If Prohibition Ended

            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.

Works Cited

Censky, Annalyn (CNNMoney) -- The Recovery Is Still Chugging along at a Sluggish.      "Economists: Sluggish Recovery Here to Stay." CNNMoney. Cable News Network, 19       Apr. 2012. Web. http://money.cnn.com/2012/04/19/news/economy/economists-    recovery/index.htm?iid=SF_E_River.

Erb, Kelly Phillips. "Stirring the Pot: Could Legalizing Marijuana Save the Economy?" Forbes.     Forbes Magazine, 20 Apr. 2012. Web.             http://www.forbes.com/sites/kellyphillipserb/2012/04/20/stirring-the-pot-could-    legalizing-marijuana-save-the-economy/.

“Federal Marijuana Laws.” Web. http://www.safeaccessnow.org/article.php?id=2638

"InfoFacts: Marijuana." National Institute on Drug Abuse. Web. 30 Apr. 2012. http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/infofacts/marijuana.

Moffatt, Mike. "Should Governments Legalize and Tax Marijuana?" About.com Economics.         Web.  http://economics.about.com/od/incometaxestaxcuts/a/marijuana.htm.

"National Unemployment Update." National Employment Monthly Update. Web. 9 Apr. 2012. http://www.ncsl.org/issues-research/labor/national-employment-monthly-update.aspx.

NORML: Working to Reform Marijuana Laws. Web. http://norml.org/marijuana.

"Regional and State Employment and Unemployment Summary." U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 20 Apr. 2012. Web. http://www.bls.gov/news.release/laus.nr0.htm.

Smith-Heisters, Shaidra. “Illegally Green: Environmental Costs of Hemp Prohibition”. Web.

            http://reason.org/news/show/1002980.html