Benefits of Marijuana Legalization for The United States

Introduction

Marijuana is often regarded as the introduction to more dangerous substances or referred to as the gateway drug. However, the drug does not have as harmful effects compared to more dangerous drugs such as cocaine. It is commonly used for recreational purposes by adolescents. The United States has legalized the substance in 28 different states, with 8 of these states allowing recreational use and the other 20 permitting medicinal use. According to Stafford (2019), "German health authorities have allowed seven severely ill patients to buy marijuana at pharmacies for medicinal purposes." Marijuana can help alleviate the pain associated with certain diseases and disorders. Stafford (2019) also notes that "primary users of medicinal marijuana would be patients with chronic pain, multiple sclerosis, and Tourette's syndrome. Additionally, patients with cancer and HIV who have little appetite could qualify for medicinal marijuana, which in some cases triggers hunger."

Economic Benefits of Marijuana Legalization

Marijuana is used for a variety of disorders and is also a burgeoning market, especially in states like California and Oregon. The economies of these states have been positively impacted due to the drug. Crawford (2020) states, "Several taxation schemes are presented to offer estimates of revenue if the drug was legalized; these findings suggest that marijuana could contribute modestly to the state’s total revenue, but the most economically beneficial aspect of legalization could be from criminal justice savings." Legalization has created profit, primarily by saving tax dollars that would have been spent on incarcerating marijuana users and sellers. Illegal sellers of the drug have the ability to make significant profits. Marijuana is a booming market, particularly in states like California. Professor Seth S. Crawford of Oregon State University, an expert in environmental sociology, emphasized that "the composition of distribution networks suggests that the informal marijuana economy is a 'robust network'" (Chon, 2020). Under government control, marijuana can generate substantial revenue. Chon (2020) quotes Reed, "The money spent on fighting marijuana could be used better. If the point of the drug war is harm reduction, then medical marijuana should be legalized because it has never hurt anyone. Besides, it's obvious we're not winning the war on drugs anyway." The war on marijuana is considered a waste of resources and time given the minimal harm the drug causes.

Social Impacts and Public Opinion

States that have legalized medical marijuana experience a greater net increase in revenue compared to those that have not (Crawford, 2020). The average marijuana user consumes around 4.5 ounces annually, spending approximately $177 per ounce. This equates to around $800 a year, money that could contribute to community projects like new roads and improved bridges. Instead of going to illegal sellers, these funds could benefit the community or state. A single grower can make $10,000 annually from their product (Crawford, 2020). Professor Craig Boylstein of Coastal Carolina University, specializing in chronic illness and medical sociology, noted that "previous marijuana research on marijuana growers in the United States has primarily focused on those who have been incarcerated for the activity. These growers tend to produce large amounts of the product" (Boylstein, 2020). Incarcerated dealers had significant profits from their products. Boylstein (2020) found that "the growers all followed a similar pattern of trial and error, learning new techniques from one another to improve their product."

Market Potential and Efficiency

Marijuana has the potential to be a stable product. As Professor Kenneth W. Clements from the University of Western Australia noted, "Throughout the 1990s, in Australia, the average price of a gram of marijuana was about $A35, while an ounce cost $A449. As there are 28 grams in an ounce, this means that the per gram cost of an ounce was $A449/28 = $A16, or less than half the cost when purchased in the form of a gram. There is a substantial discount when buying in bulk" (Clements, 2020). Marijuana can be acquired like any other product, making its distribution efficient. The recreational use of marijuana is nearing legalization in all states, and for good reason. Professor Brenda Wells of East Carolina University stated, "The majority of Americans indicate that they do not want federal resources being used to arrest marijuana smokers" (Wells, 2020). Many citizens see it as a waste of money to pursue. Marijuana is not a major concern for the American public, who would prefer federal resources to focus on harder drugs like cocaine or heroin. In 2012, 18 states legalized marijuana for medicinal use and two for recreational use (Wells, 2020). Within just one year, 20 states legalized the drug out of the 28.

Conclusion

As R.C. Knight et al. (2020) wrote, "Adults about 40 years of age initiated to marijuana prior to 1961, who used it 2 or more times weekly for at least two years." Marijuana is commonly used by many American citizens, illustrating its acceptance. "It is not surprising that marijuana policy is a serious topic of discussion in Vermont. Vermont has one of the highest rates of marijuana use in the nation, particularly among young adults. Household surveys have found 12 percent of Vermont’s population ages 12 and older—and nearly 30 percent of those are ages 18 to 25" (Caulkins, 2020).

Professor Jonathan P. Caulkins of Carnegie Mellon University points out that it is not just Oregon and California consuming large amounts of marijuana. Overall, marijuana has numerous positive reasons for legalization. Both recreationally and medically, it offers benefits. As proven in Seth Crawford’s journal, marijuana helps generate a solid revenue stream to boost state economies. For instance, in Oregon, $10,000 per dealer was produced in illegal revenue (Crawford, 2020). It also reduces tax expenditures due to decreased incarceration rates for marijuana-related charges (Boylstein, 2020). Legalizing marijuana is essential for fostering a healthier economy and keeping tax dollars in citizens' pockets.