The legalization of marijuana has been a hot-button topic for quite some time. Especially in Boulder, Colo., where I currently reside. Now, the idea of legalizing marijuana has taken a different turn.
Legalizing marijuana to boost the economy.
On Thursday March, 25, Obama held an Internet video chat in order to answer thousands of questions Americans had about the economy. According to a Web site, more than 100,000 questions were submitted to Obama for the interview. The idea was that Obama would answer the questions that were most popular. 3.6 million votes were cast and one of the top questions was whether or not legalizing marijuana would stimulate the economy by allowing the government to regulate and tax the drug.
Obama said, “The answer is no, I don’t think that is a good strategy to grow the economy.”
Video: Obama on Legalization of Marijuana
The people on the pro-legalization side argue that the alcohol and tobacco companies make an insane amount of money for ultimately killing people. The tobacco companies could make a fortune manufacturing and distributing marijuana joints in the same manner as cigarettes are distributed now. The market price would be far above the price to manufacture and distribute these products; therefore, they would make more money and it would, in turn, boost the economy. Marijuana’s legalization would also open up beds in the jails and prisons as well as cut down on court time and costs (which taxpayers pay for).
According to an article in the New York Times, many people who oppose the legalization of marijuana argue that the use of pot is equal to the use of tobacco or alcohol. However, smoking is the single most preventable cause of death and disease in the U.S. and the most widely abused drugs with the most serious implications is alcohol.
On the other hand, people that oppose the legalization of marijuana argue that marijuana is, in fact, a highly harmful drug. Marijuana smoke contains more carcinogens and lung irritants than tobacco. Marijuana is known to affect coherent thinking, learning and memory. High doses can even cause hallucinations and paranoia. Because of these factors, legalizing marijuana would put another harmful drug on the market and detract from the positive image America tries to uphold.
Video: Another Perspective
As for medical marijuana, it is believed that marijuana can relieve some conditions that deal with appetite loss, nausea and vomiting and help ease pain caused by arthritis. However, those who oppose say that any medical benefits that legalizing of pot are outweighed by the societal problems it could create. Can we really raise children with the idea that drugs are ok and legal?
Some questions I have:
In the off-chance that marijuana is legalized (for more than just medical use), would people buy it even though it’s taxed now?
Or would this just stimulate the black market and tax-evading sellers?
Can we really raise children with the idea that drugs are ok and legal?
Is the mantra “drugs are bad” only encouraging people to engage in illegal drug use?
Do we really need more unproductive members of our society?
Does using marijuana really make you unproductive?
Would the legalization of marijuana also stimulate the food industry? (halfway joking here)
Regardless of whether marijuana is legalized or not, people are still going to smoke it. Part of me says, “well, if people are going to smoke it regardless, we may as well profit from it.” But the other part of me says, “how many more potheads does this country need?”
