Also, legalizing marijuana would give the United States Government the ability to tax the drug and put this much needed money into much more important areas. The amount of money the government would obtain by legalizing it through taxes in addition to the money they would save by not having to spend trying to stop the trafficking is overwhelming. Then, the United States Government would be able to put this money into much more productive areas such as drug education and drug treatment facilities. Even more important though, the government would have the ability to regulate marijuana. "In 1995 average .
THC (potency) content ranged from 3.73 percent to 8.61 percent with THC contents greater than 20 percent selectively available."(Strossen) If the government could regulate the potency in marijuana the effects could be better controlled. In fact, if the government legalized marijuana it would have more control over it than it does right now.
Scientifically, it has been proven marijuana has medical advantages to certain illnesses. Marijuana does not cure any known diseases but it does ease the pain of certain handicaps such as arthritis and glaucoma. In fact, many states have followed the lead in California to start using marijuana to treat patients. "Colorado and Nevada both approved constitutional amendments legalizing medical marijuana. In Nevada, which won in 1998 but needed to pass again to become law, got 65% of the vote. Colorado's amendment, wrongly bumped off the ballot in 1998, won more narrowly, with 54%.".
(Levine 59) Also because of the scientific research, new bills passed in California allowed treatment instead of jail for first and second-time non-violent offenders. .
Many people who oppose legalization of marijuana would say that it is a gateway drug and that users would soon be consuming other more dangerous drugs such as: LSD, Heroin, and Cocaine. Studies have shown just that, "and in fact according to the U.