why marijuana should be legalized article

Why Marijuana Should Be Legalized

Considering the fact that marijuana is less harmful than alcohol, tobacco, and other medications, there is no reason to continue to ban its use. Additionally, the prohibition of marijuana is a waste of public resources, and legalization of the drug would increase much-needed revenue. According to a study by the Congressional Research Service, legalizing marijuana would generate over $6 billion in excise taxes. These taxes would go toward funding education, improving the lives of low-income communities, and preventing addiction. drug test with medical marijuana card ny

Prohibition of cannabis also sends millions of Americans through the criminal justice system. Over fifteen million arrests for cannabis in the U.S. alone have been documented since 1995. Many of these individuals went on to become president and Supreme Court justices. But for many people, a criminal conviction can be a roadblock to obtaining a professional license, student loan, or food assistance. And, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, black individuals are over three times as likely as white people to be arrested for marijuana possession.

The illegal market also threatens public health. A for-profit cannabis industry would probably oppose any measure that aimed to improve public health. Many of these companies view minors and people with Cannabis Use Disorder as their target demographic. Moreover, they believe that cannabis use is more likely to be heavy during youth. Thus, legalizing marijuana would have a significant public health impact. And it would make it easier to regulate dosages.

The federal government has not moved toward national legalization, despite formal opposition. Some senators have proposed a “states’ rights” approach to formalize federal toleration of state-level legalization. While this approach may attract some conservative support, it is not a sensible policy. Cannabis is easily smuggled across state lines and is available in other countries. As a result, the federal government is not likely to enforce a stricter policy if legalizing marijuana is an important priority.

The historical evidence for marijuana legalization is mixed, and extrapolation of effects from policy steps is often problematic. In addition, different socio-cultural values make it difficult to apply the same evidence to marijuana legalization. For instance, marijuana was not banned in many areas in the United States until the Boggs Act in 1951. The Controlled Substances Act of 1970 further relaxed the criminal penalties for cannabis possession. But there is no evidence that marijuana is more dangerous than alcohol.

The history of the “War on Marijuana” is fascinating. While the government’s categorization of marijuana has no medical benefit, there are more than a dozen documented medical uses for cannabis. The federal government’s classification of marijuana is out of touch with the reality of millions of patients and the latest scientific evidence. So why is it important to legalize marijuana? Let’s take a look. cunoaște More About Marijuana

The federal prohibition of marijuana has failed for decades and has created enormous economic, racial, and social inequality. Statistics show that more Americans are arrested for marijuana possession than for any other crime. One arrest for marijuana is made every minute. Furthermore, the cost of enforcement of the prohibition is nearly $14 billion annually. These costs are not covered by taxes, and the economy loses billions of dollars as a result. Meanwhile, Americans with marijuana arrests have a harder time finding jobs and getting an education.