Michela Stutzman

Professor Wells

English 101-09

November 9, 2021

Should marijuana be legalized?

Marijuana should be legalized nationwide. Marijuana, also referred to as its

scientific name cannabis, has three strains: cannabis indica, cannabis sativa, and

cannabis ruderalis and also another plant called hemp that is lower in THC levels and is

used in other ways such as rope and paper. Legalizing marijuana would provide many

benefits including boosting the economy, sales taxes collected support public programs,

less harmful than alcohol and tobacco, and would decrease the demand from drug

cartels, organized crime, and street gangs. The legalization of marijuana would bring in

millions of dollars. The taxes collected from legalized marijuana would help fund the

police, drug treatment and mental health centers, housing programs, and many other

programs. Marijuana is also less harmful than alcohol and tobacco, which are both

legal. Furthermore, marijuana legalization would decrease the demands for marijuana

from drug cartels, organized crime, and street gangs.

Marijuana, also referred to as its scientific name cannabis, has three strains: cannabis

indica, cannabis sativa, and cannabis ruderalis. It contains higher levels of THC (delta-

9-tetrahydrocannabinol), the primary psychoactive ingredient, than hemp. Hemp is also

a cannabis plant that can also be used as rope, burlap fabric, paper, and low level THC
medicinal products. In 1937, the Marihuana Tax Act made marijuana use illegal in the

United States. Under federal law marijuana is a schedule 1 drug, alongside LSD (acid),

heroin, and MDMA (ecstasy). Marijuana is the most frequently used illegal drug in the

United States. A poll conducted by Gallup in august 2018 indicated that 13 percent of

americans regularly use marijuana.”

The legalization of marijuana would boost the economy. Marijuana brings in three times

more tax revenue than alcohol in Colorado. Colorado raised $78 million after its first

fiscal year and $129 million after its second fiscal year. “The legal marjuana industry

generated $7.2 billion in economic activity in 2016, and added millions of dollars in

federal taxes paid by cannabis businesses.” A few industries that could benefit are

transportation, construction, and tourism.

Marijuana is less harmful than alcohol and tobacco. Alcohol and tobacco are known for

causing cancer, heart failure, liver damage/ failure, ect. Yet, both alcohol and tobacco

are legal. 95,000 people die from alcohol-related causes annually. “According to the

2019 NSDUH, 14.5 million (nearly 15 million) people ages 12 and older (5.3 percent of

this age group) had AUD (Alcohol Use Disorder).” Tobacco causes many diseases and

disabilities to nearly every organ of the body. “Cigarette smoking remains the leading

cause of preventable disease, disability, and death in the United States.”

Sales taxes collected from legal marijuana would support public programs. Tax revenue

collected by the sale of legalized marijuana aid in the funding of public programs like the

police, drug treatment centers, mental health centers, and school programs. “In

Colorado, 40 million dollars of marijuana tax revenue went to public school construction,
while 150 million dollars went to housing programs, mental health programs in jails, and

health programs in middle schools in 2016-2017.”

The legalization of marijuana would decrease the demand for marijuana from drug

cartels, organized crime, and street gangs. Marijuana seizures have decreased by

millions of pounds and are at their lowest levels in a decade according to the U.S.

Border Patrol data. The marijuana policy group said “By the year 2020, an estimated

90% of the marijuana market in Colorado will be supplied by licensed and taxed

vendors, demonstrating that the black market can be replaced by legal, regulated

sales.” Also, with legalized marijuana it is much safer for the consumer because the

government can enforce regulations and laboratory testing. When marijuana consumers

buy marijuana off the street they have no way of knowing if the marijuana being sold to

them contains mold, pesticides, or other harmful substances.

Opponents also argue that marijuana harms the health of the user and the people

around them. Lung tissue damage and respiratory problems are caused by smoking

marijuana. Second hand smoke from marijuana is also harmful. The Alcohol and Drug

Institute at the University of Washington say marijuana may contain five times as much

carbon monoxide concentration and three times as much tar as tobacco. Also, there is a

higher risk of heart attacks and strokes in the hours immediately following smoking

cannabis.

Opponents of the legalization on marijuana argue that commercialized marijuana will

create a “Big Marijuana” industry that exploits people for profit and targets children.

Food infused with marijuana packaged into fun colorful containers attract children to buy

them. “Marijuana is available in kid-friendly forms such as gummy bears and lollipops,
and products sometimes resemble familiar brands, such as “Buddahfinger” or “Keefkat”

in wrappers that look like a Butterfinger or KitKat. Senior economist at RAND

Corporation, Rosalie Liccardo Pacula, said heavy marijuana users make up a majority

of the marijuana sold/ consumed.

In conclusion, marijuana should be legalized nationwide. The legalization of marijuana

would provide many benefits. These benefits not only affect the consumer directly but

also the nation as a whole. Although, there are arguments against this. Opponents of

the legalization of marijuana believe that it would create a “Big Marijuana” industry like

“Big Tobacco”. Also that marijuana harms the health of users and the people around

them.

Works Cited:

“Alcohol Facts and Statistics.” National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, U.S.

Department of Health and Human Services, June 2021,

https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/alcohol-facts-and-

statistics.

“Fast Facts and Fact Sheets.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for

Disease Control and Prevention, 10 Dec. 2020,

https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/index.htm.

"Marijuana." Issues & Controversies: Overviews and Pro/Con Arguments, edited by Facts On

File, 1st edition, 2019. Credo Reference,

https://libproxyccc.nau.edu/login?url=https://search.credoreference.com/content/entry/

fofissues/marijuana/0?institutionId=3245. Accessed 18 Nov. 2021.

"Recreational Marijuana." ProCon, edited by ProCon.org, 2018. Credo Reference,

https://libproxyccc.nau.edu/login?url=https://search.credoreference.com/content/entry/

procon/recreational_marijuana/0?institutionId=3245. Accessed 18 Nov. 2021.