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What are the positive and negative impacts of marijuana legalization
Economic effects of legalization of marijuana
Benefits of the legalization of marijuana
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Legalization of Marijuana Despite its current legality, marijuana is one of the most used drugs in the United States. Its users vary from ages starting at about twelve to any other age. It has been a controversial topic for quite some time. The legalization of cannabis would help the economy in several ways. Marijuana is also currently used for medical purposes but, those benefits could be greatly increased. One might argue that marijuana has negative effects on the body when, alcohol and tobacco are also harmful but are legal in the US. It may be hard to believe, but the legalization of marijuana has more benefits than it does downfalls. The economy has been extremely tough lately. Marijuana is just one of the ways the economy can improve. Even with its status, “marijuana is the most commonly used illegal drug in the U.S. and the world” (Drug Policy). If drug dealers sell that much marijuana and make huge profits, imagine what companies could do. The selling rate would increase due to the scare factor of prison gone and money would start flowing. It has been said that “legalizing pot could save the U.S. up to $14 billion a year”(Bradford). Making money has never been a bad thing, so why is marijuana? Legalization could also create a drop in marijuana prices. That would mean that people could spend their money elsewhere which could also help the economy. Not only can it stimulate the economy, but it can help people gain their health back. In many cases marijuana has been known to help those who aren’t a beacon of health. It has been known to decrease pain and treat several medical symptoms. “One of the most egregious outcomes of marijuana prohibition is that many sick people cannot legally access the medicine that works bes... ... middle of paper ... ...more upset, it is usually a helpful stimulant. More often than not, one hears about marijuana in a negative connotation. That may be because no one takes the time to see how marijuana can help people. Not only is it good for health but, it may stimulate the economy. Many see marijuana as a dangerous drug but it seems to have more benefits than those that are legal. Works Cited 1. Bradford, Harry. "14 Ways Marijuana Legalization Could Boost The Economy." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 07 Nov. 2012. Web. 15 Apr. 2014. 2. "Fact Sheets- Alcohol Use and Health." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 14 Mar. 2014. Web. 15 Apr. 2014. 3. “10 Facts About Marijuana." Drug Policy Alliance. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Apr. 2014. 4. Merino, Noël. "20." Medical Marijuana. Detroit: Greenhaven, 2011. N. page. Print.
Marijuana is a relatively harmless drug that governments around the world have made illegal. If legalized, marijuana can be beneficial to society in a number of ways: whether it be for medical, economic, or public safety reasons. Marijuana has been proven to treat several life debilitating, and even life threatening diseases. Although it is not a cure, marijuana can ease the pain and suffering of a dying person. Another benefit of legalization is the financial gains that governments will accomplish through the taxation of marijuana. This is a realistic claim if marijuana sales are compared to that of cigarettes; governments make billions each year from cigarette taxes (Caputo and Ostrom 484). Every year law enforcement spends countless man-hours trying to apprehend marijuana dealers and growers. This time would be better utilized in dealing with more serious crimes. This essay will display some main reasons why marijuana is a substance with beneficial uses and applications. First, marijuana can be used as a treatment for the effects of diseases such as AIDS, cancer, glaucoma, and other terminal diseases. A study carried out in California clearly demonstrates the effectiveness of marijuana as a treatment for cancer: “Over 74 percent of the cancer patients treated in the program have reported that marijuana is more effective in relieving their nausea and vomiting than any other drug they have tried.”(Zeese 1990). Chemotherapy for cancer patients often produces nausea and vomiting. Marijuana has been proven to relieve these symptoms and there have been no known side effects recorded (Ad Hoc Group of Experts part 4).
There have been 20 million arrests since 1965 for the possession of marijuana, also known as cannabis. The amount of crime and arrests for possessions of the illicit drug has increased due to the prohibition. Cannabis was a major cash crop for the industrial production prior to its illegalization. It has been estimated that the United States spends approximately $7.7 billion each year to prohibit the use of marijuana alone. Currently the number of people incarcerated is six to ten times higher than European countries (NORML). Today the United States wastes billions of dollars to fight against the war on drugs, for the imprisonment of hundreds of thousands of people, and etc. It’s also brought a raise of violence and crime relating to the dealing and production of the drug. Marijuana should be legalized because its ban has been futile in preventing illicit production, regulating it would allow new development in medical treatments, and would give a boost to the economy. The illegalization of the drug has a much more negative impact then it does well, in fact it’s pushed drug cartels to produce more of the drug because of the high demand and the millions of dollars they’ll make from profits.
Bethesda, MD: U.S. Dept. of Health. of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 2010. Print. The. Freeman, David. A. "Health Risks of Alcohol: 12 Health Problems Associated with Chronic Heavy Drinking.
