As I have just finished grading our latest position paper (the one that has legalization of marijuana as an optional position) I found the vast majority of students taking the position that marijuana should be legalized. This is three semesters in a row (five classes) that I have found this to be the case (each of my classes ranging from 80% to 100% pro legalization). So I plan on opening our next class with the question of "If so many people think this way, why is it still illegal?". One answer is that this is a political dilemma, not so much an economic one.
Talk about a timely piece in our Inquirer today by a political writer to put the politics into perspective. The money quote:
Update: I cant get over how timely this topic is. Here is an article
from Rolling Stone(The quote is from the first link)
So much of the marijuana debate used to be about morality; now it's mostly about economics and practicality - which is why New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island are also floating measures to legalize and tax; why similar voter referendums are in the works in Washington state and Oregon; why 14 states (including, most recently, New Jersey) have legalized medical marijuana, and why even Pennsylvania, hardly a pacesetting state, is weighing the sanction of medical pot, complete with 6 percent sales tax
Abigail Cohn-
ReplyDeleteThe Government may be afraid of how people will act if they legalize marijuana. Political figures seem afraid to support legalizing marijuana because they do not want to be seen as supporting something so controversial. I think in the long run, we will see many states legalizing the recreational use of marijuana.
i think politicians don't consider legalizing it because they don't consider it a serious option. also not nearly as many smoke marijuana as they do drink, so prohibition of alcohol was much worse in terms of the masses breaking the law. the lack of change might be due to this and legislators getting cold feet when it comes to the idea of the drug finally being legalized
ReplyDeleteI think legalizing marijuana is a huge moral issue and as we discussed in class on Monday it is the older generation that is holding us back from legalizing it. I think the fact that marijuana is labeled a "drug" is what scares people. The word drug I feel puts a bad taste in peoples mouth especially people of the older generation. They can't fathom the idea of legalizing a drug. Economy wise I think it would be a really smart move. I think politicians are afraid to legalize marijuana because it has been such a controversial issue and they don't want to risk losing their supporters.
ReplyDeleteI think that legislators are afraid of legalizing marijuana because they are afraid of the effects it will cause in the aftermath. If they can control the use of it, the black market under the tax system, or even the negative health effects that could up rise. They see the term drug and they are immediately turned off because they have been taught that all drugs are bad. But they don't realize that alcohol is a drug. Tobacco is a drug. Marijuana is no different than these other substances and our generation sees that much more clearly. We view marijuana like the older generation viewed cigarettes. Slowly though I think people are starting to realize that like it's counterpart, alcohol, marijuana is slowly becoming legalized and while a danger will always be associated with it, it in fact will one day be legal throughout the country.
ReplyDeleteI think that legislators are afraid of legalizing marijuana because they are afraid of the effects it will cause in the aftermath. If they can control the use of it, the black market under the tax system, or even the negative health effects that could up rise. They see the term drug and they are immediately turned off because they have been taught that all drugs are bad. But they don't realize that alcohol is a drug. Tobacco is a drug. Marijuana is no different than these other substances and our generation sees that much more clearly. We view marijuana like the older generation viewed cigarettes. Slowly though I think people are starting to realize that like it's counterpart, alcohol, marijuana is slowly becoming legalized and while a danger will always be associated with it, it in fact will one day be legal throughout the country.
ReplyDeleteThe United States has the idea that all drugs are bad. Marijuana has been said to be the gateway drugs into more hardcore drugs. People seem to realize that marijauna is just as dangerous as alcohol and less addictive in many cases. With the legalization and taxation of marijuana the economy as a whole will benefit greatly including the federal government themselves.
ReplyDeleteBecca Keener
ReplyDeleteThe American Economy 10-10:50
This issue is one with depth. It involves morality, economics, and politics. I think that is why the issue has not been faced head on yet and ideas are still just floating around without action. It is so controversial that politicians are afraid to support legalizing marijuana. They want re-elected and do not want to jeopardize their chances by making such a bold statement. Society is also very timid to even discuss this issue. It is such a touchy subject, somewhat like the issue of abortion. There are some people that support legalizing marijuana, but there are also plenty of people in this country who don't. As for the economy, legalizing the drug would rake in some great profits, but is it worth it. Some say yes, others: no. Who even knows what would happen to the price of marijuanna if it were legalized. It could be mass produced freely and without the illegal factor, the price could go down a lot. Without the risk attached to marijuana, it would not need to be so expensive. Taxing it would still bring in money that otherwise would not be, no arguement there, but is it worth it. I think everyone needs to think about the possible effects legalizing marijuana could have on society.
I think that the legalization of Marijuana would be very good for the economy. The government could put a sin tax on it and make a lot of money off of it. But the distribution of is would be an issue. How would they sell it? Would it be distributed like cigarettes or would they sell it like chewing tobacco? Marjuania has been proven to be helpful with medical conditions and some people use it to relax them after a long day of work just like having a beer.
ReplyDeleteThe United States already has a huge market for drugs and in my opinion, it's a waste. Maybe it's better for the economy but I think that drugs, whether they are currently prescription, over the counter, or illegal, are pointless. I think that drugs interfere with the general course of life and there are natural ways to heal or relax or whatever it is that people are trying to do when they use drugs. It's definitely a moral debate. I think that legalizing it makes it look more beneficial than the natural process and I can't imagine that it is. The U.S. is too dependent on drugs. A lot of people are unwilling to accept the laws of nature. People around the world are convinced that they are "stronger" than nature, or that they can come up with a better solution to the world's problems but I think nature will ultimately prevail.
ReplyDeleteLegalizing Marijuana on a federal level would be ideal for our economy, considering it could potentially raise 6 billion dollars for the US. Unfortunately it is unlikely that that will happen for a long time due to those who are more concerned with morality than the economic benefits. Hopefully California can take the plunge and be a model for other states in " regulating" Marijuana. Although it is true that federal law has hold over state law, it is an important factor that the Obama Administration does not intend on making a large deal out of the issue. Over the past 60 years there has been a growing support for the legalization of this drug and it will continue until it can actually be accomplished.
ReplyDeleteI am completely for legalization based on the economic benefits it would have. But to address the issue of why it is not yet legal, I have a few ideas that may answer it. When marijuana was made illegal there was tons of negative propaganda against marijuana usage such as the Reefer Madness campaign. Since then marijuana has always had a negative connotation in our society. It is often associated with "hippies", burn outs and lack of success. As time passes we slowly see marijuana move back into popular culture and recreational usage increases. Through each generation the negative connotation fades and is replaced with an acceptance. Thats why i feel that recently there has been numerous discussions on statewide legalization. However i feel the federal government as well as federal politicians don't support it because it is risky to their election and re-election.
ReplyDeleteI feel that legalizing marijuana will only help out our economy. Right now it is only a moral issue. All of the people that are in power today grew up in a time where marijuana was associated with druggies and hippies and that it is a stepping stone to harder more dangerous drugs. Just like alcohol it is a drug yet beer is legal. In the attached article it said a Harvard economist did a report on how much money a possible sin tax could rake in if marijuana were to be legalized. He concluded that nationwide the plant would yield at least $6 billion in revenue if it taxed at rates comparable to alcohol and tobacco. Hopefully one day we will realize just how much this plant could help out the economy by legalizing it.
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