Should Marijuana be legalized?

With accordance with the federal Controlled Substance Act marijuana is considered to have a high potential for abuse, no currently accepted medical use and a lack of accepted safety. In this hectic and fast pace life that most of us have to wake up to, we venture off to the beach, vacations, or a well shaded corner in the park to a find a moment of clarity and comfort to for a second be able to not think about the everyday stress of life. For some they find that in marijuana, others smoke it from health reason because they suffer from Multiple Sclerosis, cancer, AIDS. This controversial issue of legalizing marijuana has been on forefront of American debate for years, most recently picking up more attention with currently 14 states pending legislation or ballot measures to legalize medical marijuana, more states are taken notice the economic and medical advantages this proposal brings. From the money generated from taxes to the money saved cutting the judicial process of marijuana arrest. Should it be legal I believe so.
A primary argument of legalization of marijuana is the revenue in sales and regulation it would turnover to local, state, and national levels. Especially in these times where the country in a time of need, slowly climbing its self out of the black hole it was in the earlier part of year. The U.S was forced to face the worst economic times since the great depression following the crash of the housing market and other cooperate downturn that lead to this economic pitfall. Marijuana is estimated to be $113 billion industry and estimated income of $30 billion in taxes. Marijuana should be legalized, treated like alcohol and cigarette for existence no sale to anyone under 21, set zoning and timing restrictions, increase and decrease tax on the product causing less teen smoking, tax the sales of these products which will generate much needed income for each state and as a nation. Iowa which is facing a budget deficit of over $600 million and a high unemployment rate are weighting the option if the legalization, regulation, and taxation of marijuana could help solve the economic hole the state is facing “Iowa is struggling to find the resources to pay for its programs to assist people who are victims of domestic violence or sexual assaults” (). According to Harvard economist Jeffrey Miron he estimated that “legalization could be expected to bring state and federal governments about $7 Billion in additional revenue”(). Annually marijuana is $13 Billion dollar market if controlled and managed correctly can be beneficial to the smokers and the economy. Beside the point the amount of money it would generate from taxes legalizing it would create thousands of new jobs in the packing, agriculture sectors companies growing and shipping of Marijuana, also in the business sectors for example marketing and advertising. California is one of the hardest states hit by the economic downturn. California’s situation has gotten to the point where the government has been force to issue over “$1 Billion in IOU’s to vendors” () because of their budget deficit which has caused them to cut back severely on spending and service forcing them to have massive layoffs alongside the raising numbers of foreclosures, furthermore to the point where the school system is operating only four days a week. “Marijuana California's biggest cash crop, responsible for $14 billion a year in sales, dwarfing the state's second largest agricultural commodity milk and cream which brings in $7.3 billion a year, according to the most recent USDA statistics”() the state has estimated they if tax marijuana would bring the them over $1.4 billion in most needed revenue. The issue has gained arsenal with Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger calling an open debate on the matter and Senator Tom Ammiano has bought legislation before the state government which calls for legalization of marijuana allowing the state to tax and regulate the sales. If California were to successfully become the first state to legalize marijuana I believe it will give a chance to show the business side of this bill, they can be the first one to safely show a diligent way of allocating the marijuana and down the same road change people’s perceptions on the idea. Theirs around 700 medical marijuana dispensaries in California all open and ready for business. “Estimated 300,000 t0 400,000 medical marijuana patients in the state”() and this figure is continuing to grow at a brisk rate. A study carried on by Professor Jeffrey Miron of Harvard University in June 2005 reported that legalizing marijuana “would save $ 7.7 billion per year in government expenditure on enforcement of prohibition”() but more resent reports have had said to save up to “$10.7 billion”() if criminal justice procedure were cut out with marijuana arrest. This so called War on Drugs is causing the United States immense amount of money in time consuming, avoidable arrests and legal procedures. Local, State and national law enforcement every year spend billions of dollars on putting away citizens of this nation for just wanting a smoke, an escape they just want to get high in the privatize of their own home . Arresting these people is causing the nation to waste much needed money. The United States spends about “$150 billion on policing and courts, and 47.5% of all drug arrests are marijuana-related”() this money can be used for better school, roads, parks, infrastructure. Legalization of marijuana would allow law enforcement more resources since the removal of marijuana arrests. Permitting them more man power, better training, stronger technology, furthermore it gives them more time and energy to be out on the streets and look for real criminal for examples violent offender , rapist, terrorist. If Marijuana were legal people wouldn’t put them self in situations where they’re at risk of violent crimes for instance driving to hood for a ten sack or gram where you’re at a higher danger of being in a brutal crime. The end result would be less crime related accidents or deaths paving the way for a safer and cleaner communities and neighborhood. It will also help free up the courts system actually putting away the misfits of society. The prosecutorial and judicial budget would increase since attorneys and Judges aren’t trying to defend or put away people for marijuana related crimes. The leading and most convincing reason why marijuana should be legalized is its medical purpose. It will provide patients with the possibility of an effective and new dug that many consider the safest therapeutically active substances. Patients suffering from a wide range of diseases to pain would benefit from this drug. Just the simple fact that marijuana opens up your appetite (gives you the munches) allowing cancer and AIDS patients to eat without becoming nauseous. In study carried out by Jerry S. Mandel PhD “Providing Medical Marijuana” speaks about marijuana efficiency in controlling “nausea of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiation” enhances appetites for AIDS patients who suffer wasting syndrome or who have adverse reactions to their HART medication”. Furthermore marijuana prevents epileptic seizures in some patients and allows more fresh areas of bronchi to open up; it’s known to cure chronic pains resulting from injuries and disorders. Marijuana has proven to prevent patients suffering from glaucoma from going blind because it relieves the pressure within the eyes. Bob Randall in 1978 challenged the District of Columbia court system winning an acquittal for a possession marijuana arrest arguing it was “medical necessity “caused by severe glaucoma. He then brought a civil suit against the U.S. government where they reached a deal where the government would provide Randall with marijuana for the rest of his life on “pretense that he was part of a clinical study to investigate a potential new drug”. Since 1968 the NIDA and FDA have been growing marijuana for research purpose under contract with University of Mississippi Pharmacy School.
Prohibition has done nothing to stop the weed market. Since the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 the government has tried to prevent the distribution and consumption of the drug by implicating penalties on whoever was caught with the substance whether by arrest or fines, marijuana is the “most commonly used illicit drug in the United States” according to The National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Prohibition has done nothing but want to make people smoke more. Look at what prohibition did to alcohol between 1919 and 1931 bringing more violence and crime then its intended purpose. a similar picture that marijuana is painting. Legalizing would allow the government to regulate a legal market which most importantly severely reducing the numbers among teenage smoker. You can’t ignore the economic benefits this brings especially now where the world is at a time of needs, but more importantly marijuana is opening up alternative windows to curing common the head ace to helping prevent cancer patients from throwing up after receiving chemotherapy.