What if Marijuana Became Legal
This November, California voters will decide whether to legalize marijuana. Polls indicate it will pass.
The FBI reports that more than 850,000 people were arrested on pot charges last year, 90 percent of them for possession. In the US, we spend between $10 billion and $15 billion enforcing these laws.
Colorado is in the difficult stage of defining legal medical marijuana use. Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter signed two bills into law in early June that are designed to more strictly regulate the state's medical marijuana industry.
Local governments will now have the option of banning dispensaries in their communities, and doctors who recommend marijuana must demonstrate that they actually examined their patients and have a bona fide doctor-patient relationship. The second law establishes 60 pages of new regulations for dispensaries.
Almost every Denver neighborhood has a dispensary -- and many half several. And the part of the new law that medical marijuana advocates seem most worried about allows local governments -- or voters through a local initiative -- to ban dispensaries and large growing operations altogether. Already, several city councils have started the process of banning dispensaries. Among them -- the ski resort town of Vail.
So what would happen if pot became legal? Legal experts offer the following as probable outcomes:
Drug arrests would drop and prison space would open for violent offenders. There were more than 800,000 pot-related arrests in 2008, if marijuana were legalized, these drug-related arrests would drop immensely, freeing up jail space and allowing police to focus on violent crimes.
Fewer kids would try marijuana. It may be counter-intuitive, but legalizing marijuana for adults could lead to less pot use by kids. Studies have shown that even though pot is currently illegal, kids find it more easily than beer and cigarettes. Legalizing marijuana would put street dealers out of business who don't care about the age of their customers.
Street violence would drop. If pot were legal, buyers and sellers could resolve their business disputes just like everyone else -- in court.
State governments would have a lot more money. If pot were legal, state governments could heavily tax it just like alcohol and tobacco, creating a new stream of revenue. For example, estimates show California could rake in over $1 billion per year in pot taxes. What's more, according to The Budgetary Effects of Marijuana Prohibition, taxpayers are spending about $14 billion each year on the war against marijuana. That's money that would be saved if marijuana were legal.
Accidents and emergency room visits may increase. Although marijuana doesn't conjure up images of wife beating and recklessness like alcohol, it does impair motor skills and judgment, which could lead to more accidents.
The price of marijuana would drop and corporations would profit. In areas where medical marijuana is legal, the increased supply has already caused prices to plummet
Mexican drug cartels would be crippled. Marijuana accounts for as much as half of Mexican drug cartel revenue, which means legalizing it would cripple their business.