The legalization of marijuana
The legalization of marijuanaThere is a growing debate in the political arena in the more recent years. This debate is the decision whether or not to legalize marijuana. Marijuana is a major influential force in our country today. The problem has gotten so out of hand that many options are being considered to control it. Ending the drug war seems to be a unacheivable task and a costly one at that. the war on drugs seems to be accomplishing a lot but this is just not true. Different options need to be considered. Legalization is an option that hasn't gotten a chance yet but it should. Although many people feel that legalizing pot would increase the amount of use,drugs should be legalized because it will greatly reduce the amounts of money spent on law enforcement and it would increase our countrys revenue. Also pot would be produced by the same companies that produce medications so it would ensure the safety and quality of the drug. there are also many benefits that can be uncovered to help people if legalization of pot is given a chance.
Legalizing pot would increase our countrys revenue. During prohibition alcohol use was still sold and bought, but people where doing it illegally. The 21st amendmnet repealed prohibition and alcohol taxes were increased. The same thing should happen with pot. Pot should be heavily taxed to increase this countrys revenue. The same countrys that make medications would also make pot, so the quality would be assured, containg no posions or toxins. Sterile needles would be readily at the corner drug store. these could be taxed as well because the user will be assured of clean drugs.
Making drugs legal would reduce the great amount of money spent on law enforcement each year. Right now this country is in a no win situation with the war on drugs. Every time on drug dealer is taken off the street, two more dealers are right behind him to tale his place. In 1987, 10 billion dollars were spent just on enforcing drug laws. One can only imagine what this number will be like in ten years. All of this money could better be used to sreve the people in the community.
By lifting the ban on pot use the nation could gain many benefits to improve the quality of peoples lifes. Victims that suffer from glaucoma and those needing antinausea treatment, for example, would find pot easily ready. Also, the cloud of suspicion would disappear, and the doctors could investigate pots other uses without fear of controversy.
The black market sales of pot wopuld dissapear quickly as well. Thousands of street corner dealers would be put out of business and the threat of violence and crime would be greatly reduced.
The legaization of pot would benfit the federal budget in two ways, the federal revenues would increase, because cigarettes would be taxed at the point of sales. In return, the companies that make the cigarettes would be taxed also. Second, there would be a reduction on the amount of money spent on law enforcement efforts to apprehend and prosecute users and sellers of pot. The most impotant gain would be the gain in the quality of the government. The sorts of temptations and opportunities that led to corruption would lessen. It would set more achievable goals for law enforcment, and this would lend strenght and creditability to the government.
With the legalization of pot this country can reduce crime, increase its own revenue, make drugs safer, free up valuable time, and put medical benefits to good use.