As of 2016, 28 states has legalized the usage of medical marijuana. Only eight states has allowed the sale of recreational marijuana. However, a majority of research poll participants believed that marijuana should be legalized with 61% of participants supporting the notion. (AP-NORC, n.d.) Some people view marijuana as a dangerous drug that is classified in the same category as heroin or cocaine. Incidentally, marijuana is listed as a schedule 1 substance. These people stigmatize marijuana due to pop culture references where it is shown as a drug that can be detrimental to one’s health but medical marijuana can actually be helpful to those with health problems. Recent studies shows that THC, the chemical found in marijuana, can help to slow …show more content…
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. The states has several options as to how they want to tax the sale of marijuana either by imposing a $23 tax for each pound of pot brought or 10% sales tax. (Tax Foundation, 2016) All the while, legalizing marijuana will allow new jobs to be created. There has been pushback by other people where they believe that legalizing marijuana will open the door for abuse. Smoking too much marijuana can be harmful to the human body. Also, legalizing marijuana would allow anybody to obtain weed. In the long run, this can mean that more people will use marijuana since it is now legal and can lead to a higher number of people who abuse the drug. Additionally, others believe that the legalization of marijuana can lead to a domino effect where more harmful drugs can get legalized as time goes