Thesis Statement
Marijuana should be legalized to reduce the costly prison population, increase tax benifits, and destigmatize those using marijuana for medical benifits.
DISCLAIMER
This blog is an assignment for CMP 272 Spring 2008 to allow students an opportunity to present valid arguments, generate feedback, and practice moderating skills in a technological environment.
Should It Be Legal
Can you think of anything that the United States can do with an extra $5 billion dollars a year? It is estimated that each year it takes almost that much for law enforcement to keep pressing the marijuana laws. Now guess where that money is coming from. That's right; it's us, the tax payers. Almost 23% of the prison population is people convicted of drug related charges.
So here is my solution for this problem. If the people that are running this country would grow it, legalize it, put an age on it and tax it, many of our problems would go away. They could useour tax money on something more important like cutting us a break on gas prices. There would be room in prisons for people like murderers and rapists, the people who really need to be there. Finally, it seems to me that if marijuana were to be legal, the USA would make more money than it is spending.
Adding up all the numbers, the federal government would have additional revenues of $6 billion a year and the states an additional $17 billion for a combined total of $23 billion a year. This money could pay for the entire food stamp program, provide a tax rebate of approximately $150 per taxpayer per year or pay for a war with an axis of evil regime. Washington state's portion of the marijuana pie would be $330 million; that might not be enough to solve our next budget crisis, but it is a start.
13 comments:
I think your issue was good.I think that it should be legalized. It's all natural and grown from gods green earth.
Great work! I also think it should be legalized.
I agree 100% that it should be legalized.
I agree that it should be legalized, but only for medical reasons! Good Job!
I think it should be legalized for medical purposes.
I think it should be legalized for cancer patients, my aunt has cancer and if it makes her feel better why not?
I think legalizing it is a very good idea for medical purposes and private use. Alcohol was illegal but now there are limits such as drinking and driving. I think the should legalize but have limits as well. Very good Job.
Very good job!! I agree that it should be legalized for medical reasons.
it should be legalized for medical reasons i think.
* Claps his hands * Bravo, Bravo. Yes Lets Legalize a Drug that stimulates into Further Drugs. I Used to be a Smoker. I also Expeirmented with Herion, Acid ETC. You said 23% of the prison population is Drug Related. Maybe so, but that 23% is Just not Marijuana Either. Pot is a Misdemonor pending on the amount, Anything I belive over 4 grams (8th for those who aren't into the Lingo) is a fine. But back to the topic, You must realize that You as well Have Coke dealers and Herion pushers across the country that Kill Kids. These people dont care about life, just a buck. Marijuana will make these people capitalize more on the fact (shakes his head) More innocent people would be dead.
I think that if they would legalize it, then there would be a lot less drama in the jail system about it. You made some very good points.
Who really knows. I used to be a big "pot head", but i grew up. If it is used for medicinal purposes, i think that is legal already. As for personal use, no way. There is no way to tax it, and no way to limit the growth of it. As a former correctional officer at a state facility, I can tell you that drug offenders in prison are not just a simple "pot pusher". They are pushing harder drugs, and i can promise you, that if you talk to 90% of those men/women, they will tell you that it started from pot, and then they had to move on to the harder, better high.
What you didn't realize is that the government has created asset forfiture laws so that when someone gets arrested for drug charges they can seize the all their assets as profits from a criminal act. The profits go to the government.
Post a Comment