Colby Geisinger
English 10H – Mr. Mogford
“Legalization of Marijuana” – Research Paper
5/19/13
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Merchant of Death or Economic Emancipator?: how the legalization of Marijuana will affect the
United States of America
A lot of discussion has been occurring recently on a topic of much debate. This topic
being whether the plant cannabis (marijuana) should be legalized throughout the United States or
continue to be another illegal drug unless the proper paperwork is provided. While debate
continues, some states have already begun to take the initiative. Both Washington and Colorado
have already authorized the legalization of Marijuana for recreational use instead of just for
medicinal purposes. Although many politicians and citizens of the U.S. are still against
marijuana for specific reasons, are the two western states on to something? Since the United
States has been discussing the federal legalization of Marijuana, many questions have risen about
the negative effects of cannabis but yet citizens fail to see how the plant can contribute to
societal issues of economics, crime, and health.
As it has been for quite some time now, the United States in a difficult time of economics
and cannot seem to get itself out of the slump. With the U.S. national debt being $16 trillion and
that number continuing to rise, hope to get out of the economic slump is beginning to fade,
unless the U.S. can find a way to increase their income. One possible way to gain some income
may involve the legalization of marijuana nationwide. Just as in prohibition, marijuana can be
made legal and then taxed to make the government immense amounts of money benefitting the
U.S. economy and its citizens. (Solomon) The first year after Prohibition was repealed, alcohol
taxes made up a whopping 9% of federal revenue. So why should cannabis be any different?
Polls show that 50% of Americans agree with the legalization of marijuana, and 17 million have
said they used it within the past month. Although no one will know for sure how beneficial the
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impact of the legalization of marijuana will be on the economy until legalized, studies have been
made to predict the outcome. (Solomon) Jeffrey Miron has tried to crunch the numbers.
(Solomon) In a 2010 study, Miron, a senior lecturer in economics at Harvard and a senior fellow
at the libertarian Cato Institute, said legalizing marijuana nationwide would save about $8.7
billion a year in law-enforcement costs. These estimated numbers are just what the United States
would expect to save with the legalization of the illegal plant not including what the U.S.
government could possibly make in profit from the federal sale the plant. (Solomon) It’s
certainly the most popular illegal drug, the center of an estimated $15 billion to $30 billion
“industry” in the U.S. Although these numbers don’t quite add up to the $16 trillion dollars of
debt, the sale of the drug along with the amount of money being saved on law-enforcement from
marijuana related activity, the money begins to add up very rapidly which could quickly change
the tide of the United States economy.
Many citizens also fail to see the benefits to the crime throughout the U.S. People feel
that it makes the country a better place to live in by finding and jailing the dealers of the illegal
drug marijuana, but is that true that the nation becomes safer or can law enforcement do a better
job? If the drug were to be legalized, law enforcement could spend less time worrying about
dealers and more on serious crimes. (CNBC) Last year, police arrested 847,864 persons for
marijuana violations, almost 90% of them for possession only. With police being so wrapped up
with the arresting of citizens for possession of a plant, someone could be committing a murder
right down the road and never get caught. Many believe that there are more serious matters to
attend to rather than marijuana related crimes. Every day there are serious crimes taking place
and police may not even know because they are already preoccupied. Legalization could play a
major role in the law enforcement system. (CNBC) It will also free state’s police officers to
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concentrate on crimes that inflict the deepest fear, pain and loss: burglaries, robberies, sexual
assaults, domestic violence, stalking, child abuse, workplace and school shootings, drunk
driving. Therefore, crime rates actually would have a possibility of drastically dropping because
of the extra police enforcement. With less time worrying about marijuana being illegal, police
officers throughout the nation may be able to spend more time on serious criminal cases and
better do their job protecting the citizens of the United States of America.
American citizens not only fail to see effects on crime and economy but also health as
well although not necessarily bad effects, if any at all. Marijuana is seen to many as an illegal
drug that effects the health of one in many ways by making them not be able to think properly or
drive correctly or many other things. When questioning the health effects of cannabis, citizens
fail to recognize the use of alcohol and cigarette smoking. Most people throughout the U.S. have
tried marijuana some time in their life and most have never become addicts of the plant. As
opposed to cigarettes and alcohol, going through withdrawal of marijuana is very minor.
(Gumbiner) When present, withdrawal symptoms might include: anxiety, depression, nausea,
sleep disturbances, and GI problems. Although symptoms do exist, they are not even comparable
to withdrawal from a substance such as alcohol which can cause temporary failure of eyesight,
loss of bodily control, and may even require the person to go to a hospital or mental institution to
be carefully monitored. Death rates for alcohol and tobacco are also significantly higher than the
criminalized plant. (Welcome) Alcohol contributed to 24,518 deaths in 2009 and drug overdose
contributed to 38,329 deaths in 2010. Strangely enough, marijuana must not have been part of
the group of drug overdose because in 2009 the use of cannabis resulted in 0 deaths. Cigarettes
also are more harmful to humans by being major contributors to many issues such as throat and
lung cancer. Not to mention it is much more addictive than marijuana because the human body
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begins to build a dependency on the nicotine from within them. Marijuana can also be used
medicinally for problems such as glaucoma and as a pain reliever. Although Marijuana is illegal
now, the legalization couldn’t even have a negative effect on American citizens and could only
help them without virtually any changes in American health issues.
The federal legalization of marijuana has been in discussion for quite some time now and
it is time for citizens of the United States to not only recognize the negative effects but the
positive and beneficial effects of the plant on American societal issues like economics, crime,
and health. Since criminalized for a great deal of time, is the legalization of marijuana practical?
Do the benefits outweigh the detriments? The legalization could bring about improved economy
and the lowering of the national debt. It may cause crime rates to dramatically fall and it may
help people medically as well. How will the legalization of marijuana effect American society?
Americans must be able to think about their choices and choose wisely as to what benefits
themselves and their country more by taking into consideration the economy, crime, and health
that is affected by the use of a plant.