Legalizing marijuana has been an ongoing debate in the U.S for years. Citizens believe that by legalizing marijuana and cutting the revenue stream to drug cartels, will tremendously reduce the drug trade for this particular substance. This will benefit the U.S. by fueling our own economy. By legalizing marijuana, some law enforcement departments believe that this will allow them the freedom to focus on real crimes and help real victims. Furthermore, marijuana legalization will create numerous career opportunities for our nation. Cultivation, consumption, and the sale of marijuana impacts the public in many positive aspects by reducing the profit drug cartels receive and increasing our nation’s tax revenue, providing thousands of citizens new …show more content…
“Marijuana is absolutely a cash crop for Mexican drug cartels. It has been for decades. It’s a huge profit margin,” says Mike Unzueta, who served as the special agent in charge of San Diego’s U.S. Homeland Security Investigations. So far by legalizing recreational use of marijuana in certain states the U.S. Border Patrol has reported close to a 9% decrease in seizures of the substance in 2015 from 2014. Although this percentage isn't significant, it certainly is a step in the right direction. Legalizing marijuana in the United States will positively affect its citizens by taking the profits the drug cartels are receiving for the sale of the product, and using that to impact our economy in the form of creating jobs for …show more content…
The impact that legalizing marijuana cultivation, consumption, and sale will have on the environment. For example growing marijuana uses enormous amounts of electricity. High intensity light bulbs, ventilation equipment, dehumidifiers, and air conditioning systems are some of the larger power consumers. In 2012 an article from Vice stated that 3% of Californias electricity goes to powering indoor marijuana cultivation. Not only does growing marijuana use enormous amounts of electricity, but water as well. A single mature plant uses 23 liters of water a day, as opposed to a wine grape plant that uses 13 liters. Also as demand will most likely increase rapidly, we can also expect to see an increase in forest clear-cutting, road construction, and river diversions which will destruct animal habitats, increase erosion, and increase forest fragmentation. "It can pollute the lands and waters in the areas where it's cultivated, as well as poison wildlife through the use of pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, and petroleum fuels," says Jennifer Carah, a freshwater ecologist for the Nature Conservancy. An article on the topic states “The Nature Conservancy, working with government resource agencies and stakeholders, has determined that in California it will take at least $25 million a year to adequately regulate the industry and enforce environmental laws; and more than