By: Lawrence Eiden
In November, the Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol submitted 365,000 signatures to the state of Michigan to add a pro-recreational marijuana proposal to 2018’s ballot. This proposal, if passed by Michigan legislature, will allow adults 21 and older to own up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana and cultivate up to 12 plants. If passed, Michigan would include a ten percent tax on recreational marijuana in addition to Michigan’s six percent sales tax.
While not everyone uses marijuana, legalizing it for recreational use would be beneficial for every citizen. I do not smoke pot and I do not endorse the frequent use of it, but it is completely illogical to demonize and criminalize the people who do. Legalizing recreational marijuana is both economical and practical for our nation.
The government would be able to divert funds from their war on drugs and fund programs for the poor. It would increase tax revenue and leave ample funds to improve infrastructure, like Michigan roads. Perhaps, we could use the tax revenue to aid young adults seeking a higher education. The business generated by the introduction of a legal marijuana sector would create jobs for many unemployed people, especially for those discouraged workers who have been jobless since the 2008 financial crisis.
Making marijuana for recreational use legal would save taxpayers millions. In Michigan alone, nearly 20,000 people are arrested for possession of marijuana annually. Nationally, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, 46.3 percent of the estimated 2.5 million inmates in America are serving time for drug-related offenses. According to CBS news, it costs anywhere from $30,000 to $60,000 a year to incarcerate one person. Taxpayers could potentially save a lot of money if they did not have to pay to incarcerate others for using a substance less harmful than cigarettes or alcohol.
Legalizing marijuana would not only save billions but taxing the substance would increase tax revenue by $6.2 billion annually, according to CNN. There is an endless list of programs the government could use the funds for. We could improve the nation's infrastructure, especially our terrible roads. The government could help young adults pay for a higher education, could partially pay the federal debt, or ensure entitlement programs that help many people in need, are well funded.
According to the Washington Post, Colorado created more than 18,000 jobs and generated 2.4 billion dollars in economic activity when the state legalized marijuana. Imagine if we implemented this on a national scale. President Trump could achieve his promise of substantial GDP growth without giving massive tax breaks to corporations. Millions of discouraged workers could easily find employment in the growing sector. Legalizing recreational marijuana is plain economical.
Let’s face it, despite four decades and more than a trillion dollars; the government has not stopped the use of marijuana. Criminalizing marijuana and demonizing individuals who use it is not the answer. The point is, legalizing the recreational use of marijuana is more practical and economical than criminalizing it.
In November, the Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol submitted 365,000 signatures to the state of Michigan to add a pro-recreational marijuana proposal to 2018’s ballot. This proposal, if passed by Michigan legislature, will allow adults 21 and older to own up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana and cultivate up to 12 plants. If passed, Michigan would include a ten percent tax on recreational marijuana in addition to Michigan’s six percent sales tax.
While not everyone uses marijuana, legalizing it for recreational use would be beneficial for every citizen. I do not smoke pot and I do not endorse the frequent use of it, but it is completely illogical to demonize and criminalize the people who do. Legalizing recreational marijuana is both economical and practical for our nation.
The government would be able to divert funds from their war on drugs and fund programs for the poor. It would increase tax revenue and leave ample funds to improve infrastructure, like Michigan roads. Perhaps, we could use the tax revenue to aid young adults seeking a higher education. The business generated by the introduction of a legal marijuana sector would create jobs for many unemployed people, especially for those discouraged workers who have been jobless since the 2008 financial crisis.
Making marijuana for recreational use legal would save taxpayers millions. In Michigan alone, nearly 20,000 people are arrested for possession of marijuana annually. Nationally, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, 46.3 percent of the estimated 2.5 million inmates in America are serving time for drug-related offenses. According to CBS news, it costs anywhere from $30,000 to $60,000 a year to incarcerate one person. Taxpayers could potentially save a lot of money if they did not have to pay to incarcerate others for using a substance less harmful than cigarettes or alcohol.
Legalizing marijuana would not only save billions but taxing the substance would increase tax revenue by $6.2 billion annually, according to CNN. There is an endless list of programs the government could use the funds for. We could improve the nation's infrastructure, especially our terrible roads. The government could help young adults pay for a higher education, could partially pay the federal debt, or ensure entitlement programs that help many people in need, are well funded.
According to the Washington Post, Colorado created more than 18,000 jobs and generated 2.4 billion dollars in economic activity when the state legalized marijuana. Imagine if we implemented this on a national scale. President Trump could achieve his promise of substantial GDP growth without giving massive tax breaks to corporations. Millions of discouraged workers could easily find employment in the growing sector. Legalizing recreational marijuana is plain economical.
Let’s face it, despite four decades and more than a trillion dollars; the government has not stopped the use of marijuana. Criminalizing marijuana and demonizing individuals who use it is not the answer. The point is, legalizing the recreational use of marijuana is more practical and economical than criminalizing it.