Should Marijuana Be Legalized

According to the article, marijuana is the most commonly abused illegal drug in the U.S. There are three main arguments that those who oppose the legalization of marijuana state. The first is that marijuana is currently the leading cause of substance dependence other than alcohol in the U.S. and legalizing it would only make this worse. A study done in 2008 on people, aged 12 or older, who are classified with the dependence on, or with the abuse of, an illicit drug, showed that 4.2 million out of 7 million people used marijuana. This means that nearly two-thirds of Americans suffering from any substance disorder suffer from marijuana abuse or marijuana dependence.

Another factor that contributes to the anti-legalization of marijuana is that drug-impaired driving would increase dramatically. The article mentions that marijuana is a significant factor in highway crashes, injuries, and deaths. It goes on to say that in a recent national roadside survey of weekend nighttime drivers, 8.6 percent tested positive for marijuana use. This was nearly four times the percentage of drivers with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 g/dL (2.2 percent), completed during the same survey.

The third and final argument suggested by the article is through the analogy of marijuana use to that of gambling. Sports gambling, most of which is still illegal, has had a significant increase in illegal gambling since other forms of gambling have been legalized. This precedent strongly suggests that illegal drug suppliers would sell more potent marijuana products outside the legal channels so that their wares are not taxed or restricted. As the article says, if marijuana were legalized, the only way to eliminate its illegal trade would be to sell marijuana untaxed and unregulated to any willing buyer.

So should marijuana be legalized? You decide.