. The legalization of marijuana for medical use may inadvertently cause unintended consequences that outweigh its medicinal benefits.

Marijuana is considered in popular culture to be a widely accepted mainstream recreational illegal drug used in the United States; its use comes with severe adverse side effects that are often overlooked. Long-Term use of marijuana is shown to have negative effects on physical, mental, and environmental health. Studies conducted within the United States have shown that up to 20% of daily marijuana users become dependent (Marijuana and Lung Health) showing a physical or emotional need for the drug. Marijuana use has the potential to affect every aspect of a person's physical and mental wellbeing negatively. Its use also comes with potentially life-altering risks to one's future including an individual’s likelihood of obtaining a degree, impacting

Eliminating conscious healthy lifestyles from America, government consumption restriction fails to defeat obesity while obstructing marijuana’s potential to improve health.

Legalizing weed in Texas is one of the most desired and talk about subjects today. In the united states, there are seven states including the District of Columbia that have all currently implemented the most extensive laws legalizing marijuana for recreational use. In 2015 H.B. 2165 bill was introduced to and approved by the Texas House Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence, however it is not a law now for Texas. Though, under Federal Law Marijuana is illegal. In 2014 Colorado state, legalized marijuana allowing adults to cultivate up to an ounce of marijuana plants. Though many citizens have their concerns, there are advantages and disadvantages on approving marijuana in the Texas.

Marijuana is a very controversial topic in today’s society for a lot of different reasons. Much of the country is divided between whether or not the drug should be legalized, and as of today only 8 states have legalized the recreational use of marijuana. There is great deal of evidence that proves that legalizing marijuana would be a great move for the United States government such as the numerous health benefits of marijuana, the relative safety of marijuana when compared to other drugs, the immense amount of money the U.S economy could gain through the marijuana industry, the potential billions saved in law