Arguments Against Legalizing Marijuana

Introduction
In recent years, there have been many topics that strike up heated debates, ranging from celebrities to politics. One specific controversy that has caught the public’s attention is the legalization of marijuana, for either medical or recreational use. Some believe that it should remain illegal because of its negative impact, while others believe that it is a medicine and, like most medicines, it has some unintended side effects. The purpose of this article is to address the benefits and detriments of marijuana usage on both individual and societal health, along with drawing a conclusion on which side is more justified based on the evidence given.
Background
Many people know about marijuana as a drug that is widely used for its
There is some controversy as to if marijuana actually helps the economy, or if the costs are too economically harmful to justify legalization. Firstly, some believe that if marijuana was regulated by the government, and takes it away from the black market, it could bring profits into the billions of dollars for the state. This money can be used to fund state and local projects, such as infrastructure and housing. Trilling’s (2016) article points out that there were “reductions in crime after [the legalization of medical marijuana]” However, he also says that it is “a relationship, but not necessarily causation.” With crime rates down, states wouldn’t pay as much to house inmates convicted of marijuana-related charges, thus increasing the revenue they can use for more advantageous projects. On the other hand, some still believe that there will be a black market of marijuana, one where growers sell to clients for below the industry price, and even sell to people in states where marijuana is still prohibited. There is also the issue of protests due to people advocating against marijuana legalization, which would cause damage if these protests got violent. If states legalized marijuana, it would be encouraging people to try it, as they believe
However, there is some disagreement on how this regulation affects the economy. To clarify, the states that legalized marijuana have implemented regulations such as an age requirement and licensing for marijuana dispensaries to have before selling their product. There also have been taxes on marijuana, which might not be surprising given how many of today’s goods and services have some form of taxation. There is also some regulation that states have put on marijuana that they played little part in, and that comes in the form of federal law. Federal law states that marijuana is prohibited due to it being a dangerous substance, which is a burden to the states since they cannot use national resources to build marijuana dispensaries. This includes land, water, means of commerce, and banks, and it prevents states and business owners from deducting business expenses from federal income taxes. On that note, these regulations may help the economy by dispersing corruption, and only allowing responsible and licensed firms to enter the market. Marijuana dispensaries that are licensed and know what they are doing are less likely to injure customers due to mistakes, and there is a general increase in productivity as the dispensaries with licensing know how to grow and cultivate a crop more efficiently than someone who isn’t. Generally, regulations keep consumers safe,