FREE ESSAY ON LEGALIZATION OF MARIJUANA

LEGALIZATION OF MARIJUANA

Legalization of Marijuana
In a day in time where alcohol and tobacco products, although restricted by age, are
available to millions, one has to wonder why there is such controversy about the proposal
to legalize marijuana. Of course, there are many arguments or both sides of this hotly
debated issue. Nonetheless, marijuana is no more harmful than alcohol and tobacco
products and in some cases, marijuana has already proven to be medicinally helpful.
Marijuana, a plant with many uses, should be legalized for crime deterrence, medicinal
help and tax purposes.
Marijuana is, in truth, no more harmful than currently sold alcohol and tobacco products.
In the U.S. 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, perse, are addictive. Fighting addictions, added to
the cost of fighting cancer, has skyrocketed the amount of money spent and the personal/
family angst suffered in this nation for decades. Studies do not, however, indicate that
marijuana is a "gateway drug," one that causes addiction ("Legalization Report,"
Http://www.geocities.com/marinol.html). 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. Obviously, government control, perhaps under the
FDA specifically, would guarantee a consistently pure product. Already, the FDA has 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"
("Legalization Report," Http://www.geocities.com...Glaucoma). 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. Because 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 may well 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 ("Bud Smokers of America," Http://www.geocities.com...economics.html). 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"
("Bud Smokers of America," Http://www.geocities.com...economics.html). Another feasible
way to limit abuse of the drug would be to "regulate consumers directly, [as] for
instance, by issuing licenses to buy/sell/grow pot" ("Bud Smokers of America,"
Http://www.geocities.com...economics.html). The government could impose a "harmful 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.
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. The legalization of
marijuana will help us continue to live a long and prosperous life.