Legalizing Marijuana The main benefit of legalizing marijuana would be the money it would generate. Because it is legal, it could be taxed. It is estimated that twenty-five million Americans smoke marijuana regularly. A tax could bring in billions of dollars for government use. California, Colorado, and Oregon have already experienced monetary success. If California legalized marijuana for recreational use, they could gain billions of dollars in taxes. This would also create jobs for many people. The legalization of marijuana would also decrease the influence of illegal drug rings. The usage of marijuana has expanded the black market, just like in the day of Prohibition. Drug dealers and their clients can become violent if the right amount is not paid or delivered. This would decrease drug violence. This would help young people and diverse communities, who are more likely to be affected. It could also decrease …show more content…
However, it is not conclusive whether or not marijuana causes mental illness, or people who use marijuana use it to help with their illness. The United States Drug Enforcement Agency classifies marijuana as a schedule one drug. A schedule one drug is defined as currently having no accepted medical use and is liable for heavy abuse. This contradicts the claims of those for the legalization of marijuana. Other drugs in the schedule one category are heroin, meth, and LSD. Smoking marijuana can also effect not only the user, but those around the user. Second hand smoke can still damage the lungs, just like it could with smoking cigarettes. Children could also get ahold of it, just like other substances. However, it could especially damaging because marijuana affects the brain more than alcohol and cigarettes. This could result in an under developed, damaged brain. Legalizing it could make it more accessible to those children and irresponsible