The Debate Over Legalizing and Taxing Marijuana

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"If the words ‘life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness’ don't include the right to experiment with your own consciousness, then the Declaration of Independence isn't worth the hemp it was written on." Terence McKenna stated that. Even though legalizing and taxing Marijuana will cause a few problems, raise wages, and some cause more DUI’s and/or accidents there is many benefits as well. I am on the side of legalizing marijuana for many reasons. I agree there is down sides to legalizing Marijuana but then again many of the problems will only last a few weeks or months. Taxing Marijuana will bring in billions of dollars the government has been losing for years. Those billions of dollars in just tax revenue can help pay off America's debt. The amount of impaired driving has risen in the two states that have legalized Marijuana for recreational use. Though that is self explanatory. The first year of legalizing or lowering the age for anything is always rough and not as safe as the following years to come. America has seen that with alcohol. If you look at the percentage of driving while under the influence, driving while intoxicated is still a few percentages higher than driving while high. I do agree driving while under the influence of drugs like Marijuana can cause horrifying accidents. People think they are good drivers claiming they are more alert and drive much slower. which isn't the case. It is also much, much harder to spot someone who is under the influence of drugs Marijuana in this case. All of these problems can be solved or be lowered to an acceptable level. “Marijuana and other illegal drugs are easier for teens to get and consume alcohol.”(David Boaz) There solves a huge problem itself. Many studies show people a... ... middle of paper ... ...older”(krayewski) Selling marijuana and taxing it will raise issues, fix issues, and probably cause some chaos for a few days, but with careful thinking and planning I think it will benefit our country in many ways. First reason it will help with health issues, but more importantly help with the countries debt. That's why I agree with the Legalization of marijuana Works Cited Farrell, Michael B. "A marijuana tax as the next new revenue stream?" Christian Science Monitor 8 May 2009: 2. Student Edition. Web. 19 Mar. 2014. Krayewski, Ed. "What legalization looks like." Reason Apr. 2014: 10. Student Edition. Web. 20 Mar. 2014. Woodruff, Betsy. "Rocky mountain high: Colorado experiments with marijuana." National Review 16 Sept. 2013: 25. Student Edition. Web. 21 Mar. 2014 Friend, Tad. "Pot 101." The New Yorker 9 Aug. 2010: 22. Student Edition. Web. 21 Mar. 2014.

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