Preview

Against Legalizing Marijuana

Satisfactory Essays
Open Document
Open Document
230 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Against Legalizing Marijuana
Prohibiting the usage of marijuana can help structure the government and the people in the United States. First, smoking marijuana can be beneficial. It has been proven to help a variety of illnesses. For example, some main edical interest are THC and CBD. it can also decrease pain, inflammation, and muscle control problems. Furthmore, legalizing the use of cannabis can increase revenue for the government. A prediction by Harvard economist, Jeffrey Miron, said that legalizing marijuana could save around $7.7 billion per year in government expenditure on enforcement. Also, it can generate $2.4 billion annually if taxed like most consumer goods, or $6 billion per year if it were to be taxed the same as alchohol and tabacco. With taxed marijuana,

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Powerful Essays

    Marijuana is one of the most commonly abused drugs in the United States and legalizing Marijuana has been an ongoing controversial debate for decades. Marijuana comes from the hemp plant Cannabis sativa and the main active ingredient is THC. Marijuana is usually smoked as a cigarette (joint), but can also be put in food or brewed as tea. When smoked it has a distinctive smell, which is usually a sweet-and-sour smell. There are 18 of 50 states and DC that have legalized the medicinal use of marijuana. People will argue that marijuana may cause physical damages, have mental effects and more criminals will be on the streets. Although there may me adverse effects that in moderation, the drug is no more harmful than legal drugs, such as tobacco or alcohol. Marijuana has many medical benefits, which outweighs its potential abuse. The government could earn money from taxes on its sale, create jobs and improve our economy. So marijuana should be legalized because the pros outweigh the cons.…

    • 1421 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    19 debates. Over 25 million people now use marijuana annually and it is now the largest cash crop in America today. If marijuana was to be taxed by the United States government, Allen Wastler of CNN states, “According to his calculations, the government would save $7.7 billion a year if it didn 't have to spend money policing and prosecuting marijuana activity. Then, if the feds taxed marijuana at a rate comparable to cigarettes and booze, another $6.2 billion would come rolling in.” That is a lot of money that could indeed help the United States get past the economic recession it is currently in. The taxation of marijuana would be just like the taxation on alcohol and tobacco. The Alcohol and Tobacco Tax ad Trade Bureau reports alcohol taxes result in $9,499,306 dollars in the year 2008. In that same report, tobacco taxes added up to $7,153,044…

    • 1040 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    * It could be a source of additional tax revenues. An enormous amount of money is raised through government taxation of alcohol, cigarettes, and other "sins". The legalization of marijuana would create another item that could be taxed. I'm sure the government would have no problem spending all that extra money.…

    • 915 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Paper 3

    • 657 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Legalizing marijuana in the United States can promote utilitarianism for the greater good. Political parties have argued various pros and cons of legalizing marijuana in the United States. I believe that by legalizing marijuana you can actually produce the best results, thus affecting the greatest number of people. Legalizing marijuana would allow the government to control the substance, just as they control tobacco and alcohol. If the government controls the retail market of marijuana use and the distribution it can dictate the negative outcomes that are a direct result from keeping marijuana illegal.…

    • 657 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Legalization of Marijuana

    • 1505 Words
    • 7 Pages

    What if there were an illegal substance that could boost the U.S. economy and treat terminal illness? Would having a better economy or treating things like AIDS and cancer be more important than keeping a drug illegal? There are several benefits that the legalization of marijuana could provide. The financial state of this country is horrible. If the laws regarding marijuana were changed then maybe marijuana could be a useful financial tool, also. In addition, are also the medical benefits that legalizing marijuana could contribute. Medical marijuana has already proven to help treat illnesses such as AIDS and all types of cancer. While in the past marijuana has always been illegal, it could prove to be a valuable medical and financial tool for America.…

    • 1505 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Article Rebuttal

    • 1030 Words
    • 5 Pages

    The legalization of marijuana can help reduce the $16.4 trillion deficit in the United States because it can bring in an abundance of taxable revenue. According to, “Miron, Jeffey A., and Waldock, Katherine, "The Budgetary Impact of Ending Drug Prohibition," The Cato Institute (Washington, DC: Cato Institute, 2010), “drug legalization would yield tax revenue of $46.7 billion annually, assuming legal drugs were taxed at rates comparable to those on alcohol and tobacco. Approximately $8.7 billion of this revenue would result from legalization of marijuana and $38.0 billion from legalization of other drugs." (Para 5). In 2011, the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) Domestic Cannabis Eradication/Suppression Department seized $42,113,659 million dollars worth of assets in their fight against Marijuana. With this revenue the government could fund educational programs or help pay down the national debt.…

    • 1030 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Cannabis and Marijuana

