The Benefits Of Legalizing Marijuana

The legalization of marijuana will lead to a boost to the economy. With the United States being trillions in debt, an increase in tax money would be a big help to lower the national debt. Colorado, one of the first states to legalize marijuana for recreational and medicinal uses, is showing valuable data of an increase in tax money, “In 2015, Colorado collected more than $135 million in taxes and fees on medicinal and recreational marijuana. Sales totaled over $996 million” (Krishna, Mrinalini). Now, Colorado is joined by seven other states, Washington, Oregon, California, Alaska, Maine, Massachusetts, and Nevada, in the full legalization of marijuana. With these states joining with Colorado, the United States is seeing sales “[grow] by 30%, to 6.1 billion, in 2016 and a projected 20.1 billion in 2021” (Krishna, Mrinalini). With that in mind, these sales are shared among only eight states, add another forty-two states and the rates could surpass the trillions. Considering the evidence, the act of not legalizing marijuana would be foolish.

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

According to a recent article from Huffington Post; in Washington alone, the legalization of marijuana could bring in an estimated five hundred million in additional tax revenue. Along with tax revenue, reducing the added cost of marijuana could greatly drop the price per gram, resulting in more money to spend in the local economy. Currently, one billion dollars is spent in prisons for inmates that have been charged due to marijuana-related crimes in result of marijuana being illegal. Time magazine reports that, as a crop, marijuana farmer's in California have found a surplus of sales. An estimated fourteen billion dollars a year on average, making marijuana the most profitable cash crop in the state. If legalized, marijuana could help add countless amounts of jobs into the formal economy instead of the illicit market (Bradford, Huffinton

The government set aside thirteen point seven billion dollars for the 2008 war on drugs and the Office of National Drug Control Policy estimates that Americans will spend ten point five billion for marijuana this year (Dubbin, 2008). That is twenty four point two billion dollars that could have been used by the government for other things. According to Harvard Economic professor Jeffrey A. Miron, “legalizing marijuana would save seven point seven billion a year in government expenditures and add six point two billion in revenue if the wacky tabacci were taxed like regular tobacco.”

In this paper, I will demonstrate some of the benefits and costs associated with the legalization of marijuana. This paper helps clarify some of the disagreements surrounded the issue today by focusing on the costs and benefits encountered by the consumer, alongside with, the producer and government if marijuana were to be legalized. In previous years, many states have contemplated the notion to legalize the use of cannabis. After the 2016 U.S election to current time, approximately 29 states have legalized medical marijuana, along with nine states and Washington. DC, have legalized marijuana for recreational use, for adults over the age of 21. The legal cannabis industry is accountable for

Marijuana was first introduced to the United States in the early 1600’s. Ever since then, it has been used by many adults and teens. Many people believe that marijuana is dangerous because it is illegal; however, most people are not aware of all the benefits marijuana has. Marijuana should be legalized in the United States because it aids in improving medical disorders, stabilizing the economy, and it is proven to be safer than both alcohol and cigarettes.

The most commonly used illicit drug in the United States is marijuana (Why We Should Not Legalize Marijuana, 2010). Its use is prevalent among young people (Why We Should Not Legalize Marijuana, 2010). Rates of marijuana use have stabilized in the past few years after years of rise according to a yearly survey of middle and high school students (Drug Facts: Marijuana, 2015). However, the number of young people who believe marijuana use is dangerous is declining (Drug Facts: Marijuana, 2015).

“Each year, hundreds of thousands or people are around the world who die from preventable drug-related disease and violence. Millions of users are arrested and thrown in jail. Globally, communities are blighted by drug-related crime. Citizens see huge amounts of their taxes spent on harsh policies that are not working.” (annan). Many people use marijuana, illegal and legally. Marijuana use should not be decriminalized because in most states it’s already legal, such as, Columbia, Alaska and Washington. It’s going to decrease the funds used to find, arrest, and house marijuana users.

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

According to Drug Policy Website," The drug war is responsible for hundreds of billions of wasted tax dollars and misallocated government spending." For example, criminals gain finically by illegal sales. Legalizing the cannabis will allow the government to gain the money that the criminals gang get of selling it illegally. On the other hand, it will provide jobs to people who are selling it and they will pay tax. There will be shops opening, limitation of growing tress, which will allow smokers to get job their and reduce the number of the homeless people. Those jobs will not require scanning test, even if it does, it’s only to make sure that the person are not using harder drugs. In addition, in February 2014, Colorado had collected $1.43 million from 10% percent sales tax on recreational

The new administration promises the creation of jobs, but refuses to consider the extraordinary growth already generated by the legalization of a natural plant. Aside from the obvious positions in agriculture and retail, cannabis can expand career choices in many other industries: legal, medical, educational, hospitality and culinary, to name a few. While opponents of cannabis legalization maintain that only “bad people” associate with cannabis, over 120,000 people are obtaining gainful employment with companies who truly value them.

The topic of discussion is whether marijuana should be legalized or not. Marijuana should be legalized. Marijuana has tons of health benefits. It is most connected with chronic pain, and chemotherapy induced nausea and vomiting.(Interlandi, Jeneen) Marijuana has been tested and shown that it safer than many different opulates. People are not able to overdose with marijuana unlike other types of medicine, and far less addictive.(Grinspoon, Peter) Currently 29 states have condoned it legal on the state level. But, it is still currently illegal from the government's perspective. When Obama was president, his administration did not even make prosecuting medical marijuana a minor priority. Donald Trump currently states that he will not interfere

Marijuana is a very prominent and controversial issue in society today. Today, marijuana remains illegal. Although many negative claims have been made about marijuana, legalizing marijuana will produce many positive aspects that will not only benefit patient health but the overall economy therefore creating better communities for all. There are a number of benefits that will follow for the general population if Canada legalizes marijuana which include: combating many medical side effects, creating a demand for legal distribution, in turn creating a new educational field in research that needs to be developed and explored further, only to expand markets to better employment opportunities and the overall economy. To better understand why one

Imagine that you are a working adult. You come home from a grueling day at work. The new guy at work broke the coffee machine. Because of this, you didn’t get your daily cup of coffee. Would you rather go to sleep with this on your mind or take some medical marijuana and forget about it all?

In conclusion, it is apparent that the positive benefits of legalizing marijuana outweigh the potential negative effects. The inference from the above observation is that legalizing marijuana will go a long way to advance the quality of living standards of people through its medicinal applications, business and revenue opportunities, and its ability to free up criminal justice resources. Conclusively the above effects will lead to better living standards across the US.