The Legalization of Marijuana I would like to start off by describing the hypocrisy in America. There are senators, representatives, and even presidents who have admitted to smoking marijuana. For example, Bill Clinton admitted to smoking marijuana but he claims he “didn’t inhale.” With all these high ranking government officials openly admitting to smoking marijuana recreationally, and many who have yet to be caught, it seems like the government should change the laws on it. As of today the Drug Enforcement Agency, referred to as the DEA, still has this substance on the schedule one list. Marijuana is not a dangerous drug, in fact it has healing factors that help treat illness and psychological problems that modern medicine cannot even treat! …show more content…
Since the legalization of marijuana there has been in increase of underage consumption. According to a recent report written by Charles Stimson, “Drug-related suspensions/expulsions (mostly for marijuana) increased 32 percent over a five-year period” as well as “the majority of DUI drug arrests involve marijuana” (Stimson, Charles. Is Legalized Marijuana Going up in Smoke?, infoweb.newsbank.com). Also fifty percent more arrestees in Denver test positive for marijuana since the legalization. There has not been just negative effects since legalization. Since the legalization of marijuana in states like Washington, Colorado, and California there have been less arrests made for possession of marijuana. In states where marijuana is not legal there is a higher arrest rate and sixty percent of drug related arrest are from possession of marijuana in small amounts.These people, depending on their criminal history, may end up serving time in jail or prison. While serving their time, they need to be fed, clothes, water, etc. so they use taxpayers money to support them. Instead of putting the people in jail for possession and wasting money that could be going towards a better
Legalization can lower the crime rate. Not to mention that marijuana is an affordable alternative for those seeking it for medical purposes. In the same sentiment the health benefits of marijuana have surpassed the expectations of even the most skeptical. To end, the taxing of recreational use will impact our public schools significantly in a positive way. The children of the future deserve any chance for success.
Some people argue that it can be good to use it for medical purposes only while others say it should be legal for recreational purposes as well. My personal opinion, all states should legalize the recreational use of marijuana just as alcohol is sold legally. As far as the crime I think crime rates will decrease, there won’t be a need to hide and sell weed because it’s legal. The reason for drug related crime is it comes with a punishment possible jail time. Selling drugs comes with a risk, a risk that street drug dealers were willing to take for tax-free
Marijuana is a "gateway drug," which means that it leads users to other, more dangerous drugs. Marijuana should not be legalized! Talk to your local mayor or senator to learn more about what you can do to help stop marijuana from being legalized, or visit http://mcwell.nd.edu/your-well-being/physical-well-being/drugs/marijuana-or-cannabis-sativa/quitting-marijuana-a-30-day-self-help-guide/day-1/ to help yourself or people you know who are addicted to marijuana. You can also visit https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/marijuanahttps://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/marijuana for more information on
In that state of colorado a survey was taken among the Boulder City police department stated, “3 out of 5 police officers in the city of Boulder, Colorado say that the distribution of cannabis illegally to juveniles has raised by 60% since medical cannabis & recreational use of cannabis was
This has already been seen in New York, “According to the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services, in the first year after the reforms, courts diverted 1000 drug offenders who would have served state prison sentences under the old laws” (Schoenfeld pg315). This decriminalization of marijuana has also had a positive impact to the violence associated with marijuana. Criminals selling, smuggling, or killing over marijuana in legal states has been reduced, due to the fact it is readily available to the public. Eradicating these criminals associated with marijuana will enhance public safety all across the United
Any attempt to prohibit action taken by individuals, who have no effect on society, is immoral. We have a right under the social contract theory. How the abuse of the social contract theory prevents the legalization of marijuana contract by expecting others to act rationally. Prohibition violates the
Since marijuana was legalized there have been dramatic results. States that allow the use of marijuana have increased the public’s awareness of the drug’s effects. After an increase in public awarness, many people are setting the drug aside due to long-term effects. If other drugs were made legal in the United States and their long-term and short-term effects were taught, it is very likely that there would be a decrease in their use. People are less inclined to get hooked onto drugs when they realize it could kill them.
The last controversial point for those who are not in support of marijuana legalization, is the crime rate. People predict that criminal elements would be attracted. According to Scott Johnstone, the author of the article, Five Years in: The effects of legalization in Colorado and Washington State, "On the whole, crime statistics for Washington state reached a 40-year low in 2014, with violent crime down 10 percent and a 13 percent drop in the state's murder rate. Colorado also saw decreases in overall crime rates, violent crimes and property crimes" (Johnstone). Marijuana has the potential to create peace nationwide.
Due to this, one of the most common trepidations people have is that if the drug were to be legalized, it would find its way to be easily accessible to minors. In Colorado and Washington where marijuana is legal for medical and recreational use, the distribution of the drug is regulated by the supplier and is only sold to people who are twenty-one and older. As these rules and regulations apply, the dissemination of the drug is controlled by the law. With the ability to purchase marijuana legally, people also fear that it will cause for crime rates to increase. In “Legalizing Medical Marijuana May Actually Reduce Crime” by Matt Ferner, he quotes Michael Elliot, executive director of the Marijuana Industry Group: “While this program is cumbersome for the small business owners in this industry, it is far better than choosing black market operators who use violence to dominate the sale of marijuana and prey on our children” (12).
Over the last 100 years the United States has had an ongoing battle against accepting marijuana as a valuable addition to the legal system, medicinal world, economy, and even the agricultural field. Marijuana is a versatile plant that is capable of affecting every single American citizen whether they are using it or not. If marijuana were to be legalized in the United States taxpayers would save millions, patients would get the care they request, and farmers might actually profit off of their hard work for once in a very long time. Both medicinal and recreational marijuana needs to be legalized on a federal level for the enrichment of the United States.
More than 16,000 jobs were created in Denver alone, thanks to the legalization of Marijuana. More jobs generally means the poverty percentage will go down. Since they legalized it their poverty has decreased a lot. Marijuana has also boosted revenue/ income so they can fund projects such as fixing roads or building schools. Marijuana is not for everybody just like alcohol, cigarettes, technology, and just about everything else in the world.
A major reason as to why marijuana is still categorized as a Schedule I Drug, has to do with all the effects that marijuana has on the body. All those psychoactive effects, the alterations to the mind and body are so constant, that it becomes difficult to support how the drug can have real medical
America's number one drug problem is alcohol. Unleashing the use of marijuana to the public while already having alcohol easily accessible would be catastrophic. Legalizing marijuana will increase crime rates as it has in colorado. In 2016 crime rates either decreased or remained the same. However, in Colorado (where the drug is legal) the crime rate for every 100,000 people increased by 3.4%(the denver post).
Today the demands are changing in different states. In States such as Colorado and Washington, marijuana has been legalized for recreational use. This move raised several questions as far as decriminalization of marijuana is concerned. Besides portraying the US in a bad light, legalization of marijuana for recreation increases the risk of developing mental problems, increases government expenditure on public health, jeopardizes the future of children, and is a gateway to other dangerous drugs. Increased health problems and public health expenditure-
Marijuana comes from the cannabis plant, it’s a psychoactive drug, medicine, and hemp fiber. Marijuana legalization has been universally debated for years now. We have to ask ourselves: Will conviction rates for marijuana possession go up or down? Will legalization lead to its increase or decrease of use? Is cannabis even as dangerous as other legal substances?