by Stephanie Graziano
2012 was a big year for the pot-smokers of America: prior
to the 2012 election, eighteen states and Washington D.C. had legalized the use
of medical marijuana in pre-determined increments. In this past election,
two states, Colorado and Washington, have also legalized the use of
recreational marijuana for adults twenty-one and over. According to an
article published by Rolling Stone, six states may follow the path of
Colorado and Washington. Oregon, California, Nevada, Rhode Island, Maine,
and Alaska are all likely to legalize recreational usage of the drug. The
states with such a law will benefit immensely from the profit made by taxes on the plant.
For the first time, the 2013-2014 Congress must confront
the issue of legalizing the possession and use of this jolly green plant.
The Marijuana Policy Project hopes to treat the drug like alcohol.
According to the MPP’s website, selling marijuana for recreational use could
produce a possible $24 million in annual sales taxes for that state. Of
course we already know the financial benefits that go along with taxing and
regulating the sale of marijuana but Congress will have to consider more than
that when confronting this question.
Prohibition, for one, has failed. Marijuana use is
mainstream and millions of Americans have either tried the drug or regularly
use it. Prohibition wastes public resources and replacing it with the
taxation and regulation of the drug would bring in $17.4 billion and increase
tax revenues. Another problem with prohibition is that the laws against
marijuana are enforced unevenly. African-Americans are more likely to be
arrested for possession than whites even though there is no study proving that
African-Americans use the drug more than whites. Marijuana prohibition
also creates violence. Disputes between dealers, producers, and
distributors cannot be solved in a lawful fashion, making violence an
inevitable result. More than 50,000 people were killed in the 2006
Mexican drug war alone. The legal sale of marijuana can make this
violence less likely.
On another level, smoking cannabis is arguably healthier
than smoking tobacco or drinking alcohol, yet both are legal in all states.
Marijuana has a number of health benefits including the treatment of HIV/AIDS,
glaucoma, cancer and chemotherapy, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, insomnia, and
other illnesses. The American Medical Association calls for more studies
of marijuana; marijuana can help reduce pain in the ill.
Many states are still deliberating on different medical
marijuana bills or revising their current bill for the regulation and sale of
medical marijuana. There are numerous benefits to legalizing marijuana
and lucky Congress gets to review the pro-con lists and decide about its
possible legalization. Because of the benefits, decriminalization is a
sturdy, less radical way to go about this question. In any event,
marijuana usage will continue with or without Congressional say so.
Stephanie, I completely agree with your argument on legalizing marijuana. With prohibition as an example, and even today we see the number of people smoking pot. There is no way to enforce a law against marijuana and all we can do now is legalize it to better protect those that may harm themselves through these means. The only thing I fear in legalizing marijuana is, will teenagers, in an attempt to be rebellious, resort to more harmful drugs such as cocaine and heroine now that marijuana is becoming legal? I only hope that our nation does not abuse this new law in whatever way it may as it has done in the past.
ReplyDeleteSome fair points raised here, but I respectfully disagree. I’m glad y’all love weed so much, cause you’re about to get BURNED.
ReplyDeleteBut first, let me preface my argument by saying this: as far as Cancer treatment goes, I’m all for it. If weed really helps people who are suffering from illness, then legalizing cannabis as a treatment of disease is definitely something that is worth looking at. Because it HELPS people. Recreational use however? Not so much.
By your own admission, if weed is legalized recreationally it will be taxed heavily, thus making it far more expensive than if you were to obtain it illegally at this moment. So there will be more incentive to buy it illegally on the black market (tax free), potentially boosting the sales and profits of illegal drug rings, such as the drug cartels you mentioned. More crime, more expenses. No one wins. And if what you say is true, and “marijuana usage will continue with or without Congressional say so” then why even bother wasting everyone’s time by pushing it through Congress? I guess legal weed gives you a better high than illegal weed or something. In the grand scheme of things, recreational cannabis use is very unimportant and trivial, especially when compared with other important issues. (Gay Marriage anyone?) Can we please focus on getting Congress to do something productive?
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ReplyDeleteVery good arguments but I'm still not convinced. This is a very controversial topic and we have to look at the issue from many different angles. Personally I oppose the legalization of recreational marijuana because I don't believe the economic benefits from production and sale can offset the health cost and the potenial damage legalized marijuana does to teenages. Medical usage, of course, is a whole different issue and I'd definitely defend for legalization if it's beneficial to people's health. You are right that even it's prohibited people would still smoke anyway. But when Congress makes it hard for people to get marijuana, people will have less desire to risk everything to get it. Legalizing in this case is like giving up and can only increase the number of smokers. On the other hand, increased usage of marijuana doesn't guarantee revenue increases because people will find a way to deal behind the government's back and avoid taxes. So I think Congress should be super cautious before they take the next movement.
ReplyDeleteKeerti, I highly doubt teenagers are going to start using heroine and cocaine as a result of the legalization of marijuana. If they are doing it, then they have some serious issues they need to work on, but it definitely will not be from legalizing weed.
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ReplyDeleteOK so usually when people think marijuana all the sad and stereotypical feelings surface over the realistic and thoughtful reasoning towards it. People are quick to judge marijuana only thinking of what "bad" can come from it and I am glad you listed all the positives benefits to it because I feel like people really need to think and process the little details before assuming that it needs to be banned. I myself have never used marijuana and don't intend on it any time soon but not because "it's bad for you."
ReplyDeleteAlcohol, now THAT is bad for you, in ways more than marijuana. But it is legal isn't it?
Good points Stephanie!!