    • 1035 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Marijuana was first used for medicinal purposes dating back as early as the 1600’s. However, a law was passed in 1930, which banned the substance. Since then we have been fighting a never-ending war on drugs that has estimated to be over a trillion dollar failure, and we have nothing to show for it. There are many different takes on legalizing marijuana nation-wide but some states are not convinced yet. There are two main views on legalizing cannabis. One is the government view, which believes if marijuana was taxed like alcohol and tobacco it could yield close to 50 billion in tax revenue annually. Along with this, legalizing the drug would save the U.S. about $41 billion a year in enforcing the drug laws, and using that for education and health. The other view would be the medicinal use side of it. Proponents of medical marijuana argue that it can be a safe and effective treatment for the symptoms of cancer, AIDS, multiple sclerosis, pain, glaucoma, epilepsy, and other conditions. The government should legalize marijuana for recreational and medical use because it will create tax revenue, help patients, and we will be done fighting an everlasting war.…

    • 1035 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Legalization of Marijuana

    • 2091 Words
    • 9 Pages

    One of the most controversial debates in our time has been the legalization of marijuana. Legalizing marijuana in the United States can promote utilitarianism for the greater good. Political parties have argued various pros and cons of legalizing marijuana in the United States. I believe that by legalizing marijuana you can actually produce the best results, thus affecting the greatest number of people. Legalizing marijuana would allow the government to control the substance, just as they control tobacco and alcohol. If the government controls the retail market of marijuana use and the distribution it can dictate the negative outcomes that are a direct result from keeping marijuana illegal. Legalizing marijuana has many benefits; however there are four of them that can dramatically affect our country for the better. They are as follows; increased tax and private market economic growth, reduced crime, medical advancements, and safer drug use. These four categories can improve the lives of our citizens for the greater good.…

    • 2091 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    The situation of the legalizing marijuana is a very popular topic, I think it needs to be legalized. I myself with complete honesty, do not smoke or have any use of marijuana. In my opinion the legalization of marijuana can benefit the United States. The idea of legalizing marijuana in the country might be exceptional for others, but it’s more towards the economy. The legalization of marijuana can have excellent changes, but also can contain minor flaws.…

    • 405 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    In the United States of America, marijuana is a Schedule 1 controlled substance; but 17 states and Washington D.C. have legalized medical marijuana. Even though marijuana is legal within those states, it is still a federal offense which is punishable by incarceration and fines. There are many sick people who benefit from using medical marijuana. Medical marijuana helps cancer patients, slows the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, and treats glaucoma among other things. Medical marijuana advocates hope the government change their views on marijuana and make marijuana legal. There are many benefits for local, state and the federal government if marijuana was to be made legal. Benefits that come from legalizing marijuana are; health benefits, job benefits, economic benefits, and it also save tax payers money on court cost for prosecuting offenders. Another benefit from legalizing marijuana is it would decrease the jail population, and growing hemp would be legal if marijuana was made legal.…

    • 1377 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    There have been numerous studies done on the benefits of the legalization of marijuana in America. Many benefits have been discovered from this research. Legalizing marijuana in America could improve the economy in many ways. It would put an end to the trafficking of this drug and the money law enforcement spends trying to control it. If the government cultivated its own marijuana farms it would improve the quality and safety of the drug itself, increasing health benefits among users. The taxation of marijuana would also help with the downward spiral of the economy in America.…

    • 708 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The subject of marijuana is a very charged topic, both politically and socially. Because of its status as a DSM IV Schedule One drug, much of the arguments for or against marijuana use have been the result of speculation and anecdotes. Recently, however, scientists have been able to study the molecular biology of some of the chemicals in marijuana and elucidate some of the biochemical pathways which they affect. Despite the intense controversy surrounding the subject, there have been quite a few breakthroughs in the past decade. The most notable being the identification of the endogenous cannabinoid ligand. In social and political discussions one often hears two extreme opinions on opposite ends of the spectrum with regard to this subject. Some people feel that marijuana is a dangerous drug which should be kept at its current status as a Schedule One controlled substance. Others feel that the drug should be made available for both medical and recreational purposes.…

    • 938 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Grinspoon, Lester. "Medical Uses of Marijuana ... [Archive] - Student Doctor Network Forums." Medical Uses of Marijuana ... [Archive] - Student Doctor Network Forums. N.p., 1 Mar. 2007. Web. 16 Oct. 2013.…

    • 1863 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    The cost of the prohibition is much more than most people think. A 2005 analysis by Harvard visiting professor Jeffrey Miron estimates that if the United States legalized marijuana, the country would save $7.7 billion in law enforcement costs (Beckett). A cost-benefit analysis of the situation indicates that the country could save roughly $42 billion a year by legally regulating and taxing the marijuana industry (Beckett). The money could go to much more important things to keep our country safer and greatly…

    • 900 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    One of the potential advantages to legalizing marijuana on a federal level would be the increased tax revenue it would create. At first glance this would seem to be a great benefit that should create a large amount of tax revenue along with cutting out substantial expenses to the war on drugs, but a 2010 study showed that legalizing marijuana would bring 9 billion dollars of tax revenue and would only be raising the overall tax revenue by 0.5%. Marijuana would be taxed similar to the way cigarettes are currently taxed, but prices on marijuana are expected to fall drastically in comparison to the prices they are currently at…

    • 2068 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays