The Pros And Cons Of Legalizing Medical Marijuana

The cost to keep Marijuana illegal is too expensive and unnecessary for something that does not pose a threat to society. The amount of money that is spent arresting responsible Marijuana users can be used towards something more high priority and important that will benefit the United States. Many Marijuana users are taking up valuable space in jail for possession when they in fact do not pose a threat to society. FBI records show that 829,627 marijuana users were arrested in 2006 which is a 43,000 person increase, for possession alone (Should Governments Legalize and Tax Marijuana). Jeffrey Miron is the director of undergraduate studies at Harvard University and estimates that legalizing marijuana would save $13.7 billion per year in government spending on enforcement of prohibition. Miron states that “First, legalization eliminates arrests for trafficking and possession. Second, legalization saves judicial and incarceration expenses. Third, legalization allows taxation of drug

Another positive aspect for legalizing the use of marijuana is it would significantly decrease the number of marijuana-related arrests and imprisonments in the United States. Police and court resources would be freed up for more serious crimes. More than 200,000 individuals are incarcerated each year for marijuana possession, as part of the U.S. government's War on Drugs. Decriminalizing marijuana would also eliminate much of the crime associated with the illegal sale and trafficking of marijuana. Moreover, several states allow legal use of marijuana when prescribed by a physician, yet thousands of dispensary owners and patients are arrested every year by the federal government. Legalizing marijuana could bring in more revenue for states, as well as help individuals receive care who may be unable to receive it otherwise. (marijuana today.com). If marijuana was legalized the cost on prosecuting offenders would decrease dramatically. Many consider the War on Drugs an expensive

The topic of marijuana use in today’s society is currently a hot topic in both politics as well is in social settings. There are many positives and negatives towards whether or not marijuana should be legalized, as well as medical and recreational pros and cons. This paper will cover the pros and cons of all topics and my personal viewpoint on the topic.

The authors are a research economist and Vice President from the organization, which contributes to their biases on this issue. The authors argue that the marijuana industry could provide $28 million in tax revenues. The authors also argue that the taxation of marijuana will also reduce the societal risk of engaging in the illegal marijuana trade.

Over the past decade there has been a great deal of political unrest and discussion regarding the topic of medical marijuana. Many States have recently allowed its use in their respective states after the electorate agreed that it should be used as a medication. However, many medical providers are not educated in the possible positive and negative effects of medical marijuana. A recent study in Colorado found that 46% of 520 family physicians did not agree with recommending medical marijuana. Of the 520 physicians sampled, 27% felt that there could be a positive physical effect and 15% felt that there could be a positive mental effect. The most impressive indicator in this study is that 92% of the physicians surveyed agreed that continuing

Many states have legalized marijuana, but for medical reasons, known as medical marijuana. This medical marijuana helps patients who have a severe medical illness, and need help lowering their physical pain that is caused by that illness. For

A benefit of legalizing marijuana includes providing the government with leverage to this problem. Marijuana is currently against federal laws yet medical marijuana complies with several state laws. Every year, the government is obligated to spend money directly related to the cost of enforcing marijuana laws. Marijuana is a cash crop and can be used for clothes, paper, medical substances, along with many other uses. The legalization of marijuana would provide the government and our country with control over a huge cash crop that can be easily cultivated to our climate. In addition to exporting hemp and marijuana to accumulate more funds, the government would be able to tax the plant very similarly to alcohol or tobacco. If this were the case, it is estimated ‘according to the calculations here, legalization would reduce government expenditure by $5.3 billion at the state and local level and by $2.4 billion at the federal level.” (Miron18). These figures generated in the article the Budgetary Implications of Marijuana Prohibition reinforce that the calculated values of getting rid of the expenditure caused by marijuana offenders along with the taxation of the substance would be a substantial revision to our economy.

