Marijuana

Probably the most frequent argument I hear for the legalization on marijuana is that the federal government from taxing it. Drug sales are a huge underground industry in this country. If marijuana were made legal federal and state government could impose a so-called “sin tax” on it, much like they do with alcohol and tobacco products. Another reason often cited is the overcrowding in Americas prisons. Many of the prisoners housed in state prisons are non-violent drug offenders. Instead of sending a college student with a dime bag to New Orleans Metro, they could be focusing state resources on violent criminals. Here is a very good website with he statistics on drug offenders in prison. The “war on drugs” has been going on for decades, and obviously it is not working. Something has to change, because demand is never going to go away, and where there is a demand there will always be a supply. I think that the overcrowded prisons are the most convincing argument for the legalization of marijuana. This is also one of the reasons that will actually bring about change. Reasons appealing to money are going to be the ones that will lead to change in policy, simply because that is what will appeal to non-marijuana users the most. The former marijuana user, Arnold Schwarzenegger said that he is willing to talk about the complete legalization of marijuana. As I was writing this blog I asked my friend’s opinion on this issue. My friend took a USA Today out of her bag, and on the front page was an article titled “Slowly, limits on pot are fading.” I think that people are talking about this issue more than ever, and soon the laws will change.