Drug Legalization (Marijuana)
Why do traditions and morals continue to be more important than our safety? An estimated 88,000 people die from alcohol related causes yearly, and tobacco use is responsible for 480,000 deaths annually. Both of these drugs have been legal to purchase for decades. Why is the legalization of marijuana, a drug with an extremely low chance of overdose much-less death, so highly debated? These days you probably know or are close to a completely normal person who smokes weed. Substance abuse is not something to be ignored or taken lightly, but not every recreational drug user suffers from addiction. People should have the freedom to choose to partake in any legal drugs and marijuana should be legalized for a few key reasons. Many people benefit from the medicinal benefits of cannabis and legalizing the drug, even if only for medical patients, could provide people with the relief they need. Legalizing marijuana would also free up valuable law enforcement time to focus on other crimes. Being a drug that poses just as much if not less of a risk as alcohol to the public, it’s illogical that police time is wasted on trying to stop it from being sold. The regulation and sale of cannabis would both make the drug safer for the consumers and would create many jobs in the field. The tax revenue would also be beneficial for state and local governments. Enforcing the prohibition continues to cost the government money and at this point we need to consider if it is worth it.
Hannah's Blog 