Ever since marijuana’s introduction to the United States of America in 1611, controversy of the use and legalization of the claimed-to-be Schedule I drug spread around the nation. While few selective states currently allow marijuana’s production and distribution, the remaining states still skepticize the harmlessness and usefulness of this particular drug; therefore, it remains illegal in the majority of the nation. The government officials and citizens of the opposing states believe the drug creates a threat to citizens due to its “overly-harmful” effects mentally and physically and offers no alternate purposes but creating troublesome addicts hazardous to society; however, they are rather misinformed about marijuana’s abilities. While marijuana has a small amount of negligible effects to its users, the herbal drug more importantly has remarkable health benefits, and legalizing one of the oldest and most commonly known drugs would redirect America’s future with the advantages outweighing the disadvantages.
Marijuana is the cause of much commotion and debating, as the question of legalization becomes more of an issue. Drugs are a major influential force in countries all over the world today. Legalization is an option that has not had a chance, but really should be given one. Although many people feel that legalizing marijuana would increase the amount of drug use, legalization would benefit for the following reasons: 1)reduction of money spent on law enforcement 2)increase in the countries revenue 3)lessen crime 4)useful in treating certain medical conditions.
Marijuana has a greater beneficial impact on society then many people realize. Marijuana should be legalized for medical as well as recreational purposes. This is a highly controversial issue that is being debated throughout the country. In essence marijuana is evaluated by the effectiveness of the drug. It is defined as the dried flowered clusters and leaves of a hemp plant smoked for the intoxicating effect. Whether it should be legalized or not is the real question.
Like alcohol, tobacco or any other drug, those chemicals may not respond well with their body. For other people marijuana brings joy, a sense of relief, and takes the edge off of every day stress. For those who are associated with cannabis, purposes usually range from a relaxant, or cash crop, to more permissible uses such as medicine, and ingredient to make so many other materials. We now need to look at what would change if marijuana were legal. Benefits to the economy and agriculture, health issues, and crime rates are three areas worth looking at.
In the last fiscal year alone, marijuana brought 70 million dollars in tax revenue in the state of Colorado. Colorado was the first state to legalize marijuana recreationally in the fall of 2012, and since then three other states and the District of Columbia have legalized the plant. Based off of sales in states that have legalized marijuana recreationally, if all fifty states legalized marijuana, they would bring in a combined 3 billion dollars in tax revenue yearly. That much money from sales of the plant alone could help to stabilize the suffering economy. Moreover, the American Government would be able to control the plant and distribute it how ever they see fit. The economic growth marijuana legalization could bring to the United States outweighs any argument against
The legalization of marijuana has the potential to bring our economy back to life if it were to be legalized. There are a number of ways in which legalization could improve the economy. We could use the revenue from taxes on marijuana to provide a better quality of life for Americans in need. Legalizing marijuana would also save us money by cutting the cost of putting someone in jail for harmless marijuana-related charges that waste tax money. Also, it would put more money into circulation by keeping the profits off the black market and into the legal and taxed market.
Legalization of marijuana has become an increasingly popular topic for debate in society with “sentiment in favor of legalization [increasing] by 20 [percentage] points in just over a decade,” bringing support for legalization to 52% (Dionne and Galston). The most common arguments for reforming current legislation are the following: enforcement wastes public resources, taxation can provide a new source of revenue, and enforcement of current laws is discriminatory (Dionne and Galston). It is necessary to look at the impact on the primary stakeholders by analyzing the various harms and benefits through application of the ethical theories of utilitarianism and deontology, in order to determine the solution that will result in the best possible outcome.
Millions of people are suffering needlessly because of the prohibition against using medical marijuana, Rosenthal and Kubby assert. They conclude that marijuana should be decriminalized. ”(Rosenthal, Kubby) Today, I am going to help you understand the real benefits of marijuana. By the time that we are through, you will be agreeing with me and will want to be a part of the effort needed by citizens to legalize such a beneficial drug.
Saitz, Richard, M.D. "Unhealthy Alcohol Use." New England Journal of Medicine (2005): 596. Web. 7 Apr. 2014.
Benton, Jim. "Marijuana Legalization as an Economic Stimulus." Mytpmblog.com. 13 Feb. 2009. 27 Apr. 2009.
In conclusion The Legalization of Marijuana would benefit the U.S government and it would be more effective in controlling the drug usage. The prohibition of Marijuana has only been costing taxpayers billions of dollars every year and it hasn’t benefited the Economy. The Education and treatment would be the effective way to address Marijuana problems, whereas The Legalization of Marijuana would benefit and boost our economy especially during this economic recession; therefore the Legalization of Marijuana may be the beginning United States Economy re-form; due to the fact that Marijuana Legalization would help subsidize our Economy.
Marijuana can positively benefit our society in many ways. Economically, by decreasing the crime rate for drugs and by increasing revenue. Socially by having happier people and less stressful situations and confrontations. Medically, by treating a variety of illnesses and symptoms of illnesses such as cancer and HIV. Marijuana is the most popular product in our society and with the positive benefits that comes with it, it should remain the most