Legalizing Marijuana: Benefits for the Economy, Tax-payers, and Health - Research Paper

Introduction

The Thesis Statement of this research paper is built from the fact that most researches have shown the use of marijuana for recreational and medicinal purposes should be federally legalized as it can increase a country's tax revenue, reduce the presence of racial discrimination, and allow more medical research. When marijuana use is authorized, the citizens' tax, which is used to prohibit its use, will be saved and diverted to development. Also, as it has been proved to be suitable for medicinal purposes, doctors will get be in a proper position to advise patients properly on its use.

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Hajizadeh, M. (2016). Legalizing and regulating marijuana in Canada: a review of potential economic, social, and health impacts. International journal of health policy and management, 5(8), 453

In summary, the article examines the effects of legalizing marijuana on the economic, social, and health settings in Canada, where real-life data were collected from Colorado, which is a legalized State. From the article, marijuana is one of the most utilized substances that is illicit in Canada because of the growing acceptance of its recreational use by the public. In the year 2016, the liberal government that was elected that time announced the introduction of legislation in 2017 to regulate and legalize the use of marijuana. The author showed the benefits of legalizing marijuana are an increase in taxes because marijuana products will be taxed; hence, the government will be able to save the tax dollars from citizens who are used in enforcing the prohibition of marijuana. When marijuana is legalized, the criminal element, which comes from the cannabis market and the Canadian black market of marijuana, will be reduced with its societal consequences being eliminated. The author suggested that Canada should take a look at the United States, where its States such as Alaska, Colorado, Washington, and Oregon have legalized the use of marijuana for recreational purposes.

The author of this article is Hajizadeh M., who is at Dalhouse University situated at Halifax in Canada and is a member of the School of Health Administration. Hence, the author can explain in detail the legalization of marijuana, and the results described in the article is of no doubt.

The article is relevant to the chosen topic on the legalization of cannabis as it provides data relating to the increase in tax revenue from marijuana legalization and saving of citizens taxes, which were initially used to prohibit the use of marijuana. It refers to the benefits seen in the United States by looking at some of the States that have legalized marijuana.

Krishna, M. (2019). The economic benefits of legalizing weed. Investopedia. Retrieved.

In summary, the article explicitly examines some of the economic benefits accrued to the legalization of marijuana by looking at the benefits that the U.S States have got since they legalized. It addresses the motivation effect of money on the process of legalizing cannabis. The author illustrated that more States in the U.S are legalizing marijuana, and the results have been felt to be tremendous. The researcher found that more than half of the States in the U.S have drafted laws on medical marijuana, and nine of them legalized a certain quantity for recreational purposes. The economic impact of marijuana legalization, as shown by the author, is a big bush for economies for the federal government and States through positive effects on income and jobs, tax revenue, and investment opportunities.

The credibility of the article is from the author's experience. Krishna has business journalism experience of over ten years, and currently, she writes and, at the same time, edits various stories on finance, business, and the marijuana industry.

The article is relevant as it provides information on the benefits of marijuana legalization through an increase in job creation and income, more investment opportunities, and an increase in tax revenue, which is seen in the example of Colorado in the year 2015, which recorded positive improvements in its economy.

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (2017). Health and Medicine Division, Board on Population Health and Public Health Practice, Committee on the Health Effects of Marijuana: an evidence review and research agenda. The health effects of cannabis and cannabinoids: the current state of evidence and recommendations for research. The health effects of cannabis and cannabinoids: The current state of evidence and recommendations for research.

In summary, this article focuses on the absence of funding because of schedule one status of marijuana, the barriers to getting the quantity, quality, and the correct type of cannabis required for studies involving both short term and long term. Also, the policy changes in legalization cannabis are addressed concerning the District of Columbia and 25 States who have legalized marijuana during the past 20 years. The impacts of the policy changes on the perceived risk levels and use patterns of marijuana are analyzed. The article shows a positive relationship between cannabis legalization and health conditions.

The credibility of the article is derived from an academic book that was reviewed before it was published. There is a group of experts involved in data collection to produce an evidence-based consensus.

The relevance of the article is from its ability to provide the extensive knowledge needed to understand better the lack of materials and funding to carry out extensive research on marijuana legalization. It is related to the topic being addressed as the process of legalizing marijuana requires detailed data on its benefits and limitations for legislatures to consider its legalization and generation of regulations.

