As of January 2017, there were approximately 122,814 legal full-time jobs in the marijuana industry in the United States. [54] A report by New Frontier Data found that the cannabis industry could create a quarter of a million new jobs by 2020. [55] [56] [57] An estimate of the economic impact by the Marijuana Policy Group projected the creation of more than 130,000 jobs in California after legalization. [15] [59] A few years after legalization, about 18,000 additional full-time jobs were created each year in Colorado, both in the marijuana industry and in related fields such as security and real estate. [15] Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) said the cannabis industry in the U.S. “is expected to create nearly 300,000 jobs by 2020 and reach $24 billion by 2025.” [20] Marijuana cultivation leads to deforestation, soil erosion, habitat destruction and river diversion. [142] [140] Cannabis plants need almost twice as much water as growing grapes or tomatoes. [144] [145] Rosamond Naylor, Senior Fellow at the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment, said, “Taking water directly from rivers and streams in the summer [to grow marijuana] not only reduces the water available for agriculture, but also threatens wildlife. Regardless of the legal status of marijuana, the way we currently manage the impact on water and wildlife in California simply doesn`t work. [142] Despite 40 years and more than $1 trillion spent by taxpayers to try – no theft, rape, murder, or even shoplifting – but most importantly to deter adults from using marijuana; despite draconian punishments; despite the imprisonment of millions of non-violent Americans; Despite thousands of prohibition-related murders each year, illegal drugs are cheaper, purer and more readily available than ever before.
The AAA Foundation for Road Safety reported that fatal accidents involving marijuana doubled after legalization in Washington. Marshall Doney, President and CEO of the AAA, said, “Marijuana can compromise the safety of drivers by affecting vehicle control and judgment.” [159] The Highway Loss Data Institute noted an increased risk of accidents in legal marijuana states, claiming that collision claims in Colorado, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington increased by 6 percent compared to states that do not have legal marijuana. [83] [84] [85][252] A meta-study conducted by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NAS) concluded that “using cannabis before driving increases the risk of being involved in a traffic accident.” [255] If marijuana were to become legal nationally, marijuana companies would be free to list their shares on all U.S. exchanges, which would improve liquidity and open up access to many more investors. If the growth rates of the cannabis space continue as they have in recent years, it is likely that investors will express a great interest in the industry. The annual social costs of alcohol ($223.5 billion) and tobacco ($193 billion) far exceed the $24 billion in tax revenue they generate. [128] [128] [131] [172] The money collected from legal marijuana taxes typically accounts for less than 1% of a state`s tax revenue. [132] [134] I know that not all companies are above the use of chemicals in their products, but if it is legal, I would trust a label that says “organic herb” much more than if I bought it from a random teenager.
The Marijuana Policy Project, an organization that conducts marijuana legalization campaigns, said: “Study after study has confirmed that marijuana policy reforms do not increase rates of marijuana use among teens. The most in-depth surveys in the states indicate a moderate decline in marijuana use rates among teens in Colorado and Washington. [ 42] Although marijuana retail stores opened in Colorado and Washington in 2014, marijuana use among teens in these states was lower last year in 2015-2016 than in 2014-2015. [39] Instead of arresting people for marijuana, police officers were able to focus on serious crimes such as rape, assault, and murder. [62] For example, the legalization of marijuana in Washington has significantly freed up law enforcement resources; The number of arrests for marijuana possession rose from 5,531 the year before legalization to 120 the following year. [64] The legalization of marijuana would bring another harmful substance into our society that costs more than the revenue it generates. [130] According to the Pew Research Center, “the most frequently cited reason why people oppose legalization is that marijuana generally harms society.” [133] Instead of spending money to stop drug traffickers and cut down marijuana plantations, why can`t our government save itself from all these difficulties and legalize a culturally accepted substance that can contribute to the socio-economic development of the country? People who buy marijuana on the street have no way of knowing if what they are taking is covered with mold, fungus, pesticides or other harmful substances. [8] [9] Once marijuana is legalized, the government is able to enforce laboratory tests and regulations to ensure that marijuana is free of toxins.
[10] For example, Washington law requires health warnings, quality assurance, THC concentration labeling, and other important regulations for consumers. [11] However, other problems have arisen as a result of the illegality. While marijuana should be kept away from teenagers, its moderate use does not pose a risk to adults. The more people in prison, the fewer people contribute to the economy and the more taxes are spent on prison. It is actually possible that the legalization of weed could do wonders for our economy in many ways. Three United Nations treaties establish global drug controls. [137] [138] As a party to the treaties, the United States agreed to restrict the use of marijuana “exclusively for medical and scientific purposes.” [139] The decision by some U.S. states to legalize adult marijuana angered the UN watchdog, which said legalization “cannot be reconciled with the legal obligation” to comply with the Single Convention Treaty. [136] Tax revenues in legal marijuana states fund police, drug treatment and psychiatric health centers, and housing programs, as well as school programs such as anti-bullying campaigns, youth mentoring, and grants to public schools.
