Should Marijuana Be Decriminalized?

Paper Summary:

The paper discusses the significant economic effects of criminalization and prosecution of marijuana and questions whether the social benefits are worth the costs. The paper takes the position that the economic effect of continuing to criminalize marijuana doesn't make sense. The paper explains that since the costs are so hard to quantify there will likely never be a consensus on this issue. The paper also notes that what is indisputable is that the legal status of marijuana, whether it is criminalized or decriminalized, has a large economic impact on society.

From the Paper:

"In recent years many individuals - including some prominent economists - have advocated the decriminalization of marijuana. These proponents argue that the decriminalization of marijuana would, among other things, allow society to divert resources previously used on drug offenders to other more productive issues, reduce the profits of those who deal in illegal drugs, reduce drug related crime, and eliminate the overcrowding of the prison system. Advocates of legalization make an analogy between current day drug policies and Prohibition. During Prohibition, the United States devoted a large amount of resources to fighting the sale and consumption of alcohol, while bootleggers made large amounts of money illegally selling alcohol."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Schlosser, Eric (1994). Marijuana and the Law. The Atlantic Monthly, 274 (3), 84-86.
• Sharp, Ansel (2008). Economics of Social Issues. New York: McGraw- Hill/Irwin.
• The Bulletin of Cannabis Reform (2007). Lost Taxes and Other Costs of Marijuana Laws. John Gettman, Ph.D.

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