...Kilty The legalization of Marijuana has been a timeless topic within our society, we often ask ourselves whether or not making it legal to manufacture, distribute or consume this product would be an advantage or disadvantage. The following will illustrate the pros and cons of legalization and its role in American Society in association with economy, crime, productivity, the justice system and courts, traffic issues and so on. Pros Since its recreational legalization on the state level in Colorado back in 2012, there have been many good things that have come with it. According to the State of Colorado, “In the first four months, marijuana sales amounted to more than $202 million, about a third of them recreational while taxes from recreational sales were almost $11 million” (http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/07/six-months-after-marijuana-legalization-colorado-tax-revenue-skyrockets-as-crime-falls/). One of the goals with the revenue gained from marijuana sales is to redistribute the wealth back into the state itself. The Colorado government tax distribution in the month of September for 2014 had ranges of $211,222 in Denver to $3,631 in Idaho Springs which was the least of all the cities mentioned. (https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/sites/default/files/0914%20Local%20Government%20Distribution%20Report.pdf). July 1st marked six months since it became the first U.S. state to legalize the cultivation, possession, and sale of recreational marijuana for adults 21 and older. State...
Words: 2295 - Pages: 10
...Marijuana, Good or Bad for the Economy. You decide. When some people think of marijuana, they think of the hippie guy and girl with the tight bellbottom jeans, the scarf tied around their forehead, the purple round sunglasses and holding up a piece sign while driving the VW van with the Grateful Dead stickers on the windows. Some think of marijuana as a relief to the pain and discomfort they are experiencing, others just like the effect of slowing down the animosity of life and relaxing. However, if we look at the big picture we can see that marijuana being legal could help the economy, be medically beneficial, is safer than alcohol, and it would help all walks of life in one way or another. The legalization of marijuana could be very economically beneficial according to a study done by an economics professor at Harvard University named Jeffery Miron. Professor Miron says the government would save about $7.7 billion a year by the policing and prosecution being cut if marijuana was legalized in the U.S. The study also states that if the taxing of tobacco and alcohol was similarly used on marijuana, another $6.2 billion would be attained. In 2008 another study was done. In Texas $46.1 million was spent by state prisons only supervising marijuana prosecuted inmates. In California marijuana enforcement was estimated to be over $146 million. Some prisons now are facing overcrowding. Think of the amount of money that would be saved and some of the space...
Words: 1926 - Pages: 8
