As of today Marijuana is recreationally legal in four states including Alaska, Washington, Oregon, and of course Colorado. On top of the four completely legal recreational states there are twenty-three states where Marijuana is legal for medical use.  Does three million dollars in a month sound like a lot of money? In the first month of legal recreational Marijuana in Colorado tax revenue topped an astounding three million dollars. That money made in Colorado was then taken and pushed into the school system and scholarships. Legalization of recreational Marijuana in California would benefit the state economically as well as socially. 

The topic of recreational Marijuana interests me because I come from an extremely conservative state and family who both try to suppress anything about Marijuana. Marijuana has always seemed like the "forbidden fruit" to me since I grew up hearing how it will ruin your life. Even though I have prior experience writing on the topic, it does not qualify me to write on the topic. 

My first source is from Google Scholar; it summarizes the effects of legalization of recreational Marijuana in the state of California. The book "Altered State", there seems to be definite bias due to the author. My first source says that the reason Marijuana is not already recreationally legal in California is because the prices on Marijuana will drastically drop. If price on Marijuana drops, then the profits from taxing will also drop. Source one also says that with legalization of Marijuana in California there will be an increase of up to 100% in the consumption of Marijuana. The money made from taxing the Marijuana would be put back into local schools and government rehabilitation programs for recovering addicts.

My second source is more factual than the other two sources. My second source states that California has now reduced a Marijuana charge to a simple traffic ticket. You only get a traffic ticket with less than twenty-eight grams of weed because it has been decriminalized in the state of California. Petty Marijuana crimes can effect a person throughout their life because it will show up in a background check and can keep you from getting a job. Even after your state is legalized that Marijuana charge will still show up. There is no apparent bias to this article.  

My third source talks about Marijuana in California moving to a legal stance. It talks about how Marijuana will be taxed and regulated once it is legalized in the state of California. This move toward legalization would keep Marijuana off the streets and decrease violence in California. 

I agree with my second source saying that marijuana is a petty charge but I disagree with it being permanent on your record. One thing I majorly disagree with is in the first source where the author says that by legalizing marijuana the average tax money will drop. If marijuana is legalized everyone will be interested and have a desire to indulge in the plant. 
