Marijuana Legalization in Washington and Colorado Essay Example

day to treat glaucoma - a condition characterized by elevated pressure in the eyeball that may cause blindness - in order to achieve the desired effects.

Legalization of marijuana is crucial because it offers various medicinal benefits and has the potential to decrease crime rates. Nations that have banned marijuana consumption have witnessed a significant increase in related criminal activities. People find it difficult to stop using marijuana and resort to illegal means to obtain it, leading to frequent instances of drug smuggling across borders.

According to Kilmer et al (27), the legalization of marijuana may not completely address crime problems, but it will substantially decrease them. This can be observed in Colorado, where the legalization of marijuana has unexpectedly led to a decline in crime rates. Moreover, there has been a reduction in arrests associated with marijuana.

Furthermore, the decline in crime rates and murder rates can be attributed to drug trafficking and smuggling. However, legalizing marijuana would result in a decrease in these homicides. For instance, after the legalization of marijuana, Denver witnessed a reduction of about 25% in murder rates (Kilmer et al, 27). This serves as an additional rationale for endorsing the legalization of marijuana.

Legalizing marijuana leads to increased profits, which include revenue gains and budgetary savings. While the costs of enforcing specific drug laws are not explicitly stated in criminal justice budgets, policy papers have estimated the government expenses related to marijuana legalization. Miron argues that legalization will decrease the necessity for spending on judicial, prosecutorial, and policy resources.

Legalizing marijuana not only generates significant government revenue through taxation, licensing, and industry, but it also brings additional economic advantages. For example, a proposed marijuana

legalization measure in Washington imposes advertising and drugged driving restrictions while implementing three separate excise taxes that could potentially yield around $500 for the state (Eric, 46). In Colorado, where cannabis-related arrests have decreased, law enforcement has been able to divert more resources towards addressing other criminal activities (Eric, 46). Consequently, this shift has transformed Colorado's sluggish economy into a thriving one. The income from marijuana sales and associated taxes, coupled with the savings achieved through budgetary measures, can be directed towards stimulating other economic ventures to further enhance the overall state economy. These favorable economic outcomes present yet another compelling rationale for supporting marijuana legalization.

The economy of Colorado has experienced positive effects since the legalization of marijuana. The implementation of taxation, creation of employment opportunities for young individuals, transfer of money ownership from drug cartels, and attraction of tourists to the region are all evidence of this (Eric, 46). In summary, this article emphasizes that although many countries still prohibit marijuana use, only a few states have chosen to legalize it. However, there is an ongoing debate regarding complete legalization due to its potential benefits. One such benefit is its medicinal value which has been proven effective in curing diseases like cancer and reducing pain in patients including those with HIV (Joffre et al., 92).

Aside from its impact on reducing crime rates, marijuana has various other applications as previously mentioned. A notable instance can be observed in Colorado where the legalization of marijuana has resulted in a decrease in criminal activities. Additionally, significant profits are generated through government revenues, taxes, and budgetary savings that can be utilized to stimulate the economy of a particular

state. Considering all these effects collectively, the legalization of marijuana is considered crucial.

Works Cited

• Joffre, Alain, and W. Samuel Yancy. “Legalization of marijuana: Potential impact on youth.” Pediatrics 113.6 (2004): e632-e638
• Kilmer, Beau, et al. Altered state?: Assessing how marijuana legalization in California could influence marijuana consumption and public budgets. Santa Monica, CA: RAND, 2010
• Single, Eric W. “The impact of marijuana decriminalization: an update.” Journal of public health policy 10.4 (2012): 456-466
• Volkow, Nora D., et al. “Adverse health effects of marijuana use” new England journal of medicine 370. 23 (2014): 2219-2227