Reflective Essay, Legalization Of Marijuana Essay, Research Paper

Legalization of marijuana

Legalization of Marijuana (Cannabis) is highly logical in a day where alcohol and tobacco

products, (although restricted by age) are available to millions of people every day. Someone has

to wonder why there is such controversy about the proposal to legalize marijuana. Cannabis

would benefit the economy enabling new jobs in the U.S. The sale of Cannibas would benefit the

government as well with a tax. Being an illegal drug Cannabis has more helpful causes than

harmfull.

Of course, there are many arguments for both sides of this debated issue. Nonetheless,

Marijuana is no more harmful than alcohol and tobacco products and in some cases, marijuana has

already proven to be medicaly helpful. Marijuana, a plant with many uses, should be legalized

for crime deflation, medicinal help and tax purposes. Marijuana is, in truth, no more harmful than

currently sold alcohol and tobacco products in the U.S. In fact marijuana is no more harmfull

than sucking Helium. Each year, millions and millions of dollars are spent on health care issues

stemming from the use of alcohol and tobacco drugs: Studies have indicated that the toxins in

tobacco and that alcohol are addictive, cause birth defects, and cause many different cancers

which kill people. Many families have suffered hard ships because of over use of these drugs.

Fighting addictions, added to the cost of fighting cancer, has skyrocketed the amount of money

spent each year. Studies do not, however, indicate that marijuana is a ?gateway drug,? one that

causes addiction . Perhaps the only reason that currently points to danger associated with

marijuana has more to do with the fact that because it is not currently government regulated for

the public use, marijuana does, occasionally, contain impurities that cause temporary nausea.

Perhaps under the FDA specifically, would guarantee a consistently pure product. Already, the

FDA has said that marijuana is helpful in treating nausea for cancer patients who are undergoing

chemotherapy. In addition the FDA supports the research that shows marijuana?s medicinal

potential in treating glaucoma, a leading cause of blindness. Several studies have found that

?smoking marijuana reduces intraocular pressure?the main cause of this disease?. How can a

drug that the FDA endorses for purposes of healing and prevention be harmful that the general

population needs to be prohibited from its pleasurable effects?

Along with the medicinal purposes of marijuana, it will also help to reduce crime related

offenses. Police enforcement will save billions of dollars a year. Marijuana is illegal, only

criminals deal the drug and will at any point change the cost of their product. This causes anger

and frustration among their clients, which often erupts into violence and theft. Law enforcement

spends 9 billion dollars annually on cannabis arrests that would no longer be made. Because it is

illegal, marijuana is often used today in ?shady places? and allowing legalization will decrease the

number of such meeting spots. The legalization of marijuana will also result in a decrease of jail

population, which will save millions and will result in less violence that often occurs from

overcrowded conditions.

Marijuana, just like alcohol and tobacco, could be taxed, the revenue of which would

result in billions of dollars that could be spent in areas needing further funding. One pack of

twenty joints could be sold the same amount as one pack of cigarettes, $3.50 a pack. From that

per pack amount, one-fourth the total cost would go directly to the government. For the

government to regulate and maintain affordable prices, it would tax the registered dealers but not

growers. ?This means the sale of unregistered homegrown weed would be banned.? However,

?People could grow their own cannabis but only for personal use?. Another possible way to limit

abuse of the drug would be to ?regulate consumers directly, as for instance, by issuing licenses to

buy/ sell/ or grow pot? ( Http://www.geocities.com?economics.html ). The government could

impose a ?regulation tax? of around $.50-1.00; such a tax on items is to help control the use,

which would, in turn, lower the potential for abuse of a substance. These taxes alone would raise

around $2.2-$6.4 billion a year. This tax is only one of several cumulative taxes that would be

imposed to support the legalization of marijuana. Overall the government could potentially earn

$24.2-$43 billion in just one year. The Economy would benefit as well. A plantation were

Cannabis grown then shipped to varias places around the world would contribute thousands of

new jobs.

Marijuana has been proven to be a very safe drug that has many benefits that should be

taking advantage of rather than being banned from today?s society. It has many uses, not only as

medicine but to reduce crime rates, as a social drug etc. Hemp would make better paper than any

type of tree, hemp makes a stronger fabric than cotton, hemp could be used as gasoline to fuel

our mechines. The uses of marijuana go on and on, there would be many improvements on earth

that would also benefit the earth as well. The legalization of marijuana will also help us continue

to live a long and prosperous life.

SOURCES

Http://www.geocities.com/marinol.html

Http://www.geocities.com……Glucoma

Http://www.geocities.com……economical.html

Http://www.HighTimes.com