The Legalization of Marijuana is not all bad

Legalizing Marijuana would have numerous positive effects on our state, but two of the most known effects have been on making the government revenue and minimizing overpopulation of prisons. Legalization of Marijuana includes getting rid of the criminal part of it and taxation, along with rules and regulations. Some of these rules and regulations include at what age it is legal to use, traffic laws, and workplace laws. Although very few states have even made the use of Marijuana legal, the benefits have been shown to be much greater than the risks.

A large percent of today’s prison and parole or the probation population are charged with minor Marijuana offenses. These crimes are taken so seriously that an individual may receive years in prison or years of probation. Inmates and probationers cost the state and taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars per person per year, and most of this money is for minor drug charges associated with Marijuana. If Marijuana were to be legalized in Minnesota, it would save billions of dollars per year, and on top of that be making money off of the taxation of it. With more space in prisons available after legalization, there will be more room for serious criminals who are a danger to the public and will therefore make our state safer. It has been shown that Marijuana does not make a person violent, and because it is not addictive there are very few crimes associated with stealing of money for Marijuana.

As for traffic regulations, Anderson, D. Mark says that "legalization is associated with and 8-11 percent decrease in traffic fatalities". This is because Marijuana slows down reaction times in the brain, so most people who drive while high go well under the speed limit. An...

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...nesota’s economy like it did for Colorado.

Works Cited

1.Ross, Winston. "The High Road." Newsweek Global 162.1 (2014): 80. Points of View Reference Center. Web. 5 Apr. 2014.

2.Bindel, Julie. "The Ups And Downs Of Legalising Highs." New Statesman 143.7 (2014): 12. Points of View Reference Center. Web. 5 Apr. 2014

3. Friese, Bettina, and Joel W. Grube. "Legalization of medical marijuana and marijuana use among youths." Drugs: education, prevention and policy 20.1 (2013): 33-39.

4. Anderson, D. Mark, Benjamin Hansen, and Daniel I. Rees. "Medical marijuana laws, traffic fatalities, and alcohol consumption." Journal of Law and Economics 56.2 (2013): 333-369.

5. Caulkins, Jonathan P., and Brittany M. Bond. "Marijuana price gradients implications for exports and export-generated tax revenue for California after legalization." Journal of Drug Issues 42.1 (2012): 28-45.