Why Some Americans Believe Marijuana Should Be Legal

In the article "The Top Ten Reasons Why Marijuana Should Be Legal" by Devon Hauger he states that marijuana should be made legal for several reasons. The first is that prohibition has failed to end all the production of marijuana. Second, more marijuana arrests that are made are based on prejudiced police officers. Blacks and Hispanics are more likely to be arrested and charged, suggesting that the law is biased. Third, having a regulated market for marijuana would reduce marijuana sales and use among teenagers, as well as reduce their exposure to other drugs in the illegal market. Fourth, legalizing marijuana would dramatically reduce the amount of illegal money being gained by international criminal gangs in the drug business. Fifth, marijuana being legal would mean that hemp could rise to become one of America's top agricultural crops and also be a possible bio-fuel to reduce carbon emissions. Sixth, marijuana is not a lethal drug and is actually safer that alcohol. Hauger states that "As a user myself, I have in the past six years never once found any sort of dependence to marijuana"(Hauger). Seventh, being able to tax marijuana sales would mean a surplus of revenues that could be spent to good use, like education. Eighth, marijuana can also be used for good, like being used as a medical prescribed pain reliever. Last, the users of marijuana believe it should be legal so much that they are not going to quit fighting the justice system until marijuana is made legal.

I think that everything stated in this article made a clear, convincing point. However, I do not believe the points made were strong enough to have the law changed. No matter what the restraints placed on anything, there will always be people who will still break the law. I think the statement that the law enforcement system is biased is completely an opinion. I believe that not every cop is going to be prejudice against minorities. Just because one cop somewhere made a prejudice arrest does not mean that all cops are racially biased. Although making marijuana legal wold theoretically reduce money the international gangs make, I think the gangs would find other ways to make the lost money back so it would not be a gain for Americans. Just because it is sager than alcohol does not mean it cannot still be abused. Since marijuana is a newer drug to most Americans than alcohol, I think people would abuse it more. It would bring in more revenues for schools but i think risking lives is not worth the extra money. And for the supporters of marijuana...well they should not rally with pitchforks and posters anytime soon, because I do not think marijuana will be legalized anytime soon. I do however think it is a positive to have it as a means of medication but that is it.

"The Top Ten Reasons Marijuana Should Be Legal." Alter Net(2007):n. pag. Web. 21 Apr 2010. .