Marijuana Why it should be legalized Marijuana Legalization

Marijuana Why it should be legalized

Marijuana Legalization Status • • • Alaska Colorado Oregon Washington District of Columbia Becker, Jamie. "The State of Marijuana in the U. S. in 2015 - LHSFNA. " The State of Marijuana in the U. S. in 2015 - LHSFNA. N. p. , Feb. 2015. Web. 08 Nov. 2015.

Argument Against Legalization • Detrimental to health • Chronic Bronchitis Symptoms • Airway Inflammation • Lung Cancer • Marijuana-Prescription Drug Interactions Baker, Danial E. "Legalization Of Recreational And Medical Marijuana: What We Don't Know. " Hospital Pharmacy 49. 4 (2014): 319 -320 2 p. CINAHL Complete. Web. 8 Nov. 2015.

Argument Against Legalization • It is Addictive • Physiologically Addictive, not Physically Addictive • Unlikely to cause withdrawal problems • Less addictive than alcohol Bestrashniy, Jessica, and Ken C. Winters. "Variability In Medical Marijuana Laws In The United States. " Psychology Of Addictive Behaviors 29. 3 (2015): 639 -642. Psyc. ARTICLES. Web. 7 Nov. 2015.

Economic Advantages • $100+ Billion Industry • Growing • Processing • Sale of Weed/Related Products • Spinoff Industries • Raises Employment "Legalizing Recreational Marijuana – Pros and Cons. " Drug Rehab. N. p. , 13 Dec. 2012. Web. 08 Nov. 2015.

Economic Advantages • Tax Revenue • In the magazine The Week, Harvard economist Jeffrey Miron states, “Average annual trade in marijuana is estimated at $113 billion, which represents nearly $45 billion in taxes slipping through our fingers. ” • Revenue over $40 million in Colorado (2014) • $22 Million in Taxes Smith, S. E. "How Legalizing Pot Could save America's Economy. " How Legalizing Pot Could save America's Economy. N. p. , 09 Nov. 2014. Web. 08 Nov. 2015.

Economic Advantages • Saves Law Enforcement Money • Study predicts $9 Billion dollar savings • Savings of $2 Million in Colorado • Fewer People in Prisons • $300 for an arrest "Legalizing Recreational Marijuana – Pros and Cons. " Drug Rehab. N. p. , 13 Dec. 2012. Web. 08 Nov. 2015. Rough, Lisa. "One Year Later: The Positives and Negatives of Colorado's Legal Recreational Cannabis Market. " Leafly. N. p. , 14 Jan. 2015. Web. 08 Nov. 2015.

Improved Public Safety • Dangerous Black Markets • “Bad” Weed • Better Regulation • Safer Provision • Keeps Law Enforcement Focused "Legalizing Recreational Marijuana – Pros and Cons. " Drug Rehab. N. p. , 13 Dec. 2012. Web. 08

Improved Public Safety • Decrease Organized Crime • Less Profitable • Cut off supply of money in illegal drugs • Less Crime • Relieves Pressure on Law Enforcement • Overall Decrease in Colorado Crime Rates Smith, S. E. "How Legalizing Pot Could save America's Economy. " How Legalizing Pot Could save America's Economy. N. p. , 09 Nov. 2014. Web. 08 Nov. 2015.