Response to a classmates editorial

I completely agree with you on this. I think that marijuana should be legalized. I am not someone who uses marijuana, but I have done research and I feel that the benefits we could receive highly out way any problems that would arise from this.
   First off, one of the benefits would be the increase in money the country could make off of it. After doing some studies and using multiple different variables, studies have shown that the marijuana industry makes anywhere from $1,000,000,000 to $109,000,000,000. If the government would take this substance and regulate it like they would alcohol or cigarettes, they could make a lot of money on the taxes that they could impose on it, helping the country with the current debt we are in.
   Secondly, industries could use the hemp material that you get from marijuana to make cheaper paper, clothing and ropes. It would help with the environment because it is easier to grow, so we could start cutting down less of our precious trees that take years and years to grow back.
   Also, there have been studies that show that marijuana has many health and medical benefits. There are already multiple states that allow marijuana for medical use only. I feel that if we have found something that can help people with many medical issues, why would we try and ban it.
   Finally, it has been shown that marijuana is less dangerous then alcohol and cigarettes. There has never been a case where a person has died from overdose with marijuana. And marijuana does not affect your health like a cigarette does. People also feel it is more dangerous because it causes crime rates to go up, when really there are very few cases of crime where marijuana was involved.

http://www.uri.edu/personal/atro6990

http://www.cnbc.com/id/36179677/How_Big_Is_The_Marijuana_Market
 
Me, the People