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Dhiraj Basnet
Dr. Professor Carney
English Composition I (1113)
18th October
Research Paper
Should Marijuana Be Legal?
Today the legalization of Marijuana is a highly intense and controversial issue in
America. 2012 National Survey on Drug Use and Health says it is the most commonly used
illicit drug in the U.S. Data shows that over 44% of Americans believe marijuana should
continue to be illegal and 53% of Americans want marijuana to be legal. About 42% people in
the U.S have tried marijuana at least once. About 800,000 people are arrested each year in the
U.S for marijuana. Considered to be a gateway drug and the reason for the downfall of our youth
nowadays, marijuana has developed a negative reputation. However, many marijuana lovers and
persistent users believe that this drug is no more harmful than smoking cigarettes. Approval of
Marijuana by 27 states of USA, new medical studies, and its consequences, is forcing the United
States of America to rethink about marijuana policies. The justification behind prohibition of
weed is being rethought scientifically, socially, and economically. The use of Marijuana as both
medicine and a recreational drug is being thoroughly questioned in the US. In general, the
underlying argument about Marijuana in the US is: should marijuana continue to be prohibited to
people or should it be legalized?
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1. Smith, S.E. “Why We Need to Finally Legalize Marijuana.” The Daily Dot. N.p., 06 Nov.
2014. Web. 18 Oct. 2015.
Smith explains that marijuana should be legalized for various considerable reasons like
confronting racist marijuana policy, ending moral panic over drugs, lowering crime rates, and
ending drug-related pollution. Apart from that money is the major reason. Legalization of
marijuana would boost the economy in local communities, state coffers, and more. It would save
huge sum of money of regional and state government which is currently wasting for enforcement
of marijuana laws. Furthermore, it increases tax revenues of the state and government. According
to Harvard economist Jeffrey Miron, annual trade in weed is estimated at $113 billion, which
represents $45 billion in taxes. If marijuana sell is legalized and regulated such huge amount
could fall in the hand of government. As drug war costs tremendous amount of money annually,
legalizing marijuana provides huge amount of savings for the government. Instead of wasting
tremendous amount of money on direct law enforcement initiatives annually to investigate
suspected growers, traffickers, and dealers, the government could focus on more crucial
initiatives. Additionally, vast majority of individuals who are caught because of cases related to
marijuana are black and latino which reflects racial imbalance in the justice system. There are
indirect economic benefits if the number of men imprisoned for drug-related offenses are
reduced. It will allow men to remain with their families, economically involve in their
communities, and contribute to society which boosts economy chances of the individuals, family
and community as a whole. It will also boost the economy of the people of color as most of them
are the prisoners.
Furthermore, marijuana should be legalized and allowed to grow legally. It provides benefits to
the economy of the agricultural industry. The number of the farmers and their economy
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increases, benefits economy of the manufacturers of agricultural products like fertilizer firms, as
farmers will need different fertilizers to grow marijuana. Likewise, trucking, rail and other means
of transportation and drivers stand to benefit, as drug has to be transported to the specific place
after processing. Additionally, it provides benefits to the tourism industry. Many marijuana
lovers and visitors would visit places where marijuana is legalized to sample an array of
marijuana products. We can take Amsterdam as an example. Therefore, marijuana legalization is
a reliable source for the economic upliftment of the country.
2.”Marijuana Legalization and Regulation.” Marijuana Legalization and Regulation. Ed. Drug
Policy Alliance. N.p., Oct. 2014. Web. 19 Oct. 2015.
Drug Alliance policy advices marijuana should be removed from the criminal justice system and
