Essay On Legalizing Marijuana In Canada

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High there. Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug in Canada. Every year, thousands of people are arrested and even incarcerated for the possession of even a small amount of the drug. Despite the risks, Canadians continue to ingest cannabis at a rate that tops the global charts. It seems the only thing that can greatly reduce the illegal use, production, and distribution is to legalize it. With the 2015 federal election in clear view, it is hard to ignore that a substantial number of Canadians favor the notion. But why else are Canadians pushing for the legalization of cannabis? Other progressive countries like the Netherlands, Spain, Uruguay, and the U.S (Washington, Colorado, and Alaska) have already realized the benefits that …show more content…
In 1923 Parliament passed a bill to ban the use of marijuana and thus the underground market was born. Since then the underground market has expanded into a multi-billion dollar industry, attracting peddlers from every community in Canada, and all around the world. This underground market gave rise to the recreational market as well. Now Canadians want to take a stand against the dealers and cartels. The belief is that, if the population has access to legal marijuana for recreational use, much like alcohol, then the dealers will become obsolete and the cartels will be cut out. The other benefits of this system are: reduced availability for children, generation of tax revenue, and the guarantee of quality and safety. The cost of enforcing marijuana laws is more than one billion dollars annually; tax dollars can be used elsewhere more effectively. In 2014, Colorado legalized the sale of recreational marijuana as well as the allowance of growing one’s own. The combined medical and recreational sales for that year was an estimated 573 million dollars. This resulted in a staggering total tax revenue of 60.1 million dollars

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