Should Marijuana Be Legalized?

It is heavily debated as to whether or not marijuana should be legalized. There are numerous reasons for and against legalizing marijuana, some say that the government can tax it, some say that it helps with certain medical conditions. People also say that it is not a gateway drug and does not lead to drug abuse. Then there is the question of should we legalize it now even though there is no way to test the levels in your blood at a routine police stop. There are some really good points as to why marijuana should be legalized and some good reasons as to why it should not be legalized, the truth is that people are going to smoke marijuana whether it is legal or not.

If marijuana was legalized nationwide the government will be able to tax it and increase more revenue for the nation. If we look at Colorado, which is one of two states where marijuana is legal, we see that the government makes a hefty amount of money on the tax they receive from dispensaries. After legalizing marijuana Colorado and Washington “stated revenue was estimated to increase by $67 million.” (The Washington Post, 2013) This means that once it is legalized and regulated the states increase their revenue and are better equipped to improve other state organized programs. If we can look at the legalization of marijuana as a financial gain for our economy I believe that we can start to see how it will help rather than destroy our country. The financial aspect is really one of the biggest reasons as to why it should be legalized; we should be looking more at the numbers rather than the actual harm that comes from smoking a joint. It is surprising that the government taxes so many other frivolous items for “the gain of the state or country” that it is surprising th...

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... people with medical ailments we will soon see the understanding and openness that we all deserve. Marijuana is not all bad and because a few idiots made mistakes and took advantage of it does not mean that all people who smoke or even eat marijuana are bad. There are good people out there that need it to survive and feel normal.

Works Cited

CNBC. (2010). Why We Should Not Legalize Marijuana. Retrieved from http://www.cnbc.com/id/36267223

Huffington Post. (2013). This is Why Marijuana Should Be Legal Everywhere. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/24/marijuana-legalization_n_4151423.html

The Washington Post. (2013). After Legalizing Marijuana, Washington and Colorado are starting to regulate it. Retrieved from http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/govbeat/wp2013/10/09/after-legalizing-marijuana-washington-and-colorado-are-starting-to-regulate-it/