Within the past few years, the
United States has fallen into an economic downturn and this has only gotten
worse. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL), the
current national unemployment rate is at 8.2%; however, the state unemployment
rates are conflicting which is a difficult situation that needs to be changed
now. Although the national unemployment rate of 8.2% does not seem staggering,
the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) calculated that the unemployment rates are
worse at a state level. For instance, California currently has an unemployment
rate of 11%, and 11.1% in Rhode Island. In addition, “economists surveyed by
CNNMoney predict the [national] unemployment rate will [only] slip to 8% by the
end of the year, [which is] not much of an improvement” (Censky). Regardless,
the American people are in great need of a solution to alleviate financial
strain and to bring back the economic prosperity there once was.
Despite the fact that legalizing marijuana is
a very controversial topic, it can be the remedy that restores the country’s
economy. Marijuana has many names including Mary Jane, tree, grass or weed, but
it is classified as a Schedule I controlled substance. Yet Mary Jane is “the
third most popular recreational drug in America, and has been used by nearly
100 million Americans” (NORML.org).
Comparable to the alcohol and tobacco industries, which are the top two
recreational substances, large revenues could be generated through taxation of
marijuana:
Just last year, the [alcohol] industry
generated $91 billion in wages and over 3.9 million jobs for U.S. workers.
[Also], in 2008, alcohol contributed over $40 billion to state and local
revenues; nearly half of that came from corporate, personal income, property
and other taxes. (Erb)
Along with the possible revenues that
could be made, marijuana could be grown and cultivated for other resourceful
and economically efficient purposes.
When
marijuana is grown for its fibers, it is known as hemp and can be used in the
manufacturing of various textile items including clothes, rope, and paper.
There are also many other conveniences in the agriculture of hemp over other
raw materials:
Hemp requires substantially lower energy
demands for manufacturing, is often suited to less-toxic means of processing,
provides competitive product performance (especially in terms of durability,
light weight, and strength), greater recyclability and/or biodegradability, and
a number of value-added applications for byproducts and waste materials at
either end of the product life cycle. (Smith-Heisters)
Nonetheless, farming marijuana would
create a stupendous number of job opportunities and would be able to further
strengthen the American economy by stimulating the consumer markets. However,
the alcohol and nicotine industries have another agenda on their hands. With
the possibilities that come with Mary Jane, the CEOs at breweries and tobacco
farms feel that marijuana would be a big competitor that would take away their
profits. Yet, the marijuana market would not only help the United States be
more resource efficient, but can lower the costs in the war on drugs.
The
expensive war on drugs would be less costly if marijuana was legalized and would
also reduce the problem of crowding in prisons. With “14 million [Americans
that smoke marijuana] regularly despite harsh laws against its use” (NORML.org), many incarcerations have
been made, but if marijuana was eliminated as a target in the war on drugs, the
costs in “catching those who buy or sell illegal
drugs on the black market, prosecuting them in court, and housing them in jail”
(Moffatt) would be significantly lower. The transactions made dealing with drug
crimes are from $200 to $100,000; however, if marijuana was legitimate in
American society, the money spent on incarcerations could be put to better use
in areas such as state educational budgets. Also, by legitimizing the growth
and cultivation of weed, “it [is] estimated that [new marijuana reforms] could take as much as $10 billion away from the cartels
and dealers. And that’s
not limited to the Colombian or Mexican drug trades” (Erb). Marijuana has been
“abused” for years, and whether it is legal or not, Americans will still
continue getting high. Additionally, marijuana could be a more natural form of
medicine in treating those with chronic pains and illnesses.
When
marijuana is used medicinally it can treat many patients with a wide range of
medical complications. Some of which include:
Neuropathic pain (pain from nerve
damage), nausea, spasticity, glaucoma, and movement disorders. Marijuana is
also a powerful appetite stimulant, specifically for patients suffering from
HIV, the AIDS wasting syndrome, or dementia. Emerging research suggests that
marijuana’s medicinal properties may [also] protect the body against some types
of malignant tumors and are neuroprotective. (NORML.org)
Despite the fact that there are a vast
amount of benefits and potential within the Mary Jane, the government still
refuses to allow clinical testing for medicinal uses and growing marijuana as a
new resource in product manufacturing. Due to the Controlled Substance Act
(CSA), the federal government feels that marijuana has no medical benefits and
is highly addictive, but the people are still unsure because of lack in
research to prove otherwise.
If
marijuana became legitimate in the United States, many question whether it may
get into the hands of children but the truth of the matter is, kids are already
experimenting with Mary Jane. According to the National Institute on Drug
Abuse:
In 2009, 16.7
million Americans aged 12 or older used marijuana at least once in the month
prior to being surveyed, an increase over the rates reported in all years
between 2002 and 2008. There was also a significant increase among youth aged
12-17, with current use up from 6.7 percent in 2008 to 7.3 percent in 2009,
although this rate is lower than what was reported in 2002 (8.2 percent).
Past-month use also increased among those 18-25, from 16.5 percent in 2008 to
18.1 percent in 2009. (drugabuse.gov)
Growing up in the Antelope
Valley, I have seen many classmates experiment with weed. My earliest encounter
was in the seventh grade and has become an everyday encounter since, however,
it does not influence me to make it a part of my everyday routine. Although I
have constant encounters with marijuana, I do not find it to be a big deal at
all. Marijuana, a naturally thriving plant, has been around for a long time and
will stay for a long time.
In all, by reforming the existing marijuana
laws, the economy would be in greater shape than it is now. Through the process
of growth and cultivation, many new jobs would be created, along with a new
cash crop that is less expensive to farm. In addition, the price of the war on
drugs would be lower and the current problem of overcrowded prisons would also
be relieved. Although marijuana is still under a federal law that fails to
recognize the potential and benefits of marijuana, many continue to use
marijuana for medicinal and recreational uses regardless of the current federal
regulations. The United States might as well legitimize marijuana and begin
recognizing the boundless possibilities that could help the world.
