The concept of medical and recreational marijuana is a very controversial issue in today’s society. Affecting both american culture and our medical society. Despite the fact that In a majority of American States the use of Marijuana is Illegal. Roughly 15% of Americans have tried it at least once in their life, and in a poll ran by CBS, 61% percent of voters say that weed should be legal for adults and another 88% reinforcing the idea of making medical marijuana legal across the U.S. Many say that it has medicinal benefits and therefore, should be legalized. While others say that it is a “gateway drug,” addictive and could lead to substance abuse. Considering these ideas, I feel proponents for medical marijuana have presented a stronger argument
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It has created jobs, new products, and a burgeoning industry. It has created hundreds of millions of dollars for state governments. “When purchasing retail marijuana in colorado, the purchase is subject to a 2.9% state sales tax plus any local sales taxes and an additional 10% state marijuana sales tax.” (Norml.org 1). Although each state is different they all do one thing. They Tax the crap out weed. Which is an amazing thing. States with legalized recreational marijuana have the opportunities to spend millions: on public school, infrastructure, research on marijuana, small chunks of the tax revenue have gone to drug prevention and treatment programs and to regulating the marijuana industry. Dispensaries opened in Washington in July 2014, and in Oregon in October 2015. Last year, the marijuana tax revenue totaled $256 million in Washington and $60 million in Oregon, in the same year that Colorado brought in $200 million, according to VS Strategies. (should i explain what vs strategies …show more content…
Marijuana should be taxed 10-15% to give revenue back to the state for better infrastructure, schools, drug prevention, and treatment programs. Federally, there should be laws put in place about the limit a person can have, and rules and laws that citizens can and can't do. People must be 21 and older to purchase and consume marijuana (unless a person 18 and older has proof of medicinal needs for it) A person can not buy more than half and ounce in on purchase. There should be a punch card system where every time a person purchases weed they get a stamp to show when they bought it. This prevents people from going from one dispensary and buying the limit, and go to another and buy another half of an ounce. For states that become recreational, all people who have put in jail/prison for petty possession chargers (having under a certain amount) should be released from prison. “If the government legalized marijuana it would save $7.7 billion annually by not having to enforce the current prohibition on the drug.” Jeffrey Miron
It has created jobs, new products, and a burgeoning industry. It has created hundreds of millions of dollars for state governments. “When purchasing retail marijuana in colorado, the purchase is subject to a 2.9% state sales tax plus any local sales taxes and an additional 10% state marijuana sales tax.” (Norml.org 1). Although each state is different they all do one thing. They Tax the crap out weed. Which is an amazing thing. States with legalized recreational marijuana have the opportunities to spend millions: on public school, infrastructure, research on marijuana, small chunks of the tax revenue have gone to drug prevention and treatment programs and to regulating the marijuana industry. Dispensaries opened in Washington in July 2014, and in Oregon in October 2015. Last year, the marijuana tax revenue totaled $256 million in Washington and $60 million in Oregon, in the same year that Colorado brought in $200 million, according to VS Strategies. (should i explain what vs strategies …show more content…
Marijuana should be taxed 10-15% to give revenue back to the state for better infrastructure, schools, drug prevention, and treatment programs. Federally, there should be laws put in place about the limit a person can have, and rules and laws that citizens can and can't do. People must be 21 and older to purchase and consume marijuana (unless a person 18 and older has proof of medicinal needs for it) A person can not buy more than half and ounce in on purchase. There should be a punch card system where every time a person purchases weed they get a stamp to show when they bought it. This prevents people from going from one dispensary and buying the limit, and go to another and buy another half of an ounce. For states that become recreational, all people who have put in jail/prison for petty possession chargers (having under a certain amount) should be released from prison. “If the government legalized marijuana it would save $7.7 billion annually by not having to enforce the current prohibition on the drug.” Jeffrey Miron