Speech Example on Federally Legalizing Marijuana in United States

Introduction

I advocate for the legalization of marijuana because of its immense benefits in many facets of our lives. One of the essential benefits that will be accrued through the legalization of marijuana is that it would help the economy raises tax revenue for state and federal governments. It is worth noting that states which have already legalized marijuana are growing their economy because of increased revenues from the drug. According to DePietro (n.p.), the legalization of marijuana in California - the US's largest and most populated state - saw the State put in place a 15% tax on all marijuana products. The state further added more local taxes and fees. According to the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration (CDTFA), excise, cultivation, and sales tax revenues from marijuana industry totaled $74 million in the second quarter of 2018.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

These revenues help the state to deliver much-needed services to its citizens. It has also been projected that legalization of cannabis countrywide, in all 50 states, would generate a minimum of $132 billion in tax revenues in the next ten years in the United States (Katie). Specifically, it is forecasted that the federal government will collect $51.7 billion in sales tax from legal cannabis sales between 2017 and 2025 (Katie). It is also worth noting that legalization of marijuana is important because it is entirely new revenue for a business that currently remains illegal and incapable of being taxed, federally (Katie). The increased revenues help both the state and the federal governments to meet their budget deficits. Because of the increased revenues that are associated with legalization of cannabis, all states and the federal government should legalize cannabis.

Secondly, I support the state and federal legalization of marijuana because of its potential to add more jobs to our economy. Studies done in states that have legalized the drug have shown increased employment opportunities attributed to the legalization of the cannabis. For instance, the legal cannabis industry in Colorado injected over 18,000 new permanent jobs and yielded $2.4 billion in economic activity in 2015 (Ingraham). Also, a more recent report from the state of Colorado reveals that even though the cannabis industry accounts for a meagre percentage of the total employment in Colorado, job opportunities linked to the industry is among the state's fastest-growing ones. Data from the state of Colorado further show that employment attributed to cannabis industry rose from 0.1 percent of overall jobs in the state in 2014 to 0.7 percent of total employment in 2018. Direct jobs linked to marijuana legalization include construction and HVAC specialists, consulting, legal and advisory services, and security guards. Apart from direct employment, the marijuana industry has also provided indirect jobs (Ingraham).

I also support the legalization of cannabis because of the potential benefits on the law enforcement and the criminal justice system. For example, a study carried out by the Washington State University researchers has revealed that cannabis legalization has increased the effectiveness of the police (Makin). In Colorado and Washington, cannabis legalization was found to have hastened clearance rates for some crimes (Makin). Specifically, it was established that the clearance rates for marijuana possession crimes in both Colorado and Washington improved significantly following the legalization of marijuana. Moreover, legalization of marijuana in Colorado led to a 50 percent drop in arrest rates for marijuana possession in both states. Marijuana legalization further cuts law enforcement costs. For example, in Arizona, legalizing of marijuana has been estimated to save taxpayers at least $1.3 million in jail booking costs alone and to decrease police officer's time by two person-years (Stern). Legalization of cannabis has also freed up police resources. That is, it has freed police officers to concentrate on other crimes that inflict more loss, pain, and fear such as burglaries, child abuse, domestic violence, drunk driving, sexual assaults, robberies, stalking, and workplace and school shootings (CNBC).

Lastly, legalization of marijuana is important because of its potential to cure many diseases. One of the potential health benefits of cannabis is that it is capable of treating cancer-related symptoms. The health benefits of marijuana have been linked to the fact that it contains many biologically active components known as cannabinoids. The two most essential cannabinoids include cannabidiol (CBD) and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, commonly known as THC. Specifically, cannabis smoking has been found to be useful in the treatment of nausea and vomiting that result from cancer chemotherapy (Marijuana and Cancer).

Additionally, smoking of marijuana has been reported to help in the treatment of neuropathic pain. Also, in HIV patients, marijuana smoking has been established to aid in improving food intake. Moreover, recent research studies have revealed that THC and other cannabinoids are useful in slowing down the growth of some cancer cells as well as in the death of these cells. Animal studies have also shown that some cannabinoids may lead to slowed growth and decreased the spread of some types of cancer. Because of these health benefits, I support the legalization of marijuana (Marijuana and Cancer).

Works Cited

Aiello, Jeff Daniels, Chloe. California Says Pot Revenue Is Coming in 'Slower than Expected'. 10 May 2018, https://www.cnbc.com/2018/05/10/california-gov-brown-could-slash-cannabis-tax-revenue-forecasts.html.

California Department of Tax and Fee Administration. Cannabis Tax Revenue Increases In 2nd Quarter of 2018. https://cannabis.ca.gov/2018/08/15/cannabis-tax-revenue-increases-in-2nd-quarter-of-2018/. Accessed 24 Nov. 2018.

CNBC. Legalization Will Reduce Crime, Free Up Police Resources. 20 Apr. 2010, https://www.cnbc.com/id/36201668.

DePietro, Andrew. 'Here's How Much Money States Are Raking in from Legal Marijuana Sales'. Forbes, https://www.forbes.com/sites/andrewdepietro/2018/05/04/how-much-money-states-make-cannabis-sales/. Accessed 24 Nov. 2018.

Ingraham , Christopher. 'The Marijuana Industry Created More than 18,000 New Jobs in Colorado Last Year'. Washington Post, https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/10/27/the-marijuana-industry-created-over-18000-new-jobs-in-colorado-last-year/. Accessed 24 Nov. 2018.

Katie, Zezima. 'Study: Legal Marijuana Could Generate More than $132 Billion in Federal Tax Revenue and 1 Million Jobs'. Washington Post, https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/2018/01/10/study-legal-marijuana-could-generate-more-than-132-billion-in-federal-tax-revenue-and-1-million-jobs/. Accessed 24 Nov. 2018.

Makin, David. 'Positive Policing Changes after Cannabis Legalization: Clearance Rates Improve for Burglaries, Vehicle Thefts'. ScienceDaily, https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/07/180724110031.htm. Accessed 25 Nov. 2018.

Marijuana and Cancer. https://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects/complementary-and-alternative-medicine/marijuana-and-cancer.html. Accessed 25 Nov. 2018.

Stern, Ray. 'Legalizing Marijuana Could Save At Least $1.3M in Annual Jail Costs, Two Years of Officers' Time'. Phoenix New Times, 12 Oct. 2016, https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/legalizing-marijuana-could-save-at-least-13m-in-annual-jail-costs-two-years-of-officers-time-8732108.