What is the new question on the table with politicians and law enforcement officials alike? The question is whether or not it is time to legalize, tax, and create a lucrative industry out of marijuana. For a few decades now the idea of legalizing marijuana has been met with fierce opposition and seen as being nearly impossible to accomplish. The current state of our economy and criminal corrections system have actually made the option of legalizing marijuana for financial aid as not only a viable option but a prudent one (Cohen, 2009). From a sociological standpoint it almost seems to be common sense to legalize and tax the plant. The research supporting the benefits of marijuana in the fields of finance, healthcare, economic stimulation, …show more content…
What potential domino effects would this act show under a macro-level analysis? I feel that a socialized shift will come out of both the economic crisis and the legalization of marijuana. A somewhat more Marxist style of social order could possibly be the end result of all of this. The common sense of it seems to be the driving factor for this movement. It is no longer seen as being a desperate plea from stoned out hippies. This idea has reached some of the highest offices in our land. States have already begun to ratify and reform laws based on marijuana (Cohen, 2009). The only issue that I can see is the culture shock that the country would feel. It would be a radical difference from what we have been used to. "What 's that you say? You can buy rolled joints at the Exxon?" These types of questions will be the tip of the iceberg. After a little bit of time, people will become comfortable with the idea and a new page will be turned in the American history books. We have seen a few countries receive a significant revenue boost after legalizing marijuana. California has reformed laws to also potentially gain revenue from marijuana. Will America finally come around to what millions have been already saying? Will America legalize and tax pot? We may have an answer sooner than we expect. Works Cited Cohen, Andrew. "Time For Marijuana Legalization? Economic Crisis Spurring Politicians to Talk about Legalizing Pot" CBS News Feb.
The issue of marijuana enforcement was first addressed over one hundred years ago by the British Indian Hemp Drugs Commission. The commission concluded that cannabis prohibition was impractical, and that the best solution was to tax the drug to the greatest extent possible. This statement was released after years of failed attempts to prohibit marijuana, and successful attempts to generate revenue by taxing the crop. By analyzing myriads of research I was able to determine approximately how the economy would be affected on several different issues. Some figures that would be affected are: employment, the demand for marijuana, taxation rates and potential government revenue, incarceration and enforcement costs, and social issues such as rehabilitation
Legalizing marijuana will provide an increase in our economy. The first step is that the government needs to stop copiously funding the war on drugs. Over the past four decades, federal and state governments have poured over one trillion dollars into drug war spending. I will admit that the government should keep running advertisements that persuade youths from using methamphetamines, crack-cocaine, and heroine. However, when money is being thrown away by the government trying to convince people that smoking pot is bad for a consumers’ health, that is a sign a change must occur.
Marijuana has been a hot topic of conversation over the last few years, as some states in America have legalized it medically and recreationally. By discussing the legal aspect of marijuana, the economic benefits, medical usage and how marijuana affects the family, we can see the positive and negative impact that marijuana has on sociology.
