FREE ESSAY ON LEGALIZE POT

LEGALIZE POT

There is no denying that the drug problem in our country today has reached epidemic
proportions. The problem has gotten so out of hand that many options are being considered
to control and/or solve it. Ending the drug war may not seem to be the best answer at
first, but the so-called war on drugs has actually accomplished very little. Different
options need to be considered. Legalization is an option that hasn't gotten much of a
chance, but should be given one. It is my position that marijuana should be legalized.
Although many people feel that the legalization of marijuana would result in an increase
in the amount of crime and drug abuse, I contend that the opposite is true. While I admit
that there might be an initial increase in use, I feel that it would gradually wane, and
that the crime rate would be reduced immediately. Furthermore, legalization would reduce
the enormous amount of money spent on enforcement while at the same time increasing our
country's revenue. 
In 1996 voters in both California and Arizona approved ballot measures exempting
physicians and patients from criminal prosecution when marijuana is prescribed for
medical purposes in the relief of pain or other symptoms caused by cancer, acquired
immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), glaucoma, arthritis, and other illnesses and chronic
conditions. The Massachusetts and Ohio legislatures enacted similar medical necessity
laws in 1996. However, the U.S. government, which opposes such exemptions to
anti-marijuana laws, warned physicians in these states that they may lose federally
sanctioned privileges for writing prescriptions for controlled substances, be barred from
participation in federal Medicare and Medicaid programs, and face federal criminal
prosecution for prescribing marijuana (1).
The legalization of marijuana would be a boom to the economy. During prohibition, alcohol
was still sold and used, but people were doing it illegally. The 21st amendment repealed
prohibition, and alcohol taxes were increased. The same thing should happen with pot.
Marijuana could be heavily taxed to increase our country's revenue. Moreover, major
companies operating under strict government regulations would legally produce marijuana,
resulting in a higher quality product free of poisons and other adulterants (2).
Making marijuana legal would greatly reduce the vast amount of money spent on drug law
enforcement every year. Drug dealers and users seem to constantly be one step ahead of
the authorities, anyway. If one drug lord is caught, for instance, another one turns up
somewhere else to take his place. We cannot win. For example: 
In 1990, well over 10 billion dollars was spent on drug enforcement alone. Drugs
accounted for more than 40 percent of all felony indictments in our nation's courts in
1992. This figure is quadruple what it was in 1985. Forty percent of the people in
federal prison are drug law violators (2).
One can only imagine what this figure would be like today. Too much money is wasted on a
cause that there seems to be no end to.
In 1989, a Republican county executive of Mercer County, NJ estimated that it would cost
as much as one billion dollars to build the jail space needed to house all of the drug
offenders in Trenton alone (2).
All of this money could certainly be used on better things. By lifting the ban on
marijuana and treating it like other drugs such as tobacco and alcohol, the nation would
gain both immediate and long-term benefits. This change in the law would greatly improve
the quality of life for many people in need of the herb's medicinal properties (3).
Victims of cancer, anorexia, AIDS, chronic pain, glaucoma, arthritis, migraine, or any
other illness for which marijuana provides relief, for example, would find quality
marijuana readily available. Also, the cloud of suspicion over marijuana would disappear,
and doctors could get on with legitimate investigating of the plant's medical uses
without fear of controversy (4). 
Meanwhile, the black market would disappear overnight. Some arrangement would be made to
license the production of marijuana cigarettes. The untold multitudes of dealers would be
put out of business, and a major source of financial loss to the economy would become one
of financial gain. It is difficult to say what effect this change alone would have on
crime, however, since criminals would probably continue to sell other drugs. But it would
definitely have an impact on the amount of money flowing through criminal channels, and
this might weaken organized crime (5). 
The legalization of marijuana would benefit the federal budget in two ways. The state
revenues would increase, because marijuana cigarettes would be taxed at the point of
sale. In return, the companies that make the cigarettes would pay federal income taxes.
Second, there would be a huge reduction in the amount of money spent on law enforcement
efforts to apprehend and prosecute users and sellers of marijuana. The drug enforcement
agencies could reduce their budget requests or, better yet, focus more intensely on hard
drugs and violent crimes. The courts would be relieved of hearing all marijuana-related
cases, as well. Another important gain would be in the quality of government. The sorts
of temptations and opportunities that lead to corruption would be significantly
minimized. The illogical pattern of law enforcement, which now treats marijuana as more
dangerous than alcohol or tobacco, would end. It would set more achievable goals for law
enforcement, and this would lend strength and credibility to our government (5).
In conclusion, I can find no legitimate reason for keeping marijuana illegal. The reasons
for legalizing the drug, however, are many. Legalization would bring both government
control and increased tax revenue. Furthermore, marijuana is less harmful and less
addictive than are other already legal drugs, such as alcohol and tobacco. We need to
face the fact that the war on drugs is a war the United States is still loosing. The
current policies that keep marijuana illegal must be changed so that the crime element is
eliminated, resulting in a safer and better society for us all