Recreational Use of Marijuana

Marijuana has always had a negative connotation associated with its name. For years, people have thought of Marijuana as a “lazy” drug but in recent years Marijuana has become a staple item in many state economies. As societal norms shift, and medical research continues to advance, a reevaluation of the “harm” caused by marijuana is long overdue. So, is it right to legalize marijuana? Let’s take a look at the facts and expert opinions to come to a conclusion.
There are many arguments for and against the recreational use of marijuana but the main pros and cons can be broken down into three points
Pros: The first pro of marijuana is that it has boosted many economies since it’s legalization. For example, in Colorado, the gross domestic product (GDP), a major indicator of economic growth, increased 4% perennially from 2015-2018 and an even more significantly from 2019-present. Another pro is that traffic deaths and arrests for DUI’s do not increase and may even decrease when marijuana is legalized. In states that have already legalized marijuana, traffic deaths have dropped on average by 11%. Studies also show that drivers under the influence of marijuana are less likely to take risks on the road than drunk drivers and driving may actually improve for some. Finally, the last pro is that marijuana is way less destructive than tobacco or alcohol which is legal in most states. Tobacco has proven to be hazardous when smoked but instead of classifying tobacco as a harmful drug, it is still sold at local convenience stores for a much higher price. Alcohol has also been proven to completely destroy your liver over time and is a cause for many illnesses in middle aged adults but is still sold on almost every corner of the U.S.