The question of whether to legalize marijuana or not in America has continued to draw mixed reactions from various people, while some agree, other disagree. Though Congress passed a law in 1937 to outlaw smoking and possession of marijuana in America, millions of America still smokes marijuana. There are a number of reasons that marijuana smokers’ site as to why they continue to smoke marijuana. Yet, the government when outlawing marijuana also gave its own reasons, but it seems to have failed. As observed by Gettman despite of a lot of efforts to eradicate domestic marijuana, “production of marijuana has been on a steady increase over time. Since outlawing marijuana has not achieved its desired objectives, time has come to change this law. This research paper thus seeks to review this issue by proposing that marijuana should be legalized.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Economic benefits
3. Reduces criminal activities
4. Legalizing marijuana will improve civil rights
5. Conclusion
Objectives and Topics
This research paper examines the ongoing debate surrounding the legalization of marijuana in the United States. It evaluates the current prohibitionist approach, arguing that the existing laws fail to achieve their objectives and instead generate significant social and economic costs. The central objective is to demonstrate that legalizing marijuana would provide substantial benefits to society, including economic growth through taxation and the advancement of civil rights.
- Economic advantages of marijuana taxation and revenue generation.
- Reduction of criminal activities and the weakening of illicit cartels.
- Analysis of racial disparities and social injustices within current drug law enforcement.
- The role of prohibition in wasting valuable human resources and judicial assets.
Excerpt from the Book
Legalizing marijuana will improve civil rights
In study carried out by Messerli it was established that police are most probably to “forgive” a person in smoking marijuana is that person is a white college student. However, the student is black; the chances of being “forgiven” are slim. Statistics indicate that arrests of use of marijuana are highly disproportionate among races, and show that minorities groups smoke marijuana a lot. Though, black Americans comprise 13% of the total American population and about 15% of the marijuana smokers, they constitute 26% of total arrests made. Hispanics comprise of a high number of arrests, in spite of being 15% of the total population, they comprise of more than 28% of total arrests. Thus, about 28% of marijuana smokers comprises of 50% arrests made, while about 70% of marijuana smokers (white) comprise of less than 50% of arrests made.
This outlines the disproportionate of arrests, made, in many cases the punishment given are as well disproportionate (Messerli).
As Morgan explains, racism was partial another reason to illegalize marijuana, Morgan points out that in a 1934 newspaper editorial, it stated that marijuana made black people to feel same as white people, and to admire white women. Thus, the decision to ban marijuana was driven by racist panic, and a lot of people have asserted that years of racially hysterical enforcement that has followed the ban are not completely coincidental. As pointed out by Morgan, if or not these laws were meant to serve as a tool of racial suppression, they have carried out this role so well. And when some people are treated unfairly by some laws then, it becomes a civil rights concern.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: Provides an overview of the history of marijuana prohibition in America and states the paper's thesis that legalization is necessary due to the failure of current laws.
Economic benefits: Explains how legalizing and taxing marijuana could generate billions in government revenue and reduce the fiscal burden of law enforcement and incarceration.
Reduces criminal activities: Discusses how the current legal status of marijuana fuels the growth of dangerous organized crime groups and cartels.
Legalizing marijuana will improve civil rights: Examines the racially disproportionate nature of drug arrests and suggests that prohibition has served as a tool for systemic inequality.
Conclusion: Synthesizes the arguments for legalization, concluding that a shift in policy would benefit the economy, improve security, and restore civil liberties.
Keywords
Marijuana, Legalization, Economic Benefits, Taxation, Criminal Activities, Drug Cartels, Civil Rights, Racial Disparity, Law Enforcement, Prohibition, Public Policy, Social Justice, Crime Reduction, Revenue, American Drug Policy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core argument presented in this paper?
The paper argues that the prohibition of marijuana in America has been largely ineffective and that legalizing the substance would offer significant economic and social advantages.
What are the primary themes discussed?
The primary themes include the economic potential of taxation, the reduction of organized crime, and the role of drug laws in perpetuating racial inequality and civil rights violations.
What is the research goal of this paper?
The goal is to provide a comprehensive review of the current legal status of marijuana and advocate for a policy change toward legalization.
Which methodology does the author employ?
The author uses a qualitative review of existing literature, statistical data from criminal justice agencies, and expert perspectives to support the argument for reform.
What topics are covered in the main body?
The main body covers the economic benefits of taxation, the link between illegal status and criminal operations, and the discriminatory impact of current drug law enforcement on minority communities.
Which keywords define this work?
Key terms include Marijuana, Legalization, Economic Benefits, Civil Rights, Racial Disparity, and Drug Policy.
How does the paper link marijuana to organized crime?
The author argues that because marijuana is illegal, its distribution remains in the hands of wealthy and dangerous criminal cartels, which utilize these profits to sustain their illegal activities.
What does the author suggest regarding racial disparities?
The author highlights statistics showing that minority groups, particularly Black and Hispanic Americans, are disproportionately arrested for marijuana offenses despite similar usage rates among White populations, suggesting the current laws are enforced in a racially biased manner.
What specific economic outcome does the paper predict?
The paper suggests that by taxing marijuana, the government could collect billions of dollars in revenue while simultaneously saving money currently spent on arrests, court proceedings, and incarceration.
- Quote paper
- Ellen Garcia (Author), 2013, Legalization of Marijuana in the US, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/271549
