Marijuana Legalization

Gabriel Oluwakotanmi

Professor Lindsay

10/16/10

Marijuana Legalization

Marijuana legalization is a recurring topic in debates today. Marijuana should be legal in 5 to 10 years. The U.S. will be looking for new commodities to stimulate the economy. More people are supporting legalizing of marijuana. States that are decriminalizing will cause a ripple effect. America’s current economic state calls for new goods.

Though the recession is over, it still affects Americans. For this reason the government will need to generate new goods and services to reduce unemployment. The estimated revenue to be generated from the legalization of pot is said to be $200 billion. A lot more organizations are standing up for pot legalization.

More people are beginning to support legalization of marijuana. Former Surgeon General Dr. Jocelyn Elders believes that it is time to legalize pot. Celebrities like Danny Glover, Montel Jordan, Jennifer Aniston, and Kirsten Dunst all support legalization. Even political figures like the mayor of New York City support legalization of pot. States are already taking steps toward medicinal marijuana and their numbers are growing.

California was the first state to legalize medicinal use of marijuana. Since California has legalized medicinal pot 13 other states have also legalized medicinal use. This is believed to be a ripple effect of marijuana tolerance and more states like Arizona are considering joining the medicinal side. In November 2 a vote will take place in California that may make it the first of many states to Legalize recreational use of marijuana. If prop 19, the bill to legalize weed in California, passes it will spread to the other states that have already legalized medicinal pot.

To conclude, history has taught us that prohibition is never the right choice. Most people know believe that it is only a matter of time before pot is legalized in the U.S. Until then people that are otherwise law abiding citizens... [continues]

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