Marijuana a drug obtained from dried and crumpled parts of the cannabis sativa. Smoked by rolling in tobacco paper or placing in a pipe. It is consumed worldwide by an estimated 200,000,000 persons for pleasure, and escape from reality, or relaxation.
One argument made against the legalization of marijuana is that it damages not only the user but, innocent bystanders. This argument, like the one about protecting the user, has two parts. The first deals with physical injury and the second with spiritual health. The main physical threat to society is that users under the influence of a drug with crash a car or airplane, or lose control in some way and do harm. People who have recently smoked marijuana do show signs of clumsiness and forgetfulness. They should not operate machinery in this condition. One study estimates that alcohol plays a part in 55% of all fatal highway crashes. Marijuana may present similar risks, but at present there are no reliable data on its importance in accidents.
By lifting the ban on marijuana use and treating it like other drugs such as tobacco and alcohol, the nation would gain immediate and long-term benefits. This change in the law would greatly improve the quality of life for many people. Victims of glaucoma would find marijuana easily available. Thousands of dealers would be put out of business, and a secret part of the economy would come into the open. It is difficult to say whether this change would reduce crime because criminals would probably continue to sell other drugs. But it would have an impact on the amount of money flowing through criminal channels, and this might weaken organized crime. Lastly, the federal budget would benefit in two ways, Federal revenues would increase, because marijuana cigarettes would be taxed at the point of sale. The companies that make the cigarettes would also pay income taxes, adding to the federal coffers. Second, there would be a reduction in the amount spent on law enforcement efforts to apprehend and prosecute users and sellers of marijuana.