There are many ways that marijuana would benefit the economy if legalized. An economy benefits when there is a healthy flow of monies within. This means internal spending by citizens on items of their choice. Citizen spending is what keeps the economy going. The use of citizen?s tax money would also be greatly affected. Tax money would be allocated more properly and used in more strategic ways. The taxation of items such as legalized marijuana brings a flow of money into the economy that would otherwise not be there. This increase of government funds would allocate more money to federal programs that are in financial need. Federal programs include public education, health education, treatment programs, etc. When the public?s way of
The flame ignites, the smoke builds, the mind relaxes. It’s a process that at one point, could have
Legal cannabis can benefit the U.S in many ways but most importantly is the financial support this plant could provide.According to MerryJane.com in 2016 If all states legalized marijuana it would generate an estimated $28 billion dollars in tax revenue. That’s $28 billion that would be reinvested in programs such as medicare,medicaid and social security. Not only will cannabis drive down pharmaceutical premiums for many cancer patients it will also generate money to be put into healthcare and retirement plans creating a stronger more financially sound America. In addition to this, Legalizing Marijuana in all states would create jobs all over the country from legal Growers to front desk “Budtenders”.America can legalize a plant that would create economic growth and jobs but they choose to keep overcharging people for outdated pharmaceutical prescriptions and letting those big companies affect elections and influence politicians.Forbes writer Debra Borchardt states that The legal cannabis market was worth an estimated $7.2 billion in 2016 and is projected to grow at a compound annual rate of
Prepare a plan for each of the topics; write a thesis statement and complete the introduction
Attitudes toward the legalization due to the shifts over time take into consideration a shockingly exact reproduction of four decade of American social history. In November 2012, voters in Colorado and Washington State passed a law allowing, dispersion, and ownership of marijuana for medical and recreational use. This paper does not address the subject of whether cannabis ought to be legal; it concentrates on the configuration contemplation of making an adjustment in cannabis strategy. Regardless of whether marijuana authorization is positive or negative for general well-being and public security largely relies on upon administrative choices and how they are actualized. This paper contends that current federalism precepts neglect
Marijuana has been used as a medicine for millennia by cultures spanning the globe. Ever since 1937, that medical necessity has fallen in America to political pressure, and the cannabis plant remains illegal regardless of intended use. Since then, patients have continued demanding marijuana 's therapeutic effects, thus prompting the pharmaceutical industry to find a legitimate means of meeting their needs without violating federal law. This quest for "legal weed" resulted in the introduction of dronabinol (a synthetic drug commonly referred to by its trade name Marinol), into contemporary American pharmacopoeia. However, this "solution" to the medical marijuana question now poses a double standard: whereas, medical marijuana users still
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.
To understand the controversy about marijuana, it is helpful to first look at its history. Marijuana (or Cannabis as it was originally known) has been found as far back as the 3rd millennium BC in burial sites in Romania. Over the centuries it has been found to have been used for medicinal purposes in China and other countries, as well as for religious and spiritual ceremonies in many different countries. Cannabis was brought to America in the early years, grown as a crop, and used medicinally. In the early 1900s, along with prohibition of alcohol, the attitude about the use of cannabis started to change for many people. On the other hand, the U.S. pharmaceutical farms were expanding production and by 1918 were growing 60,000 pounds
Marijuana has been used as medicine since ancient times. There have been evidences that are found in different locations of ancient human civilizations. For example, there are numerous evidences founded in Assyria, China, India, Greece Egypt, Persia, and in other ancient civilizations marijuana used for ritualistic purposes, pain relief, and the treatment of various ailments. Marijuana could also be cultivated to produce hemp, a type of fiber used for textile such as paper, fabric, and rope. Scott Barbour in his book, “Should Marijuana be legal?” explains, “Marijuana, or cannabis, is a drug that comes from the plant cannabis sativa. The plant’s leaves and flowers contain the chemical delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. Although its
so expensive to obtain that its usage as a medical remedy in the U.S. came to a
The marijuana movement is more prevalent now than ever. Just recently, two other states have joined Colorado and Washington in the legalization of the recreational use of marijuana. On the other hand, the state of Florida did not pass the bill to approve medical marijuana. Although more and more states have begun to see the benefits in legalizing marijuana, many states maintain the view that smoking marijuana is criminal despite the many advantages it poses. Marijuana offers medical and industrial benefits that the United States government should take advantage of.
Marijuana is a drug that is illegal in forty-eight of the fifty states in America, including Texas. Some people argue for the benefits that come from Marijuana such as, medical factors which include Diabetes and Obesity. It would also allow the State and National government control over the drug production, sale, and price. There is also opposing views that legalizing of Marijuana would be a bad thing. They say there are several negative consequences if the state of Texas were to legalize the drug. The opposing side argues that marijuana has more harmful medical factors than helpful, has no financial benefit, and it would also create more discourse between citizens and drug cartels in bordering countries.