More than 25 million of the US population has used/uses Marijuana on a constant basis. Since the early 1900’s Marijuana has been a controversial issue in America; many believe that it should stay prohibited and others agree that it should be legalized recreationally and all across the US. Stated by Geiger, “ About six-in-ten Americans (62%) say the use of marijuana should be legalized, according to a fall 2018 survey.” Although there are not many body harming side effects of using Marijuana it is classified as a Class A drug along with Heroin, Crack cocaine, and Meth. When one thinks about Marijuna nobody believes it belongs in the same group as those body harming drugs. Everybody argues what will Marijuana do to the community but nobody thinks what it will do for the government if it is legalized recreationally.
If Marijuana is legalized recreationally including medically it will boost the economy by a great margin. The Marijuana industry in the United States could exceed $24 million in revenue by 2025 according to Procon.org. The government is in debt with many countries and will continue to stay in debt due to the government’s spending habits. The government needs this boost in economy to keep the country stable. They also need to start worrying about more important crimes and more critical to the community. According to ACLU.org, “Marijuana arrests now account for over half of all drug arrests in the United States. Of the 8.2 million marijuana arrests between 2001 and 2010, 88% were for simply having marijuana.” When Marijuana was legalized in Washington it freed police sources and Marijuana possession arrests dropped from 5,531 to 120 in the year after.
Everybody knows there is a difference between having a small amount of marijuana and having a great amount and having intentions to sell although for both occasions the consequences do not differ from each other. Marijuna helps the human body relax and helps with other bodily pains such as chronic pain, headaches, and any other body part pain. Marijuana also helps people to play sports or are active in general with stiff muscles and helps people with MS to improve much faster and better according to experts. The CBD (Cannabidiol) in the Marijuana soothes the body and helps with seizures according to scientists.
If Marijuana is legalized recreationally then it will decrease the crime rate by a good margin and help the law enforcement have more time for more important cases. In 2010 54% of arrests made were for having possession of Marijuna but most of the percentage were people with small amounts of it in possession (ProCon.org). The amount of crime and violence caused by alcohol is 10 times as much as to people who use Marijuana. Alcohol is legalized recreationally but is the cause of 40% violent crimes.
Although there are many pros of the issue of the legalization of Marijuana there are many cons. A great argument for that it should stay illegal is that it will increase in use of the teens and young adults which will result in more car accidents due to being under the influence with the teens being the greater portion of the population driving on the roads today. Many also will state that Marijuana is addictive and a gateway drug. According to Procon.org, “According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, as many as four million Americans meet the diagnostic criteria for a marijuana use disorder, such as abuse, dependence, or addiction.”
WRT 101S 