End the Prohibition on Marijuana
END THE PROHIBITION ON MARIJUANA AND INDUSTRIAL HEMP
Outline
Thesis Statement: Legalization of industrialized hemp and marijuana benefits our economy, decriminalizes a 35 billion dollar a year industry, creates jobs, and makes sense for the environment. I. Marijuana has been illegal in the United States since the Marihuana Stamp Tax Act was enacted by congress in 1937
A. A Brief History
B. Marijuana Cash Crop
II. The prohibition of marijuana contributes to a black market system, which increases violent crime, and contributes finances to the criminal element. A. Violent Crime B. Underground Drug Trade’s Negative Contributions C. The Marijuana Policy Project
III. Marijuana prohibition is costing the Federal Government roughly 2 Billion dollars per year on the Federal level, and up to 5 billion dollars on State and Local levels. A. The War on Drug’s Impact on Taxpayers B. Possible Tax Revenue C. Marijuana Arrests D. Marijuana Widely Available
IV. Industrial hemp has over 25,000 uses. Hemp products are widely used, legalizing hemp creates jobs for America’s farmers, and is beneficial to the U.S. economy. A. Industrial Hemp Facts B. Industrial Hemp’s positive environmental effects
END THE PROHIBITION ON MARIJUANA AND INDUSTRIAL HEMP
Marijuana has been illegal in the United States since the Marihuana Stamp Tax Act was enacted by congress in 1937. Since then, between the “period 1965-2007 there were 19,342,363 arrests for cannabis offenses, 89% of them for the possession of a small quantity of cannabis.” (St. Pierre, 2008) Much like the prohibition of alcohol, prohibiting the use of Marijuana has failed. It is time to put an end to this failed policy by legalizing Marijuana. At an estimated $35.8 billion, marijuana is by far the largest cash crop in the United States when compared to the average production values of other crops from 2003 to 2005. (Gettman, 2006)
According to a national survey
Outline
Thesis Statement: Legalization of industrialized hemp and marijuana benefits our economy, decriminalizes a 35 billion dollar a year industry, creates jobs, and makes sense for the environment. I. Marijuana has been illegal in the United States since the Marihuana Stamp Tax Act was enacted by congress in 1937
A. A Brief History
B. Marijuana Cash Crop
II. The prohibition of marijuana contributes to a black market system, which increases violent crime, and contributes finances to the criminal element. A. Violent Crime B. Underground Drug Trade’s Negative Contributions C. The Marijuana Policy Project
III. Marijuana prohibition is costing the Federal Government roughly 2 Billion dollars per year on the Federal level, and up to 5 billion dollars on State and Local levels. A. The War on Drug’s Impact on Taxpayers B. Possible Tax Revenue C. Marijuana Arrests D. Marijuana Widely Available
IV. Industrial hemp has over 25,000 uses. Hemp products are widely used, legalizing hemp creates jobs for America’s farmers, and is beneficial to the U.S. economy. A. Industrial Hemp Facts B. Industrial Hemp’s positive environmental effects
END THE PROHIBITION ON MARIJUANA AND INDUSTRIAL HEMP
Marijuana has been illegal in the United States since the Marihuana Stamp Tax Act was enacted by congress in 1937. Since then, between the “period 1965-2007 there were 19,342,363 arrests for cannabis offenses, 89% of them for the possession of a small quantity of cannabis.” (St. Pierre, 2008) Much like the prohibition of alcohol, prohibiting the use of Marijuana has failed. It is time to put an end to this failed policy by legalizing Marijuana. At an estimated $35.8 billion, marijuana is by far the largest cash crop in the United States when compared to the average production values of other crops from 2003 to 2005. (Gettman, 2006)
According to a national survey
Bibliography: North American Industrial Hemp Council, Inc. (1997, October). Retrieved December 3, 2011, from naihc.org: http://naihc.org/hemp_information/hemp_facts.html Marijuana Prohibition Facts National Industrial Hemp Strategy. (2008, March 30). Retrieved December 3, 2011, from www.votehemp.com: http://www.votehemp.com/PDF/National_Industrial_Hemp_Strategy_Final_Complete2.pdf Office of National Drug Control Policy Gettman, J. (2006). Marijuana Production in the United States. Retrieved December 3, 2011, from www.drugscience.org: http://www.drugscience.org/Archive/bcr2/cashcrops.html Miron, J Newport, F. (2011, October 17). Record-High 50% of Americans Favor Legalizing Marijuana Use. Retrieved December 3, 2011, from www.gallup.com: http://www.gallup.com/poll/150149/record-high-americans-favor-legalizing-marijuana.aspx St