Legalization of Marijuana, Effects on Economy

Legalization of Marijuana

Aaron Joelson

Broadview University

Legalization of Marijuana

Marijuana has had a bad name since 1937 when it was branded an illegal substance by the U.S. government (Campbell, Netflix, 2007). As times change, along with technology, we begin to realize that marijuana has value. Not only is marijuana a valued medical treatment for many painful diseases, has no known harmful effect on the human body, but it could also help our economy (Robson, 2009, p. 63). In this essay, the history of marijuana, whether or not marijuana is addictive and its medical necessity, the cost of keeping marijuana illegal, and the benefits to the United States of legalizing marijuana will be discussed.

Marijuana was first used as an herbal remedy 5000 years ago by the Chinese but can be traced back as far as 12,000 years (Mehling, 2011,May 25, p. 1). Marijuana was once the largest produced crop in the United States. It was the number one cash crop above cotton, wheat, and tobacco (Campbell, Netflix, 2007). The first law regarding marijuana was passed in 1619 ordering people to grow marijuana, in Jamestown colony, Virginia. Until 1883, marijuana was the largest crop in the world. In those days, it was used to produce rope, fabric, lighting oil, and paper. When the Declaration of Independence was written, both copies were written on paper made from marijuana. Paper made from marijuana is of higher quality than paper made from trees. This is one of the reasons the Declaration of Independence in still in such good condition. Benjamin Franklin opened one of the United States first paper mills using marijuana. Once marijuana was outlawed in 1937, it ruined one of the United States best resources and money makers (Campbell, Netflix, 2007). Today, marijuana could be used to produce over 5,000 different types of textiles from its fiber and 25,000 different products from its cellulose. These products would range from dynamite to cellophane. The...