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[Debate/토론] (PC-020) Should Recreational Marijuana Be Legal?
최고관리자  |  18-12-13 22:44
More than half of US adults, over 128 million people, have tried marijuana, despite it being an illegal drug under federal law. Nearly 600,000 Americans are arrested for marijuana possession annually – more than one person per minute. Public support for legalizing marijuana went from 12% in 1969 to 66% today. Starting with Colorado and Washington in 2012, recreational marijuana, also known as adult-use marijuana, has been legalized by ten states and DC. 

Proponents of legalizing recreational marijuana say it will add billions to the economy, create hundreds of thousands of jobs, free up scarce police resources, and stop the huge racial disparities in marijuana enforcement. They contend that regulating marijuana will lower street crime, take business away from the drug cartels, and make marijuana use safer through required testing, labeling, and child-proof packaging. They say marijuana is less harmful than alcohol, and that adults should have a right to use it if they wish. 

Opponents of legalizing recreational marijuana say it will increase teen use and lead to more medical emergencies including traffic deaths from driving while high. They contend that revenue from legalization falls far short of the costs in increased hospital visits, addiction treatment, environmental damage, crime, workplace accidents, and lost productivity. They say that marijuana use harms the user physically and mentally, and that its use should be strongly discouraged, not legalized.

Pros

1. Marijuana legalization boosts the economy.

2. Legalizing marijuana results in decreased teen marijuana use. 

3. Traffic deaths and arrests for DUIs do not increase, and may decrease, when marijuana is legalized. 

4. Legal marijuana is regulated for consumer safety.

5. Legalization of marijuana is phasing out black markets and taking money away from drug cartels, organized crime, and street gangs.

6. The enforcement of marijuana prohibition is racist because people of color are disproportionately impacted.

7. Legalizing marijuana would end the costly enforcement of marijuana laws and free up police resources.

Cons

1. Legalized marijuana creates steep costs for society and taxpayers that far outweigh its tax revenues.

2. Legalizing marijuana increases use by teens, with harmful results.

3. Traffic accidents and deaths increase when marijuana is legalized.

4. Marijuana is addictive, and dependence on the drug will increase with legalization.

5. The black market and organized crime benefit from marijuana legalization.

6. Legalizing marijuana leads to more marijuana-related medical emergencies.

7. Marijuana use harms the brain, and legalization will increase mental health problems.