Pros and Cons to Cannabis Being Legal

 What are the Effects of Legal Cannabis?

Marijuana is now being legalized in numerous states and has been proven to be the most profitable drug out there. With it being one of the quickest growing markets it would help support the economy and it would be beneficial to people who are unemployed. With decriminalization and the growing number of consumers who purchase it would help create jobs for the economy such as croppers, harvesters, trimmers, dispensary managers and distributors. Despite all the positives, there is also the chance of illegal sales of marijuana and underages users.

With billions of dollars being poured into this industry, it would be one of the leading factors of economic growth. Marijuana businesses would produce goods, jobs and services for customers. While marijuana is illegal on a federal level it still creates opportunities for investors to capitalize on the growth of the industry.(The Washington Post) With the increasing number of states passing regulation, it can soon possibly be legal nationally and companies could list their stocks on exchanges and open up liquidity for investors. Government spending from tax dollars would help fix damages in cities, improve hospitals, create a stronger military force and make sustainable benefits for the disabled.

Now that states are allowing the use of weed it also creates the movement for jobs to be created and those convicted of nonviolent possession to have their charges reduced or wiped. The market will have more available jobs for people who don’t have jobs reducing the unemployment rate. Wages for workers would be increased and room for promotions wouldn't be a problem. People who have been convicted would have charges reduced from felonies and misdemeanors to civil infractions and citations. By doing this it could give people a fresh start at life by giving them jobs they couldn't get before. This could also benefit the economy by increasing the number of workers in the United States. Decriminalization would also reduce the population of the people in prison and it is much safer than alcohol and tobacco.

Since marijuana is legal, it will also be easier to get. People have the option of selling illegally on the side or without a permit to distribute at all. Illegal cannabis could impact negatively on the market by giving it a bad reputation because people could use it improperly by being publicly intoxicated and not using it within the law's boundaries. Another way, illegal cannabis can impact negatively on the market is if minors get their hands on it. In minors, it impairs driving skills on the road which cause accidents and even death. (verywellmind.com) Marijuana also affects brain development in minors giving them altered brains. In an experiment, Gruber found that heavy marijuana users and the ones that smoked 5 out of the 7 days in the past week have damaged their brains. (Marijuana and the developing brain)

In the United States marijuana has many effects on us. With the major tax revenue supporting the economy and creating thousands of jobs for the unemployed and those who were convicted for illegal distribution of the drug with minors using it. There are pros and cons to cannabis being legal but as long as we follow the law there shouldn't be a problem. The last thing that this industry need is for the substance to get into the wrong hands and for it to be used improperly.