Weed

Should Marijuana be legalized?

With accordance with the federal Controlled Substance Act marijuana is considered to have a high potential for abuse, no currently accepted medical use and a lack of accepted safety. In this hectic and fast pace life that most of us have to wake up to, we venture off to the beach, vacations, or a well shaded corner in the park to a find a moment of clarity andcomfort to for a second be able to not think about the everyday stress of life. For some they find that in marijuana, others smoke it from health reason because they suffer from Multiple Sclerosis, cancer, AIDS. This controversial issue of legalizing marijuana has been on forefront of American debate for years, most recently picking up more attention with currently 14 states pending legislation orballot measures to legalize medical marijuana, more states are taken notice the economic and medical advantages this proposal brings. From the money generated from taxes to the money saved cutting the judicial process of marijuana arrest. Should it be legal I believe so.
A primary argument of legalization of marijuana is the revenue in sales and regulation it would turnover to local, state, andnational levels. Especially in these times where the country in a time of need, slowly climbing its self out of the black hole it was in the earlier part of year. The U.S was forced to face the worst economic times since the great depression following the crash of the housing market and other cooperate downturn that lead to this economic pitfall. Marijuana is estimated to be $113 billion industryand estimated income of $30 billion in taxes. Marijuana should be legalized, treated like alcohol and cigarette for existence no sale to anyone under 21, set zoning and timing restrictions, increase and decrease tax on the product causing less teen smoking, tax the sales of these products which will generate much needed income for each state and as a nation. Iowa which is facing a budget deficit ofover $600 million and a high unemployment rate are weighting the option if the legalization, regulation, and taxation of marijuana could help solve the economic hole the state is facing “Iowa is struggling to find the resources to pay for its programs to assist people who are victims of domestic violence or sexual assaults” (). According to Harvard economist Jeffrey Miron he estimated that“legalization could be expected to bring state and federal governments about $7 Billion in additional revenue”(). Annually marijuana is $13 Billion dollar market if controlled and managed correctly can be beneficial to the smokers and the economy. Beside the point the amount of money it would generate from taxes legalizing it would create thousands of new jobs in the packing, agriculture sectors companiesgrowing and shipping of Marijuana, also in the business sectors for example marketing and advertising.
California is one of the hardest states hit by the economic downturn. California’s situation has gotten to the point where the government has been force to issue over “$1 Billion in IOU’s to vendors” () because of their budget deficit which has caused them to cut back severely on spending andservice forcing them to have massive layoffs alongside the raising numbers of foreclosures, furthermore to the point where the school system is operating only four days a week. “Marijuana California's biggest cash crop, responsible for $14 billion a year in sales, dwarfing the state's second largest agricultural commodity milk and cream which brings in $7.3 billion a year, according to the mostrecent USDA statistics”() the state has estimated they if tax marijuana would bring the them over $1.4 billion in most needed revenue. The issue has gained arsenal with Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger calling an open debate on the matter and Senator Tom Ammiano has bought legislation before the state government which calls for legalization of marijuana allowing the state to tax and regulate the...