Trevor Dibble

Mrs. Willis

English 11

May 23, 2014

Positive Outcomes of Legalized Marijuana

The word "marijuana" has risen an eyebrow in almost every American today. Those that oppose legalizing the use of the plant automatically believe its use is to smoke it, but those that do not choose to use marijuana are thought to be in favor of keeping it illegal. Opposing views on the subject of decriminalizing the plant has caused much controversy over the past twenty-five years and still remains an important issue. The legalization of marijuana in the Unites States would drastically reduce crime in our cities and form a more productive society through its positive uses. The war on drugs deals with every level of society. Every year, the U.S. government spends large amounts of money to control drug use and to enforce laws enacted to protect society from the dangers of certain drugs. Some argue that the fight against drugs is not needed and that society has already lost the war on drugs and the only way to remedy the problem to end most of the fighting altogether is by decriminalizing the use of marijuana. William Buckley says, "Pot is harmful, but people should not go to jail for smoking it.” Buckley was a college professor at Columbia University and admitted to smoking marijuana on a national television show in 1973. At the time Buckley was quoted to say, "There were a half-million arrests due to pot use in 1973 respectively this makes the realization that there has been a breakdown in communication between the public and the police.” Over two decades later, Buckley's words still stay true today. Just eight years later an author speaking on the legalization of marijuana summed up the feelings of "anti-pot laws activists" by saying, "Decriminalization is supported by an increasing number of responsible people who are seeking a rational and