Marijuana Legalization Marijuana Should Be

Marijuana Legalization

Marijuana Should Be Legalized in the United States

The debate over the legalization of marijuana has become a major issue in recent years, especially with Washington and Colorado voting to legalize the drug in 2012. Not only has the perceptions towards the drug changed by the public in general, as demonstrated through its legalization in the aforementioned states and the increasing use of the substance for medicinal purposes, but the number of users has also increased. Due to the continuously changing attitudes towards marijuana, and the potential economic benefits, I believe that marijuana should be legalized in the United States.

In a report published by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (2011), it was reported that the 2009 National Survey on Drug Use and Health demonstrated that marijuana use among 12 to 17-year-olds has increased 9% from 2008 (6.7%) to 2009 (7.3%) with the perception of the great risk associated with smoking marijuana declining from 2008 (33.9%) to 2009 (30.7%). It is changing attitudes like this that has prompted individual states to consider the economic benefits of legalizing both at the state and federal levels. In Massachusetts alone, it is estimated that $120.6 million a year would be saved that would otherwise be allocated towards marijuana prohibition enforcement (Miron, 2003); marijuana prohibition enforcement includes arrests, prosecution, and incarceration (Miron & Waldock, 2010). Additionally, it is estimated that $16.9 million could be generated in tax revenues if marijuana was taxed at a non-prohibitive rate. In Alaska, it is estimated that $25-$30 million is spent on marijuana prohibition enforcement and that $10-$12 million could be generated if Alaska taxed marijuana at a non-prohibitive rate similar to alcohol and tobacco (Bates, 2004). Bates (2004) also argues that money could be generated from marijuana tourism, which could generate millions of dollars in property, licensing, and sales tax revenues. On a federal level, it is estimated that the legalization of drugs would save $41.3 billion with $25.7 billion accrued to state and local governments and the remaining $15.6 billion to the federal government (Miron & Waldock, 2010, p.1). It is estimated that $8.7 billion could be saved from the legalization of marijuana alone (Miron & Waldock, 2010, p.1).

Secondly, because the law does not differentiate between hemp and marijuana, I believe that the legalization of marijuana would provide a major industrial and agricultural opportunity for hemp farmers and manufacturers. Hemp can be used in a variety of applications from specialty pulp, composites for autos, construction and thermal insulation, and geotextiles (Small & Marcus, 2002). If marijuana is legalized, money can be saved as the product no longer needs to be imported from foreign countries, hemp would become a viable cash crop, and it could be used in more industrial settings as listed above.