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Argumentative Essay: The Legalization Of Marijuana

1342 Words6 Pages

When the topic of the legalization of marijuana comes up most people think of how it will affect society, health and everyday life. What about the effects it is going to have on agriculture? Growing marijuana has a big impact on the land it is grown on, it effects living things around it, and it takes a lot of water and energy to produce. Marijuana is a big business that can bring in a lot of money to California, but also brings along many issues that can hurt our earth. There are many problems that come along with growing marijuana. Cannabis leaves a “footprint” on the land it is grown on says Jake Brenner from Department of Environmental Studies. This footprint consists of soil erosions, landslides, stream modifications and forest fragmentation. …show more content…

The already multibillion dollar production is only going to grow becoming worth so much more. As of 2017 marijuana was ranked California’s number one cash crop bringing in $26.6 billion dollars. Many people know that milk and cream are one of california's top commodities bring in $6.29 billion dollars, which does not compare to how much marijuana brings in now. Journalist Al Olson says, “It then assumed that each plant would produce one pound of pot at a market price of $1,765 a pound.” That one plant that takes 6 gallons of water a day is able to bring $1,765 of revenue. California is not the first state to legalize marijuana medically and recreationally states such as Washington, oregon and colorado have found success in growing this crop. Oxford Academic says “Colorado and Washington State both allocate their projected $67 million and $389 million tax revenues, respectively, from legal recreational marijuana sales to state funds supporting public health and education.” While bringing in more money from taxes, schools and medical care are able to get more funding. Marijuana is most dangerous to the earth when grown illegally, producers hide the fact they are doing it, but with the legalization of the crop environmental dangers will be somewhat decreased. With more people able to grow the amount of money this crop brings in is going to expand greatly. California “green rush” is extremely profitable and will bring in billions of

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In the state of Colorado in the U.S marijuana is completely legal for both casual and medical use. Many had speculations over if the experiment of legalizing the drug in a state would be a success, the doubters were proved wrong as it has been a huge success especially from the economic point of view. In 2014, retail cannabis sales raised some $76 million in tax revenue and fees, according to data compiled by the Colorado Department of Revenue (ARMENTANO, 2015). Marijuana sales in the past year totaled some $700 million (ARMENTANO, 2015). If marijuana was not legalized this revenue would have gone to the black market where most of the marijuana was being sold, but instead can be used to stimulate the economy and raise tax dollars.

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Legalizing marijuana can make the state some money and there are many benefits to it. Legalizing marijuana won’t benefit at all for the big corrupt pharmaceutical companies, if the cannabis is passed as a drug for health issues. Maybe that’s why lawmakers haven’t maybe won’t pass the law to legalize Marijuana. Yes the companies can get involved but then somehow it will get corrupt and won’t benefit the citizens.

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(Rabinski, 2015) The Huffington Post listed the many economic advantages of legalizing medical marijuana in the story “14 Ways Marijuana Legalization Could Boost the Economy” (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/07/marijuana-economy-14-reasons_n_2089107.html). Some of the surprising benefits include: • $13.7 billion saved on prohibition enforcement costs • Estimated $500 million in tax revenue for Washington State • Estimated $60 million saved by Colorado legalization • Legalization could reduce marijuana prices • Huge prison cost savings (for prisoners on marijuana-related charges) • Marijuana prohibition costs taxpayers $41.8 billion a year • California marijuana crop worth $14 billion a

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that there has been a negative impact on the Earth. “Each marijuana plant is able to consume about 4-6 gallons of water per day.” That takes away lots of water from surrounding vegetation. Many marijuana cultivations are on the top of mountain slopes or hillsides.

