Legalization of Marjiuana

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Recommended: Positive effects of legalization of marijuana

A growing concern within America is the rise of drug well known throughout history as Marijuana. Marijuana is a plant that contains a psychoactive chemical called Tetrahydrocannabinol. Though the drug has multiple street names (weed, grass, pot and Mary Jane) the scientific name for the drug is cannabis. Marijuana has been illegal in all fifty states for over 65 years. According to the 2012 survey of Drug Use and Health, conducted by the national institute of Drug Abuse(NIDA), the drug cannabis is reported to be the most used drugs with over 43 percent of adults admitting to having tried it (NIDA “National Survey of Drug Use and Health”). In today’s society there is a lot of controversy surrounding marijuana. Some Americans feel that marijuana should not be regulated because they see it as a gateway drug and not a solution to everyday problems. Some Americans feel strongly that marijuana should be legalized, because there are so many Americans in the United States already using it illegally. By regulating and legalizing marijuana it will bring the nation’s largest cash crop, create economic opportunities, and allow families to have the medical attention that they need in their states.
Marijuana would also become a taxed cash crop, producing massive amounts of revenue for the federal and state governments. “America's domestic marijuana crop is easily valued in excess of $10 billion annually and usually ranks in the top 10 cash crops” (Norml). Colorado, a state that has already legalized the plant for recreational use, has reported an increase of revenue exceeding 67 million dollars. The state is projecting that by the year 2017, after all the new dispensaries are created, the state will profit over two billion dollars (Chokshi). ...

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...se should be passed by both state and local government. Many states are starting to accept the benefits that the drug has to offer. Therefore, America should realize that marijuana is not as bad as it seems to be after all.

Works Cited

Chokshi, Niraj. “After Legalizing Marijuana, Washington and Colorado are Starting to
Regulate It”. WashingtonPost. GovBeat, 9 Oct. 2013. Web. 8 Apr. 2014.

“National Survey of Drug Use and Health”. DrugAbuse.National Institute on Drug Abuse, N.d.
Web. 8 Apr. 2014.

“Marijuana Crop Reports”. Norml, 2014. Web. 8 Apr. 2014.

Wolff, Madeline. "Legalizing Marijuana can Reduce Crime, Increase Revenue for State." Daily
Sundial. Daily Sundial, 09 Nov 2009. Web. 9 Apr 2014.

Sankin, Aaron. "California Marijuana Decriminalization Drops Youth Crime Rate to Record
Low: Study."Huffingtonpost. Huffingtonpost, 29 Nov 2012. Web. 9 Apr 2014.

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