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Mason Emilie
Mrs. Hensel
English 4
11/12/15
Medical Marijuana Financial Benefits
Enforcing marijuana prohibition cost tax payers 41.8 billion dollars annually. Arizona has
the record for most dispensaries open which is 80 right now. It is an estimated 142.19 million
dollar market size. Just in Colorado there are approximately 10,000 jobs related to the marijuana
industry and the state makes 98 million in tax revenue per year. Marijuana is a billion dollar
corporation that can create many jobs, make high tax revenue, and take the money out of
criminals and cartels hands.
Marijuana makes so much money for the states, we can use this tax revenue to take care
of neighborhoods and roads, donate to schools, and help the ones in need. In 2014, $40
million: The amount of marijuana tax revenue Colorado is devoting to public construction.
(Huff Post) is because legalizing marijuana puts millions of extra tax revenue in the peoples
pockets. There are thousands of people doing hard time for low drug charges. Law enforcement
savings are estimated to be $12 million annually, allowing law enforcement to redirect resources
to more serious crime (Ferner). Why is marijuana safer than alcohol and people are doing
longer time like its heroin? States with high populated cities like Florida, California, and New
York make the most profit. Marijuana is legal in California and has 1.67 million cannabis
smokers. Californias potential revenue from sales and excise taxes is a whopping $519.3
million, making it the biggest economic domino on the field (Rawes). The state is excited to use

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the revenue to help the budget. New Yorks market size for marijuana is 1 billion dollars with
almost a million marijuana smokers. Also there is potential revenue from sales and excise taxes
topping $248.1 million (Rawes).
We the people can help thousands of people get jobs in the marijuana industry and help
boost the economy. Instead of citizens sitting around collecting unemployment, we can help
them get jobs. Ever since Colorado legalized marijuana and created 10,000 jobs for people, The
state is now enjoying one of the lowest unemployment rates in the nation 6% which is the
lowest it has been since the recession started. (Sarich). There are many jobs surrounding the
marijuana business. For example you can make whats called edibles. Which is food made with
THC butter so you can get high by eating? If you can name it, theres probably a marijuanainfused version of it. Soda, oatmeal, baked goods, candy, coffee the list goes on (Becker).
Another job that is actually very common is a glass merchant. Glass Merchants are the makers of
the glass pieces and the smoking utensils that marijuana patients use. This career has been
around for generations way before it was used for marijuana it was used for tobacco products
mainly. Although this job seems fun and interesting Selling pipes, bongs, and more recently
vaporizers is a business that is only expected to grow as prohibition falls across the country.
(Becker) so if it is not legalized in more places their will not be need of many merchants. There
have been talks in the future of marijuana delivery services for the patients that cant make it to
the dispensaries and hired security for shops. Soon shops will be everywhere and enough people
will need it quicker and more convenient so As retail locations open up, delivery options will
most likely come along as well. Whether it be by bicycle or vehicle, couriers are sure to become
a part of the lexicon in the near future (Becker). Kind of like a bouncer, shop owners want
security at the door Checking IDs and guarding privacy for customers are the most visible

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duties, but ensuring that money and product transfers go off without a hitch is another important
part of the job (Becker).
By taking the money out of criminals and cartels pockets and putting it into ours, we can
make our streets safer and regulate this happy safe medicinal plant. Half of all drug busts or
arrests are usually marijuana consumers. It seems our government would rather these Mexican
cartels run all this drug trade through America, instead of regulating it and taking the profit. Top
cartels controlled the majority of drug trade in marijuana, heroin, and methamphetamine in over
1,000 US cities (OHara). Its almost as if Given the DEAs historic relationship with the
Sinaloa cartel, and the agencys fury over legalized marijuana, it almost seems like the DEA
wants to crush the legal weed market in order to protect the interests (OHara). Legalizing
marijuana will make it harder for cartels to drug traffic and make profit off of the drug. Cartels
make 35-40% income from marijuana distribution, if it is legalized we will take 30 percent of
that away from them. Former DEA senior intelligence specialist Sean Dunagan told VICE News
that, although its too early to verify the numbers: Anything to establish a regulated legal market
will necessarily cut into those profits. And it wont be a viable business for the Mexican cartels
the same way bootleggers disappeared after prohibition fell (OHara). Which means we will
put cartels out of business and take small and big drug dealers off the streets. This will lower
crime rate and help keep kids safe. Legalizing marijuana can be a great benefit to the people and
to the economy of the United States. We can keep low grade crime arrests at an all-time low and
keep a lot of people out of jail. Which will save tons of money on jail systems and keep kids
safer. By taking the money out of the cartels we the people can use the tax revenues to help
communities and school systems. Unemployment and crime rates will drop a lot with thousands

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of jobs created in a billion dollar corporation. This organization needs to be accepted by
everyone so we can boost our economy and use it to its many benefits.

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