Legalizing Marijuana

Paper Summary:

In this article, the writer notes that marijuana is one of the most common drugs available today. The writer points out that both the use and possession of marijuana are illegal, but the trade in this substance continues to flourish. This paper argues that law enforcement efforts to contain the marijuana trade are futile and wasteful. The writer maintains that this effort only serves to further tax jails and court systems that are already strained, whereas these resources could be allotted towards greater law enforcement, public safety programs, and medical research. The writer concludes that legalizing marijuana has tremendous social, financial and safety-related values for the general community and therefore the harsh laws against marijuana possession should be revised.

From the Paper:

"In 2003 alone, state and federal courts processed an estimated one million marijuana convictions. This figure does not even include the marijuana convictions that are handled by lower or municipal courts. Failing to legalize the possession of marijuana therefore further taxes the corrections system and slows down the workings of judicial courts."
"The legalization of marijuana would also free up valuable law enforcement resources, so that police could address other, more dangerous crimes. In his analysis of the costs of enforcing marijuana laws, Harvard economist Jeffrey Miron estimates that the taxpayers spend $7.7 billion annually (Lazarus 2005). This figure could certainly be allotted towards other vital activities, such as the training and recruitment of more police officers. A recent FBI study, for example, notes that violent crime has increased 28 percent in 2005."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Bailey, Eric. 2006. "Report stresses marijuana's value as top U.S. cash crop." The Los Angeles Times. December 22: A26.
• Federal Bureau of Investigation. 2005. Crime in the United States. Washington: Department of Justice.
• Fitzgerald, Robin. 2007. "Homicides on the rise: Gulfport saw most dramatic increase." Knight Ridder Tribune Business News January 1: 1.
• Lazarus, David. 2005. "The case for legal pot use." San Francisco Chronicle. November 26: J1.

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