The Legalization of Marijuana
Elboni Hodges
DeVry University

Legalization of Marijuana
Marijuana has been illegal for many years now, but can only be used for medical purposes. The drug is used to provide medical treatment for many diseases. Cannabis sativa plant is the really name for marijuana. One of the ingredients in marijuana is THC. Cox (2012) says:
THC or tetrahydrocannabinol is the chemical responsible for most of marijuana's psychological effects. THC changes behavior by binding — fitting together like a lock and key — to receptors on nerve cells, which then respond with a change in activity. (para1).
When people are taking drug test, they use the levels of THC in a person’s system to calculate the usage of marijuana. Other names for marijuana are weed, pot, mary jane, or grass. Lately, the legalization of marijuana discussion has been a controversial issue in the United States. The government will allow marijuana to be legally regulated on the state level. Why wait until now to legalize it? Or is this a way to control drug trafficking and crime? Legalizing marijuana may solve some issue but can also create new ones. Marijuana should be legalized but regulated similarly to tobacco and alcohol.
No longer will people have to run to the streets corners to purchase a bag of marijuana. No more dealing with drug dealers. Legalizing marijuana will put drug dealers out of business. People will be able to purchase marijuana out of stores soon. Some states are taking advantage of the government allowing them to legalize marijuana. Sullum (2013) said:

After Coloradans approved Amendment 64, which legalized the production, possession, and distribution of marijuana for recreational use, Gov. John Hickenlooper appointed the Amendment 64 Implementation Task Force to advise state legislators on how to regulate the nascent cannabis industry, which for years had served patients under Colorado's medical marijuana law but now was authorized to supply any adult 21 or older. And as in all sorts of industries, the incumbents were trying to write the rules in their favor (para. 3)
Colorado and Washington are two states that already legalized marijuana. Colorado has started marijuana and Washington will begin in June this year. While those two states are growing and selling marijuana, in other states, police are still making drug bust. Arguments from organizations that are for legalizing marijuana feel it will decrease the crime rates all over the United States.
Marijuana has its positive aspects, but cigarettes and alcohol do not. It should be legalized because it has been proven not to be a gateway drug. People under the influence of the drug are not considered dangerous. Since marijuana has been placed in the same category as cocaine and other controlled substance people believe that it is harmful. Marijuana is less harmful to your health than cigarettes. It is also less threatening to alter a person’s behavior to violence than alcohol. If cigarettes and alcohol are more harmful than marijuana, why isn’t it legal?
“As of March 2014, 20 states and the District of Columbia have legalized medical marijuana” (Widmer, 2014, p33). When legalized, people will be able to have up to an ounce or more in your possession depending on where you live. Some benefits for legalizing marijuana are jobs and tax revenue probable will increase. Money won’t be wasted on locking up or drug testing for marijuana.
“In 2005, more than 786,000 Americans were arrested, according to the FBI, for violating anti-marijuana laws, the highest number on record” (Ford, 2013, para5). So, will the people already locked up get some time reduced because of these new laws? How will this affect jails revenue? Ford (2013) says:
Today, there are two main groups who benefit from the ban on marijuana: manufacturers of alcoholic products, who are not eager to see competition for another mild intoxicant; and illegal drug dealers, who are happy to earn higher profits from the illegal sale of marijuana, and who seek contacts with prospective users of other, more dangerous, drugs. (para. 11)
Dealers may gain some ground with marijuana being legalized. They are still able to sale marijuana to manners and people who do not what to pay the amount that the stores charge. Marijuana should be sold out the stores just like aholcol and tobacco. Marijuana is not harmful and it can provide medical help for some diseases. Most states will comply with legalizing marijuana. This will allow jail space for the real criminal. Drug dealers all over will need to find jobs. The government can start using the money spent on locking up marijuana smokers and dealers for more useful things.

References Cox, L. (2012). What is thc. Live Science.
Ford, A. (2013). Point: Marijuana should be legalized. Point of View: Legalization of Marijuana.
Sullum, J. (2013). Pot goes legit. Reason, 46(6).
Widmer, L. (2014). Marijuana. Risk Management, 61(3), 30-35.

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