Since before the time of Jesus Christ, marijuana has been used by ancient societies such as the Chinese to create medicines, textiles, clothes, paper, and even in recreation (Ghose, Tia). Today, if you are caught with the drug many state’s laws will put you in jail and mark you a criminal permanently. In other states, they will only charge you a small fine for the same crime. The inconsistency is absurd. The United States is in a critical phase where the innocent are killed, police are rioted against, the economy is sluggish, prisons are overflowing, and education is falling behind other countries. Is America as great of a country as it could be? Yes, in some ways, but obviously not in many others. The nation’s leaders wonder what can be done to resolve many of our nation’s most critical problems. The answer is simple, and already being implemented in over half of the state’s laws. Marijuana, which is currently defined as a schedule 1 drug by the federal government, can significantly improve the prosperity of our country if controlled and regulated properly. Too much of many things can be harmful. Regulation and planning is necessary before having marijuana legalized for medical and recreational purposes.  Marijuana will improve the day to day life of Americans by improving agriculture, treating illnesses, decreasing crime rates, improving our economy and education. 

Like all things, too much of a substance can have bad health effects (Mayo Clinic). For example, too much water can be unhealthy. Water is the healthiest thing there is. Yet when one drinks too much of it, one’s kidneys may not be able to secrete the excess. In turn, the electrolyte concentration in the blood can decrease, leading to dangerously low sodium levels in the blood. The disease is called hyponatremia, causing neurologic dysfunction, osteoporosis, and cerebral edema (MFMER). This is where the logical parts of the argument against marijuana legalization stands, too much of anything is unhealthy. A summarization of the disagreement is presented in the article “5 Reasons Marijuana Should Remain Illegal” by John Hawkins. The author’s first claim is that the drug is extremely addictive for some people. Since there is zero scientific evidence agreeing with this, the author cites a psychologist that has dealt with several “addicted” patients. The reason this is incorrect is even admitted by the author saying that “It’s a small subset of people with a genetic potential for addiction” that become addicted to marijuana (Hawkins). Anything from foods to an emotion such as being thrilled can be addicting if someone has the genetic potential. The sensation of a certain taste or excitement releases happy chemicals in the brain that will be craved for until another dosage of the taste or excitement is available. Similarly, marijuana itself is not addictive, the feeling of relaxation is what makes users want to try it again. Its chemical properties contain nothing addictive. Certain people that have psychological issues and become easily addicted to things should not determine if marijuana should be legalized or not. The next argument is that the marijuana “experiment hasn’t worked out so well for Amsterdam” (Hawkings). The author says this because Netherlands has had to create a law to keep students from smoking in school. This is an obvious and fixable problem the United States would not tolerate by prohibiting to anyone below twenty-one and on school campuses. Netherlands is also the sixteenth safest country in the world, therefore marijuana is not an issue (City-safe.com). The last of the arguments include “Marijuana is terrible for your mental health”, “Marijuana is terrible for your physical health”, and “The drug decimates many people’s lives” (Hawkings). These claims are only true if smoking marijuana begins during the adolescent years when the brain is just beginning to develop (Lynne-Landsman). Although if used responsibly just as alcohol is intended, researchers at the Academy of Neurology have found that marijuana “reduces stiffness and muscle spasms…(and) schizophrenia” along with several other mental and physical illnesses (Zimmermann). Critics of marijuana are still worth listening to. People all over social media often misinterpret the drug for having long lasting side-effects (Smith). The opinions and perspectives of other people must be understood so that they may be properly informed on areas of confusion for them. Marijuana protestors, when fully informed with open minds will see all the following benefits that can come from this plant.

