Legalization Of Marijuana Argumentative Analysis

Recently the legality and criminalization of drugs, specifically cannabis has been greatly debated in the United States of America. Cannabis is a flowering plant that originates in Central Asia and the Indian Subcontinent and has been used for centuries for hemp fibre in certain papers, medicinal purposes and recreational use (ElSohly). The recreational use of cannabis also known as marijuana was deemed illegal more recently in the United States’ history since 1937. In the articles, “Harmful Effects of Marijuana Use Are Exaggerated” by Paul Armentano, “Colorado and Marijuana Legalization One Year Later: What Has Changed?” by Art Way and “Marijuana Is Far Less Toxic Than Alcohol or Cocaine” by Robert Gable, the authors argue in favor of the

In 2012, Colorado’s governor John Hickenlooper signed and ratified Amendment 64 making Colorado the United States’ first state to end the prohibition of marijuana (Way). All around the United States a person is arrested for the possession of marijuana almost every 37 seconds (Drug Policy Alliance Blog). According to the Colorado Center on Law and Policy, the removal of these criminal penalties has resulted in the saving of over $40 million because of the decreased number of arrests. Nationally there are more arrests for marijuana possession than all violent crimes combined but with this change,“Colorado has removed itself from this immense waste of resources, and life altering criminal justice consequences, that persistently defines marijuana prohibition” (Way). The author of this article agrees with the voters of Colorado claiming this decision as a victory because of the financial gain and criminal decrease in Colorado. The assumption is the police force in the United States wastes its resources in order to prosecute people for the possession of marijuana as opposed to other concerns in this country. Art Way’s argument used Colorado as a reason why marijuana is beneficial financially and