Marijuana Should Be Legalized

Marijuana Should Be Legalized

Did you know that before the official Declaration of independence was written, the first two drafts were written on hemp paper? Hemp is the entire marijuana plant from stem to leaf. In modern times, hemp has been used for industrial purposes including paper, textiles, biodegradable plastic, construction, health food and fuel[1]with modest commercial success. The marijuana plant was one of the largest agricultural crops in the world. The Marijuana plant played an important role in the history of the United States.

I have researched the truth about marijuana and found that there are many beneficial uses for this plant. It was created and blessed by god on the third day of creation. It has significant medical use and it could also benefit the economy. Some of the medical uses consist of stimulating appetite and alleviate or relieve cachexia. Another medical use is to control vomiting and nausea associated with chemotherapy. Marijuana is also a resourceful crop and should be legalized in the United States.

I will explain how the laws against marijuana do not work and how legalizing marijuana would benefit the economy, but first I will explain how the current laws against marijuana are not successful. Marijuana prohibition causes more problems than benefits. According to the office of National Drug control in 1981, the national budget on drug control was approximately $1.5 billion. In 2010 the budget jumped to $15.1 billion. Many non-violent drug offenders are now serving longer prison sentences than murderers, rapist, and other violent criminals. According to legislative analyst office it cost taxpayers $47,000 per year to imprison just one non violent drug offender. According to Drug War Facts in 2009, there was a total of 1,663,582 drug arrest. About 850,000 arrest were marijuana related. Politicians are spending billions of tax dollars to build new prisons and jails so more and more non-violent drug offenders can be housed. A 500 bed maximum security institution cost - $50 million ($100,000 per bed).

Just like the prohibition of alcohol, prohibition of marijuana only gives rise to the black market and provokes violence, robbery, corruption, and street gangs. Having illegal marijuana strengthens organized crime. Drug dealers are the ones who decide how old you have to be to purchase marijuana.

I have explained the problems that arise from marijuana prohibition. Now I will tell you about the ways it can help out the economy. In 1996, proposition 215 passed with a 56%. This proposition allows patients with a valid doctors recommendation, and the patients primary caregiver to posses and cultivate marijuana for personal medical use. It has since been expanded to protect a growing system of collective and cooperative distribution. This helped decriminalize marijuana a little. In 2010, prop 19