America, along with a few other countries, is being blamed by the rest of the world for destroying the Earth and weakening the atmosphere. Our cars, factories, power plants, planes, and army all contribute to the increase of global temperatures through CO2 emissions. Scientists have found solutions for this that politicians still do not approve of. The marijuana plant contains physical properties that make it agriculturally and ecologically advantageous. A special fiber that can be derived from the drug, hemp, has been used since ancient times for paper and clothing. Since then it has been found to be useful in creating construction materials, plastic composites, and clean fuel (Hill, Graham). Hemp absorbs four times as much carbon dioxide than trees do and takes 1/60 of the time to grow (Hill, Graham). Therefore, simply growing the plant can help remove the excess CO2 in the atmosphere, keeping the Earth’s temperatures from rising, and lowering sea levels. The benefits of hemp go even further says hemp expert Sheryl Walters, “deforestation is occurring at around 3% per year, and hemp is a far superior resource since it can be grown to maturity in 100 days” (Walters, Sheryl). Sea creatures and wildlife continuously suffer from consuming or being trapped in harmful plastics. Meanwhile, hemp can be used to create plastic composites that are biodegradable (Rankin, Claire). Switching to hemp made plastics would keep thousands of aquatic and land organisms from dying every day and from going extinct. In addition, polar bears would not have to worry about their land melting away from CO2 emissions. Engines have been invented and proved to run on 100 percent hemp oil. Before marijuana was taxed in 1937 “Henry Ford utilized hemp fuel for cars, and his first Model T was designed to run on a methanol petrol, produced from hemp seeds” (Sossi).  These engines can keep our vehicles from releasing toxic chemicals into the air, as this fuel is entirely clean. Hemp derived from Marijuana has potential to allow future generations to live in a cleaner and environmentally friendly earth that could soon be gone.

Marijuana can help this country into an eco-friendlier place for future generations to live in as well as provide healthier options for them. The most obvious use for marijuana is its health benefits, which explains why it has become so widely accepted for medical purposes. It could help so many people treat illnesses. So why is it still illegal in half of the states? One reason many people and journalists think of is because it would damage company’s revenues involved in the pharmacy industry. Pharmaceutical companies make their millions of dollars off selling “powerful and deadly prescription narcotics” (Ingraham). Stanford University researcher, Keith Humphreys, has found that “painkiller abuse and overdose are lower in states with medical marijuana laws” (Ingraham). In turn, pharmaceutical companies along with alcohol and tobacco companies would suffer large deficits if marijuana became legal. To avoid from getting smaller paychecks, these companies pay for anti-marijuana lobbyist in Washington DC and drug-free campaigns in several states to discredit marijuana’s positive potential. Along with these companies, Lee Fang reveals an even more surprising interest group that provides the most lobbying to keep marijuana illegal. Fang reveals the deep corruption that “Private prison companies have spent millions bankrolling pro-drug war politicians…. to pass harsh sentencing requirements for drug crimes” (Fang). Private prisons make their income from placing people in jail for committing drug crimes. Having marijuana legalized would run these prisons vacant and bankrupt. Even if these accusations against pharmaceutical, alcohol, tobacco, and prison companies are too corrupt to believe, does it not make sense that they should want marijuana illegal to save their paychecks considering all the health benefits the drug has and the amount of people sent to prison for it?

Pharmacy is one of the most influential industries in the US. They have been so successful due to everyone wanting to maintain their health. Sadly, many of the products sold by pharmaceutical companies can also cause harm. For example, mixing “aspirin with any blood thinner, antibiotic, and anti-inflammatory drugs” can create critical problems such as heart issues (Gupta). In contrast, marijuana helps treat numerous illnesses better than pharmacies products can without the harsh side effects and expensive costs. These illnesses include Parkinson’s disease, chronic pain, glaucoma, epilepsy, cancer, and much more. The drug was even used for medical reasons since ancient times. Thanks to scientists who have published years of research, America is moving towards the legalization of marijuana for medical purposes. Laws approving medical marijuana are even being discussed in the most conservative states including South Carolina. Yet, the difficulty comes from the pharma paid lobbyists that influence the politicians to vote against legalization.

The United States’ lawmakers went through several years of schooling, and experience before they became congressman or woman. They spend their lives reviewing laws to make sure they are just and effective. Ironically, America has some of the highest crime rates in the world. Are laws not made to keep people out of jail, not have more people in them? States such as Colorado have shown the rest of the nation a solution.  Since legalizing Marijuana in 2014 Denver “saw a 2.2% decrease in all violent crimes in the first 11 months of 2014. Burglaries decreased by 9.5%, and other property crimes decreased by 8.9%” (Martinez).  This is a result of less people being charged for possession of the drug and more calm communities. In addition, people will find a way to do a drug if it is illegal or not. An online article by US News claims that marijuana prohibition is ineffective. The author, Morgan Fox, says that data by the National Institute on Drug Abuse and Federal Bureau of Investigations shows that “over 27 million people used marijuana at some point in 2011” and has stayed consistent while the number of marijuana related arrests vary every year (Fox). This can only mean that the possibility of being arrested does not keep people from getting high. Drug enforcers only have so much control over the marijuana that comes into the state. If people want to illegally purchase the drug, it is not difficult to do so.  By legalizing it, prices go down and the ones in charge of dealing it go out of business. The people buying the drug do not have to worry about getting the money to buy the drugs anymore, therefore have less of a reason to steal. Prisons no longer have as much occupants therefore less tax dollars are needed to keep them running. The citizen’s money is then put to better things such as roads and other government projects helping more people get to work.