Press Release. (2019, November 20). House Judiciary Passes MORE Act to Decriminalize Marijuana at Federal Level

In summary, the article a public press release which focuses on the MORE Act, which represents a marijuana reform bill that is more comprehensive ever passed by the United States Congress. The Act aimed to correct drug policies that have failed, which have disproportionally affected low-income communities through decriminalizing cannabis at the federal level. It looks at investing in the local communities and reassessing convictions of marijuana. The articles states that it was a mistake to criminalize marijuana, and laws made at the federal level have not kept resulted in the change needed despite the effort made by States to legalize marijuana. Generally, the press release is the process of legalizing marijuana at the State level.

The credibility of the source is its legality as a document that is presented by the Congress representatives to the House of the judiciary, and it will be subjected to voting by the House for its validation; hence, it is a reliable source.

The relevance of the article is derived from its devastating ability to address injustices attached to marijuana and show the effort of the federal government to decriminalize marijuana for medicinal and economic benefits and encourage the growth of marijuana industry. It is in line with the research topic we are addressing, which is on the federal legalization of cannabis. The article provides detailed information on how the MORE Act will assist by earlier convictions of cannabis use.

Ghandnoosh, N. (2014). Race and punishment: racial perceptions of crime and support for punitive policies. Sentencing Project.

In summary, the article examines the key drivers of racial perception of crime and the outcomes of criminal justice in the United States. The results of the research are that factors that contribute to selectivity and sovereignty of punishment on the U.S are public concern on racial and crime differences in crime rates. Through a two-decade synthesis, it was identified that the biased and harsh criminal justice had been bolstered by skewed racial crime perceptions, especially the behavior where white Americans strongly associate crimes with racial minorities. It was concluded that whites in Americans are more punitive compared to black people; white Americans misjudge the sins omitted by Latinos and African Americans. Media fuels racial crime perception when they cover crimes.

The credibility of the article is from its source, Nagzol Ghandnooh is a doctor who carries out researches on policies concerning criminal justice, and several newspaper outlets have featured the effort she puts on researches. Also, after doing research, she usually presents her work to audiences who are interested.

The relevance of the article is on the focus it is kept on criminal justice and the knowledge it will disseminate concerning the racial perception of crimes. It is also relevant as it provides research on biases on a race against people of minority groups. Actual vs. perception crime rates are presented by the study, which is made by both whites and minorities. Concerning the topic under consideration, this article is of significant use as any biased perception on violation of marijuana use will be well known through the findings of this research and the actors of criminal justice will be able to understand better any biasness in the cases involving marijuana which are violated by different individuals.

King, R. S., & Mauer, M. (2002). Distorted priorities: Drug offenders in state prisons. Sentencing Project.

In summary, the researchers in this article analyze data collected from the inmate survey to know the drug offenders who are in State prisons. The finding of the research is the presence of significant potential for rehabilitating drug offenders instead of jailing them. The study addresses policies and programs that offer non-punitive and viable options, now that there is a more significant concern on harm caused by the abuse of drugs in society. Communities and policymakers are served by extensive national dialogue on how the national drug policy is redirected in more constructive ways.

The source of the research is credible as Mac Mauer is a sentencing policy and field of criminology experts who have made a tremendous effort in publishing several reports and articles. Also, Nagzol Ghandnooh is a doctor who carries out researches on policies concerning criminal justice, and several newspaper outlets have featured the effort she puts on researches. Also, after doing research, she usually presents her work to audiences who are interested.

The article is relevant as it provides data on both whites and minority drug offenders who are in State prison, especially offenders related to marijuana. The research will provide more insight into marijuana offenders in State prisons and enable them through recommendations of the study to undergo rehabilitation. In connection with the topic we are dealing with, this research is relevant through its ability to show the number of drug offenders convicted in State prisons due to marijuana-related crimes. Also, the federal sentencing practice and policy are analyzed by the research through observing at mandatory sentencing laws set at the national level. The study provides an alternative option that is substituted for prison, one of them being counseling and treatment.

Mauer, M., & Ghandnoosh, N. (2014). Fewer prisoners, less crime: A tale of three states. Policy Brief, The Sentencing Project.

In summary, the article is a policy brief that examines the efforts made by three States of the United States to reduce the population of prisoners. The findings from the submission are that the New Jersey and Ne York reduced prison population between 1999 to 2012 by 26 percent, where California reduced its population of prisoners by 23 percent. The decision by the three States California, New Je...