DaySaundra R Lopez
Mr. Rishi Ramnath
ENGL 1301
April 12, 2018
Mary Jane
Like fruits and vegetables we eat, marijuana comes from the earth. Many Americans have tried marijuana at least once in their lifetime. Many of whom are unlikely thought of as having tried it. Whether illegal or legal, people do what they want. Marijuana should be legal everywhere because it creates jobs, reduces crime rates, is less harmful than alcohol and tobacco, and, most importantly, can be used medically. Sit back, grab a joint – if you are in a legal state – and let me explain why legalizing Mary Jane (marijuana) should be legal.
Legalizing marijuana as a method of creating jobs is stands out as a great reason. According to ProCon.org, “New Frontier Data reported ‘The cannabis industry could create a quarter of a million new jobs by 2020. An economic impact estimate from the Marijuana Policy Group forecast the creation of more than 130,000 jobs in California following legalization.’” Think about all the agricultural (farming) jobs and business (dispensaries) aspects cannabis can create. Further, the stock market will see an increase in stocks. There are many other job opportunities waiting to emerge. For example, “Legalizing and regulating marijuana will bring one of the nation's largest cash crops under the rule of law. This will create jobs and economic opportunities in the formal economy instead of the illicit market.” (Drug Alliance Policy). Permitting marijuana allows people who have been in the business illegally to change their life for the better; it creates legitimate opportunities that alleviates jail and prison sentences because of drug charges.
Essentially, creating new jobs and reducing crime goes hand in hand. As is, prohibiting marijuana sale and use causes people to be without their family. Husbands and wives are forced to live without each other, parents miss their children, and children are without their mothers and fathers. They are deemed as criminals all because they distribute marijuana illegally to provide for their families; people rely on it to get housing, clothing, and food. Allowing legal sale of marijuana not only reduces distribution crime rates. According to ProCon.org, a study shows that opening dispensaries in neighborhoods lower crimes due to the increase of security presence. It also states, “Research indicates that people drink less, and alcohol sales drop in places where marijuana is legalized. The amount of crime and violence caused by alcohol use is ten times higher than by marijuana use; alcohol is a factor in around 40% of violent crime...
