2 out of every 10 Canadians smoke marijuana every year for recreation or medical use (Hajizadeh, 2016). In recent news there is debate if marijuana should be legalized in Canada. Marijuana is grown from the cannabis plant which is currently classified as an illegal substance in Canada and many other countries around the world. Marijuana usage has become a known part of society, and people will continue to crave the substance if it becomes legalized or not. Marijuana has both negative and positive outlooks for the future. The drug is known to be used for medical therapies as well as being a gateway drug for teens. When legalizing the drug of marijuana, it would become a substance that is sold monitored by the government. …show more content…
Currently all distribution of marijuana avoids all taxation and costs that are typically required for selling products by legal suppliers (Miron, 2003). With the legalization of marijuana, the government will be able to tax all distribution of marijuana. Currently, the government is making no money off of the sales of marijuana. Dealers are avoiding common taxations that every other product coming across the border has. The government will be able to impose high taxes on the drugs similar to other intoxicants, such as alcohol and cigarettes (Hajizadeh, 2016). As there is currently such a high demand for the acquisition of marijuana, it proves that legalization would result in significant tax revenue for the country. In the state of Colorado, where the distribution of marijuana has already become legalized, they have an increase of 135 billion dollars from taxation revenue and fees (Hajizadeh, 2016). The government will now be reaping all the money benefits of selling marijuana with a high tax. This money that the government gains can be used to help other underlying issues that are seen in the country. Another economic benefit in legalizing marijuana is the increase in jobs. When marijuana becomes legalized there will have to be government approved areas to grow marijuana. This can generate jobs for individuals to grow marijuana and work on farms of …show more content…
When starting the use of marijuana, it’s effects encourage people that they can continue with harder and more serious drugs. This is one of the major reasons why people believe marijuana needs to be kept illegal. It is known that the use of marijuana can lead to people feeling comfortable with using drugs and going on to experiment with more dangerous drugs. Marijuana plays the role of a connection between illicit drugs and hardcore severe drugs (Cleveland & Wiebe, 2008). People want to feel the same results they do when taking marijuana but amplified which allows them to have the curiosity to try hard drugs. 90% of people who use hard drugs all started with using marijuana (Cleveland & Wiebe, 2008). This does not prove that marijuana should not be legalized. Not every single user will continue on with hard drugs. Marijuana allows you to feel comfortable with the feeling of a drug, it does not force you to continue. If the drug becomes legalized the same people who used marijuana before will continue to use it. Currently the black market for marijuana is so large that anyone who wants to get their hands on marijuana can (Gettman & Kennedy, 2014). The same amount of people who continue on with hard drugs will not change with the legalization of