The effects the laws have on America’s economy and prisons are other detrimental aspects of the laws prohibiting marijuana possession and use. Not only does enforcing marijuana prohibition cost taxpayers an estimated $10 billion annually, it also results in the arrest of more than 734,000 individuals every year. This figure is much greater than the total number arrested for all violent crimes combined, including: murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault. This

Medical marijuana represents the part of the hemp plant that you use to treat health problems. Marijuana has hundreds of chemicals, known as cannabinoids. Two main ones are THC and CBD. THC, tetrahydrocannabinol, is an active ingredient in marijuana. THC gives off some pleasurable effects that smokers are looking for, but it still has some effects that treat medical problems. When you smoke marijuana, THC goes from your lungs to the bloodstream and causes your brain cells to release the chemical dopamine, leaving you

Have you ever heard people saying, smoking weed can kill your brain cells or smoking weed is a gate way drug? People also will say that “once you do Pot that you will need to move on to harder drugs like LSD, Heroine, and Cocaine to get the same "thrill". Sounds good, but it just isn't so” (Perkel). Over the years Marijuana (cannabis) used to be illegal and deemed as harmful to our system. In today’s society, marijuana is now legal and used for medical purposes in twenty –three states including DC. This kind of marijuana is called medical marijuana. “Medical marijuana is used as a form of herbal therapy which is recommended for chronic pain or nausea” (Online posting). This type of marijuana has advance tremendously in medicine because of its health benefits.

In addition, legalization would reduce the burden on law enforcement, our legal system and overall prohibition enforcement. Currently, from a federal standpoint, marijuana sales for use both medicinally and recreationally are considered illegal. Although some states have passed laws that allow for legalized marijuana sales and use for medicinal purposes, most of these states do not allow recreational use of the drug. Marijuana continues to be sold on the street for regardless of legalization at either the state levels or federal levels. Decriminalization of marijuana sale and use, could result in a windfall of monies back to law enforcement agencies and the criminal justice system. A benefit could be seen from both the taxes collected at the

One way to help pay for roads, hospitals, and bridges without raising taxes to an absurd rate for everyone is to legalize marijuana. These are only just some of the crucial benefits that states can take advantage of. Along with medicinal benefits, legalizing marijuana would generate massive revenue for each state without having a negative effect on crime. In fact it could actually have a positive effect on crime rates. Many claim that legalizing marijuana for recreational use could have many negative effects such as increase in crime or increase in use of more hardcore drugs. However studies conducted in both these areas show a correlation between crime and exposure to hardcore drugs such as cocaine.

In addition to helping the economy, making marijuana legal can be very helpful to individuals. A detailed National Institution on Drug Abuse (NIDA) funded analysis showed, “legally protected medical marijuana dispensaries, not just medical marijuana laws, were also associated with a decrease in the following, opioid prescribing, self-reports of opioid misuse, and treatment admissions for opioid addiction. (What is Medical Marijuana?)” Marijuana can help those

Decriminalization will save taxpayers a large amount of money because of arresting, prosecuting, and incarcerating fewer people for drug use and possession (Lang, 2013). The number of prisoners has risen “from 300,000 in 1972 to 2.3 m[illion] today, the highest rate of incarceration in the world, overwhelmingly because of the war on drugs” (Wolf, 2011, para. 7). The Federation of American Scientists’ Drug Policy Analysis Bulletin (as cited in The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws [NORML], 2014) states that in the United States, arrests and prosecution for marijuana violations cost between $7.5 billion and $10 billion each year, and “90% of these

The stigma that marijuana users are hardcore criminals is still practiced in law enforcement today. In the year 2000 alone, there were 734,500 arrests for marijuana possession (Rosenthal, Kubby, and Newhart 16). This over zealous policing of non-violent crimes is consuming too much state and federal money. If marijuana were made legal, police could focus on more serious criminal acts. “Nationwide, there were more arrests for marijuana than there were for arson, manslaughter, rape, stolen property, vandalism, and sex offenses combined…The sheer number or marijuana violators overwhelms some law-enforcement agencies” (Rosenthal, Kubby, and Newhart 20). All of this adds up to that 7.7 billion dollars that could have been used for more worthy causes.