The question of whether or not marijuana should be legalized is becoming more and more popular. As the species of plant is America’s number one cash crop, it is recognized by the nation as a schedule two, and therefore an illegal, when in the hands of most Americans, plant. But the debate over whether or not the use of marijuana should be legal depends on a number of issues. One of the most important issues would be its contribution to accidents, whether car accidents, or any other type of mishap that occurs as a result of its use.
Another main variable in the question about the plant’s legal status would be its role as a gateway drug which, although an unpopular line of reasoning among today’s youth, would present a problem if it was true that marijuana led people to experimentation with other, more dangerous drugs, such as methamphetamine, heroin, and cocaine. And a third, broader variable, would be the drug’s impact on the economy. What, if anything, would change because of marijuana’s legalization?
What is Marijuana Marijuana (Cannabis Sativa) is a species of plant that, when flowering, produces buds that contain THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), which, when smoked or ingested, stimulate the mind, causing a loss of judgmental ability and occasional hallucinations. The drug is quite popular, so its legalization would not only delight many people, especially some of the nation’s youth, but it could potentially positively effect the economy.
“In 2000, the NHSDA estimated that over 3 million, or 13 percent, of the 23 million youths aged 12 to 17 used marijuana during the year prior to the survey,” a report issued by the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse (NHSDA) reported in 2002. “The rate of past year marijuana use was lower for youths compared with the rate for young adults aged 18 to 25 (24 percent), but it was higher than the rate for adults aged 26 or older (5 percent).
” And according to a survey by drugs. com, over 33 percent of Americans (which is over 72 million Americans) over the age of 12 had tried the drug in their lifetimes. Needless to say, it is fairly popular, and its legal use is an aspiration hoped for by many Americans. Researchable Issue and Hypothesis In contemplating the possibility of marijuana’s legalization, and important issue needs to be resolved, and I will make a hypothesis about its resolution.
That issue is, whether or not some legal status of marijuana will be compatible with current laws (in other words, will its legalization maybe have the now-illegal drug fit into some legal category, like the one of alcohol, and will its use be able to be restricted by the same restrictions placed on alcohol) without too much trouble, making its legalization more costly than its worth as a legal drug.
And will its legalization benefit the economy in any way? Could it be taxed, as alcohol is taxed, to improve federal funds? It seems that it could, and I will explain the reasons for that hypothesis after reviewing some of the variables contributing to that hypothesis, that should affect its legalization.