When marijuana is legalized in a state, a chain reaction occurs, not only decreasing crime, but also improving the overall economy and education. The United States is falling behind other countries in education. Many elementary and high schools do not teach children what they need to move on to a higher education, so the students either drop out to work or do not make it to college. Without a college degree, it is more difficult to find a well-paying job. These circumstances lead to an impoverished economy. With the contribution of high taxes on marijuana sales and less need for prisons, Colorado uses the extra money to build and improve new schools. As a long-term result, people will receive higher paychecks, and more money being circulated creates a strong economy. In addition to the taxes placed on marijuana, several jobs are created when the marijuana industry is legalized in a state. Cannabiz, a book by John Geluardi explains the entirety of the business relations surrounding the drugs industry. The author explains the job market benefits saying, “Cottage industries were flourishing: hydroponics supply stores, construction companies specializing in grows rooms, cannabis-friendly travel agencies, and a trade school” (Geluardi 2). An abundance of jobs are created which circulates more money through the economy. Many other jobs were also created due to dispensaries such as attorneys, public relations firms, unions, media, and advocacy groups that collectively worked together to grow the public’s approval of marijuana (Geluardi 2). The fiscal years 2014 and 2015 combined saw over 32,000 new jobs caused by legalized marijuana (Orens 12).  Unemployment has always been a topic in the news. Legalizing this plant can help put a lot more people to work and improve the overall economy.

Half of the United States has already proved that the legalization of marijuana with regulations has improved pollution, health, crime rates, economy, and education. If this drug shows to be so beneficial, why was it illegal in the first place? According to Dr. Malik Burnett and Amanda Reiman it was to drive out Mexicans from America about one-hundred years ago. Both Mexicans and Americans used marijuana at the time as a medicine, but called it by a different name.  Dr. Malik explains the trickery used to deport the Mexicans as “the media began to play on the fears that the public had about these new citizens by falsely spreading claims about the “disruptive Mexicans” with their dangerous native behaviors including marihuana use” (Burnett).  The Mexicans were then kicked out of the country for using the same drug but just called it by an unfamiliar name. Today, it is illegal and is worthy of jail time if caught with it by the federal law. Marijuana is currently described as a drug with no accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse as a schedule 1 drug. The state of Washington would disagree to this description, by refuting it showing that the state “has benefited from a dramatic decrease in marijuana arrests and convictions, as well as increased tax revenues” while “rates of marijuana use and traffic fatalities have remained stable” (Newman). Although, these results are only possible when the states specify strict regulations on the amount of marijuana someone can possess or grow. The amount can vary from state to state. In New Jersey, the maximum amount for thirty days is two ounces while the maximum in Washington is one sixth of that (Hoffman). States are still experimenting which amounts work best. Despite this, set rules of regulation and enforcement are essential. Most of the second half of the states that have not yet legalized some form of the drug and are currently still working on new marijuana laws that they see fit for their state. It is a process that will take time and will be well worth the wait for the environment, many patients, the economy, and future generation’s education.

Like anything else in life, using too much marijuana can be harmful. Otherwise, marijuana has a copious amount of uses that go back to the beginning of time. The plant can be used as an alternative for fuel and making certain products that do not require the mass cutting down of forests. The plant can save the lives of forest ecosystems as well as the lives of our loved ones through the treatment of illnesses such as cancer, Parkinson’s, epilepsy, and chronic pain. The legalization of marijuana keeps more people out of hospitals just as well as it keeps people out of jail. The state of Colorado especially has seen less crime as soon as the drug was legalized. Government funds are saved and created by prisons that no longer overflow, and the high tax on the recreational use of marijuana. More money in the government allows extra funds to improve things such as roads and schools for better education. The marijuana plant is the missing key to improving the day to day life of Americans nationwide.
