Medical marijuana is legal in half of the states whether it is used for medical or recreational use. One of the first states to legalize it for medical use was California in 1996. Currently, there are 29 states and the District of Columbia that have legalized it for medical use for people ages 21 and older, while 15 states have decriminalized it or still have it illegal. The 29 states that have legalized marijuana are generating billions of dollars in tax revenue. For instance, in Colorado, marijuana brings in about $30 million in taxable revenue each month (Zeeshanaleem). Due to the advantages that legalization can bring, medical marijuana should be legal because it can help generate a job market for people, increase tax revenue, and help people with medical issues.
Medical Benefits of Marijuana
One significant benefit of medical marijuana is its medicinal use. Researchers believe that two chemicals in marijuana have medicinal applications: cannabidiol (CBD), which impacts the brain without causing a high, and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which relieves pain. Marijuana has been medically legal in 29 states and the District of Columbia, while 15 other states have legalized the use of extracts mainly containing cannabidiol, which helps treat epilepsy (Kwon). Beyond epilepsy, marijuana can help with various health issues such as glaucoma. According to Jennifer Loria and Kevin Welsh in their article “23 Health Benefits of Marijuana,” THC can slow down the progression of Alzheimer’s by blocking the enzyme in the brain that forms amyloid plaques, which kill brain cells and cause Alzheimer’s. Additionally, marijuana alleviates the pain of multiple sclerosis and soothes muscle spasms. Patients have responded to marijuana in pain treatments; after a few days, they experienced less pain as THC binds to nerves and muscles to relieve pain. Furthermore, it can help with nausea from chemotherapy and stimulate appetite (Loria).
According to the American Cancer Society, marijuana affects cancer by treating nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy. Studies indicate that THC and CBD can slow down or even kill cancer cells (“Marijuana and Cancer”). There are two CBD drugs approved in the US for medical use: Marinol and Cesamet, both containing THC and taken orally to treat nausea and vomiting.
Economic Benefits through Increased Tax Revenue
Another benefit of legalizing marijuana is the potential increase in tax revenue. According to Caroline Fairchild in her article “Legalizing Marijuana Would Save Money and Generate Tax Revenue,” a 2010 study estimated that legalizing marijuana could generate $8.7 billion in federal and state tax revenue annually. In Colorado, millions of dollars are collected from marijuana tax collections each year. Legalization would save government resources currently devoted to arresting, prosecuting, and incarcerating marijuana consumers and producers. Generally, tax rates on marijuana are similar to those on alcohol and tobacco, generating $6.2 billion in tax revenue. If taxed like other goods, it would create about $2.4 billion in tax revenue (Miron).
Job Creation and Economic Stimulation
Legalizing medical marijuana could also create more jobs. Job growth could expand significantly if states legalized weed dispensaries and if people left the black market. According to the Marijuana Business Daily, legal businesses employed about 100,000-150,000 workers in January 2017, including growers, scientists, and dispensary employees. Alice Truong, in her article “Yelp of Weed: Leafly and Other Marijuana Startups Hope To Gain As Feds Ease Up on Pot,” discusses new services like “Yelp of Weed” and “Uber for pot,” where customers can get weed delivered and pay online using PayPal, Bitcoin, and other mobile payments. In California, there were 43,473 full-time jobs, in Colorado 23,407, and in Washington 22,953 full-time jobs, leading the country in marijuana-related job creation (Norml). The market for legal cannabis is estimated to grow at an annual rate of 17%.
Addressing Common Concerns and Counterarguments
However, some argue that marijuana should not be legal because they believe it is a gateway drug for most teens. They claim that adolescent marijuana use can lead to the use of harder drugs in the future. According to the CNBC article “Why We Should Not Legalize Marijuana,” marijuana can cause other issues such as addiction to gambling. If medical marijuana were legal, the number of marijuana users would increase drastically. CNBC states that there are about 15.2 million current marijuana users compared to 129 million alcohol users.
Despite these concerns, it is essential to consider that marijuana has less harmful effects compared to legal substances like alcohol and tobacco. Moreover, regulating marijuana can reduce its availability on the black market, making it more difficult for minors to obtain. Education and proper regulation can mitigate the potential risks associated with legalization.
Academic Insights and Ethical Considerations
From an academic perspective, the debate over the legalization of marijuana involves various ethical and economic considerations. Utilitarian ethics, which focuses on the greatest good for the greatest number, supports legalization due to the substantial health benefits and economic gains. John Stuart Mill’s harm principle, which suggests that individuals should be free to act as they wish unless their actions harm others, can also be applied here. Legalizing marijuana aligns with this principle as it primarily affects the individual user and offers significant societal benefits.
Economic theories, such as Keynesian economics, emphasize the importance of government intervention to stimulate demand and create jobs. Legalizing marijuana fits within this framework by creating new industries and job opportunities, thus boosting the economy. Additionally, the revenue generated from marijuana taxes can fund public services and infrastructure, further contributing to economic growth.
Conclusion
In conclusion, legalizing marijuana for medical use could benefit people in many ways by helping with medical issues, increasing tax revenue, and boosting job growth throughout the US. Marijuana generates more tax revenue than alcohol and tobacco, amounting to $6.2 billion by keeping people out of jail and out of the black market. It can also keep criminals out of business and contribute to a regulated, safer market. The medical advantages of marijuana are significant, including the potential to slow down and even kill some cancer cells. Considering the economic, medical, and ethical benefits, legalizing medical marijuana is a logical and beneficial step forward.