Marijuana Legalization and Regulation
The legalization of marijuana has been approved by five states in the United States.
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Five states, including New Jersey, Arizona, South Dakota, Mississippi, and Montana, legalized the use of recreational marijuana in November 2020. Recreational marijuana, also popularly known as adult-use marijuana, was first legalized in Colorado and Washington in 2012. Public support for the legalization of marijuana went from 12% in 1969 to 66% today. Although marijuana is an illegal drug in most parts of the United States, over 128 million people, more than half of US adults, have tried the drug. There are many arguments that can be made for and against the legalization of marijuana.
Over the years, people have argued that marijuana legalization can boost the American economy. The marijuana industry (adult-use and medical) in the United States could exceed $24 billion in revenue by 2025. For every $1.00 spent in the marijuana industry, between $2.13 and $2.40 in economic activity is generated. A few industries that benefit from legal marijuana include real estate, construction, and tourism. The legal marijuana industry generated $7.2 billion in economic activity in 2016 and added millions of dollars in federal taxes paid by cannabis businesses. One study on adult-use marijuana in Nevada projected $7.5 billion in economic activity over the first seven years of legalization, including $1.7 billion in labor income. In Colorado, marijuana brings in three times more tax revenue than alcohol. The state raised $78 million in the first year after starting retail sales, and $129 million in the second year.
Even though the legalization of marijuana can significantly benefit our economy, it could also cause arduous costs for taxpayers that outweigh its tax revenues. Societal costs of marijuana use include paying for medical care, more victims of drugged driving accidents, and increased crime. Annual societal costs from alcohol ($223.5 billion) and tobacco ($193 billion) far exceed the $24 billion in tax revenues they raise. Money raised from legal marijuana taxes generally accounts for less than 1% of a state’s tax revenue. Legalizing marijuana would put one more harmful substance in our society that costs more than the revenue it generates. According to the Pew Research Center, “the most frequently mentioned reason why people oppose legalization is that marijuana generally hurts society.”
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Five states, including New Jersey, Arizona, South Dakota, Mississippi, and Montana, legalized the use of recreational marijuana in November 2020. Recreational marijuana, also popularly known as adult-use marijuana, was first legalized in Colorado and Washington in 2012. Public support for the legalization of marijuana went from 12% in 1969 to 66% today. Although marijuana is an illegal drug in most parts of the United States, over 128 million people, more than half of US adults, have tried the drug. There are many arguments that can be made for and against the legalization of marijuana.
Over the years, people have argued that marijuana legalization can boost the American economy. The marijuana industry (adult-use and medical) in the United States could exceed $24 billion in revenue by 2025. For every $1.00 spent in the marijuana industry, between $2.13 and $2.40 in economic activity is generated. A few industries that benefit from legal marijuana include real estate, construction, and tourism. The legal marijuana industry generated $7.2 billion in economic activity in 2016 and added millions of dollars in federal taxes paid by cannabis businesses. One study on adult-use marijuana in Nevada projected $7.5 billion in economic activity over the first seven years of legalization, including $1.7 billion in labor income. In Colorado, marijuana brings in three times more tax revenue than alcohol. The state raised $78 million in the first year after starting retail sales, and $129 million in the second year.
Even though the legalization of marijuana can significantly benefit our economy, it could also cause arduous costs for taxpayers that outweigh its tax revenues. Societal costs of marijuana use include paying for medical care, more victims of drugged driving accidents, and increased crime. Annual societal costs from alcohol ($223.5 billion) and tobacco ($193 billion) far exceed the $24 billion in tax revenues they raise. Money raised from legal marijuana taxes generally accounts for less than 1% of a state’s tax revenue. Legalizing marijuana would put one more harmful substance in our society that costs more than the revenue it generates. According to the Pew Research Center, “the most frequently mentioned reason why people oppose legalization is that marijuana generally hurts society.”
B-Line
B-Line students write articles that capture what it means to be part of the Barstow community, and record, review and analyze current events.
B-Line's origins date back to 1897, when students published "The School Paper," from Barstow's Quality Hill campus. It was published under various names in following decades, including "The Cornpatch," when Barstow moved to State Line in 1961. Today, B-Line is primarily a digital publication.
B-Line's origins date back to 1897, when students published "The School Paper," from Barstow's Quality Hill campus. It was published under various names in following decades, including "The Cornpatch," when Barstow moved to State Line in 1961. Today, B-Line is primarily a digital publication.
“Success in any line of work demands one know how to communicate with others concisely and persuasively.”
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