Free Essay

Legalizing Marijuana

In: Philosophy and Psychology

Submitted By itskristin
Words 601
Pages 3
August 17,2014
PHI 105
Legalizing Marijuana In the last few year’s marijuana has been a major topic in the media. There is a huge debate on whether or not marijuana should be legalized and how it would all play out if it were to be legalized. Some think marijuana should be legal while other seem to disagree, however, when you look at the benefits behind legalizing it, there is no reason for it not to be. Marijuana should be legalized as it provides benefits for the critically ill, taxation on the legalization product can increase revenue, and the legalization of marijuana can allow it to then be regulated and/or its legalization can reduce criminal activity associated with marijuana (such as smuggling, dealing, using, etc.) For many years, marijuana has helped aid the pain of critically ill patients across America. Health and comfort should be what the government is concerned with. Marijuana can help people in their everyday life like simply relaxing. Marijuana is used for more than just recreational purposes such as treating pain, reducing nausea, and increasing one’s appetite. “Worldwide studies have shown it to be useful for treating pain, reducing nausea and increasing appetite, among a growing list of other things” (Vorenberg. S). When not abused, marijuana’s symptoms are mild and not often people are uncontrollable. While legalizing marijuana cannot only benefit the critically ill, it can help out our government and increase its revenue. Marijuana is tough on our justice system financially, however, if things changed and it were legalized it could be taxed and used for the government’s funding. By legalizing marijuana, each state could bring in more money by taxing it. The state and government could save money because they would spend less money prosecuting against it and enforcing weed laws. There are over 750,000 people who are arrested for marijuana a year. That is insane; people are getting arrested for something that does no harm to anyone. Police are arresting these individuals and putting them in jail, which is causing the city to pay for the case and spend unnecessary money. One other really good way it could help out if legalized is by opening up spots in the jails. Our jails are so crowded by legalizing marijuana opens up spots in the jail and cutting back on the crowding as well as funding. Legalizing marijuana also helps on reducing criminal activity. It was said that legalizing it would lead to more crime; however, Research shows that the crime rate in the first state to approve medical marijuana has decreased. “We believe that medical marijuana legalization poses no threat of increased violent crime”(2014 March 31). People would be able to carry it on them, and not have to smuggle it. Drug deals would lessen because you’ll be able to get it in stores.. If they would allow every state to legalize marijuana, it would benefit many people from health issues to money. Marijuana has its pros and cons but their pros definitely outweigh the cons. So many people in this world need it to help make them comfortable and our government can use some extra money. Our prisons could be used for real crime and save money from the things that do not matter. There is not harm in legalizing marijuana but there is a lot of good, so lets legalize it and help out those in need.

References
PR, N. (2014, March 31). New Study Shows Legalizing Medical Marijuana May Reduce Crime. PR Newswire US.
Vorenberg, S. (2014, April 13). Will legalization spark marijuana research?. Columbian, The (Vancouver, WA).

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