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1397 Words | 6 Pages

Marijuana legalization, both recreational and medical, may positively impact the United States economy because of the taxes placed on the plant in several states, and instead of taxing the population, the government receives great revenue. The Marijuana Legalization and Taxes: Lessons for Other States from Colorado and Washington report by Tax Foundation describes the key findings of tax effects, Colorado and its effects tax rate totaling 29 percent, a projection of taxes in Colorado likely to exceed $140 million a year, Washington imposing a 37 percent excise tax, and many more statistics backing up the benefits of certain taxes and legalizations. The legalization of marijuana in present day clearly shows that the economy of the states where this “harmful” drug was legalized went straight up by a high percent in tax revenue. The United States must consider legalizing the drug across the country because not only will it raise the economy, it will also greatly reduce marijuana trafficking incarceration’s which proved to be a huge problem in the country. If the United States legalize marijuana, the crime rates and incarcerations will definitely

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730 Words | 3 Pages

“Legalizing and regulating marijuana will bring the nation's largest cash crop under the rule of law (Marijuana legalization).” In turn this creates jobs and economic opportunities in the formal economy rather than the illicit market. “It is believed that legalizing recreational weed will cut off a revenue stream for illegal drug traders¨ (19 Primary).In turn, making the substance less profitable for criminals will result to a decrease in violence associated with the trade. In Addition, Colorado’s unemployment rate is at a six-year low, as of December 31, 2014 “16,000 people were licensed to work in the marijuana industry¨ (Decriminalization). Colorado currently has the fastest flourishing economy in the United

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Between 2014-2015 marijuana will legalized in a few more states (Boyette, Wilson 2). In Colorado, government has legalized marijuana for medical reasons and recreational use. Government allows citizens over 21 to be able to hold 2 ounces of pot, and they are allowed to grow up to six pot plants in their own yards (Merica 2). Colorado and other states that have already legalized marijuana have made a great profit from all the marijuana sales that they have made. Marijuana doesn't only lead to more money for communities and government, but it also adds more jobs

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The first four states to legalize recreational marijuana reaped over $200 million in combined tax revenue in that year alone. Also, studies estimate that illegal marijuana is a $36 billion industry in the United States. Not only does this extra money help to boost the economy, but it alleviates many hard decisions between budget cuts among law-enforcement, education, and other essential departments of the United States. With President Donald Trump’s proposed budget cut of education by 5.3% or $3.6 billion, many public schools will have to reduce their resources because of a lack of funding. The market for marijuana is growing and shows no signs of stopping.

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The dispute against legalization of marijuana is majorly disputed amongst states but can benefit in many ways. One way legalization will make a change is by creating more money for the economy. By doing this, money can go where we need it the most. This will juristically increase the revenue income and allow us to use more money towards schools, remodeling roads, and other necessities that can be enhanced.

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It is said that as much as 500 million dollars in taxes have been made by the states that have legalized it. One of the newest states to legalize recreational and medical pot is Colorado. As quoted from the video on msnbc, "“60 million dollars in taxes, licenses and fees, has been made” (Min 5:48), and that is only after a full year. Money acquired from marijuana dispensaries can be used on important government matters such as the Environmental Protection Agency. The carbon footprint on planet earth can be significantly decreased by legalizing the sale of marijuana.

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. Some places are very strict when it comes to enforcing their anti-marijuana laws, meanwhile others are very lenient. More and more people everyday are jumping on the “ Legalization bandwagon” in America. The economic benefits are pretty California alone makes an average of $60-110 million in estimated tax revenue each year from medical marijuana. Colorado in its first year legalizing marijuana for recreational use made over $53 million dollars.

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It is estimated that the marijuana industry at the current moment is valued at $45 billion per year. In fact, just the state of Washington alone incurs about an average of $2 million a day in tax revenue. In Colorado, it is found that tax revenue will exceed $140 million at the end of 2016. (Tax Foundation, 2016) These amounts are considerable and offset the regulatory costs incurred by the states.

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Cannabis/Hemp could be the biggest cash crop since cotton. Cannabis is such large and profitable industry that legalization could boost the economy and create American jobs. The state of Colorado has brought in nearly $73.5 million in selling marijuana and marijuana related products in just a few years. Colorado was the first to allow recreational marijuana sales in January 2014. Since then Headset Inc. found that the average recreational consumer spends $647 annually on marijuana.

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If legalized, marijuana could cause societal problems in many areas. First of all, the easy access to legal marijuana would mean that more of it would get into the hands of kids and teens. Police officers worry that we will see increased crime on the streets as marijuana lowers inhibitions and users will do whatever is necessary to feed their addiction. There are also problems with people who use marijuana and drive.

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Cannabis, also known as marijuana, is a depressant drug that affects the central nervous system. There are around 500 chemicals within natural marijuana but

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