Argumentative Essay: Should Marijuana Be Legalized?

How in the world did we go from condemning cigarette smokers to praising pot smokers? The media is to blame for this illogical thinking. All over television pot smokers are represented as fun, laughing, people who sit on their couch all day eating Cheetos. This representation excludes the pot smokers who are addicted, junkies, or failures. Smoking is smoking, no matter how one puts it; smoking is a dangerous habit that impacts health like alcohol. America should listen to the past and realize there is a reason why marijuana is still illegal. The only reason alcohol and cigarettes are still legal is because they have become so deeply integrated into society that it would be almost impossible to get rid of. An analysis by both Jacob Sullum and William Bennett reveals that marijuana should remain
More than half of the people in the United States agree that pot should be legalized because it creates jobs, saves money, and reduces harm. It is true that legalizing a cash crop would bring in more jobs improving the economy but the government will want to create a sales tax similar to cigarettes and alcohol on marijuana. This tax will create more economic instability because the people and storeowners will refuse to pay these taxes and go back to black market salesman bringing them more revenue or lead to bankruptcy. The black markets will begin fighting over who controls marijuana and violence can emerge causing civilian causalities. Also the possibility of legalizing marijuana for adults will not work because the result will be the same as the legal drinking age. Underage drinking is still high in the United States as people are still able to get ahold of the product. Teenagers will find ways to get ahold of marijuana through adults or black markets making that possibility a waste. Marijuana possess too many risks to see any benefits in