Lillian Ritz

Marijuana: The Problem Solver for America

The legalization of marijuana doesn't just affect the people who use it. It affects the

government, businesses, people who work in the medical field, farmers, researchers and

everyone in between. There are a lot of issues in America at the moment and the legalization of

mariguana would help solve a lot of them. Unemployment, education funding, overcrowded jails,

ect.

For starters, if marijuana was legalized, it would be regulated therefore making it safer. A

big concern for most people is marijuana being laced. With regulation people know what they're

getting. Also research is already being done due to the legalizations in the west coast.

People are always complaining about potholes in roads and the education system failing

but with the legalization of mariguana comes along mariguana taxes. The money goes towards

a plethora of important things. For example ​Colorado's​ marijuana tax money goes towards a lot

of useful things like education. Also the government could always use more money considering

how much debt we’re in. (not that the taxes would even come close to covering the trillions of

dollars in debt we are but anything helps even if it's just enough money to help schools around

the US). The money could also go towards helping solve the opioid epidemic.

Speaking of the opioid epidemic, a lot of people think mariguana leads to the use of

opioids, but studies have actually showed the opposite; mariguana can be used to stop the

addiction to opioids. People who are against the legalization also believe there will be an

increase in violence but this has not been the case so far in states where it is legal.

Unemployment is a big issue. Well guess what? The legalization of mariguana can help

solve that problem too. There are more ​jobs​ that are needed with the legalization. People are
needed to grow, research, and distribute it. Also more businesses can be made and the

economy can grow. Less people would lose their jobs for possession of marijuana as well.

Lots of jails are overcrowded. Legalizing marijuana would get a lot of people out of jail making

more room. Also, people's lives won't be ruined for the possession of marijuana and the sonner

marijuana is legalized the sooner people can get their lives back. This would also save money

for prisons because they wouldn't have to house as many people. If people didn't get

incarcerated for marijuana possession then police could focus on more serious crimes.

Obviously there would be laws put in place if mariguana is legalized. Rules like, not

being able to buy over a certain amount at a time. No driving under the influence. For example

in ​California​ it is illegal to use it in any public place and you have to be 21 or older to buy and

use it.

Rhetorical situation:
Writer:​ me, I live in the US and the legalization of marijuana will have an affect on a lot
more than just the people who use it. This is a big topic at the moment because in some
states its legal and in others its on its way to being legal.

The writer’s goal/argument:​ Persuade people to be more on board with the idea of
legalizing recreational marijuana and to open their minds to the possibility because
there is a big possibility of it becoming legal in more states. Also to have people even
vote in elections for people who will fight to make it legal.

The intended audience: ​US citizens who disagree or are on the fence about legalizing
marijuana

Peripheral/secondary audiences: ​people who don't know much about the topic and
assume that because it's illegal in some states now that means its bad and would be no
good to legalize it.
Extra background info + context: ​marijuana is legal in some states (mostly the west
coast) there is a debate on whether or not marijuana should be legalized at the federal
level.

Sources:
Taxes
Regulation
Jobs