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Lawrence Garcia
Roxanna Dewey
ENG 101 15257
8 December 2016
Enough is Enough: Why Arizona Must End Marijuana Prohibition
Someday pray that he will grow a farm barn full, recent research shows its not so darn
harmful. (Madvillain, Americas Most Blunted) Despite the wide amount of research that
shows the positive benefits of marijuana, it remains illegal under federal law. In recent years,
numerous states have defied federal law and legalized marijuana for both recreational and
medicinal use. Arizona has legalized marijuana for medical use, but it still remains illegal to use
recreationally. This is absurd, as the evidence gathered over the last few decades strongly
supports the notion that it is safer than alcohol, a widely available substance. Marijuana being
listed as a Schedule I drug has ruined thousands of lives. Not to mention, an anti-marijuana
agenda being broadcasted on behalf of multiple organizations combined with an uninformed
population are a portion of the reasons why it remains illegal under federal law. Although federal
legalization may be well out of the picture, Arizona should demonstrate progressiveness and
legalize marijuana for recreational use. Legalizing marijuana would be beneficial as the local
economy would experience an increase in revenue similar to other states that have legalized the
substance, and citizens who partake in using a minimally harmful substance would not have to
worry about local law enforcement ruining their lives.

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In years past, marijuana use was attributed to causing lung cancer and cognitive
impairment. Extensive research has disputed this by suggesting that marijuana use does not lead
to these ailments, but that it also has a wide range of medical benefits. Numerous states,
including Arizona, have legalized marijuana for medical use. The medical benefits are now
widely known and generally accepted. However, the issue arises due to the fact that marijuana is
widely popular for recreational use, yet it still remains illegal under federal law despite studies
suggesting that it is much safer than alcohol, a regulated and readily available substance. A study
conducted suggested that the toxicity of marijuana is much lower than other drugs that are used
recreationally, alcohol included. Marijuana use was deemed to have a low risk attached to it,
whereas alcohol was found to be far more toxic than marijuana and a few other illegal
substances. (Lachenmeier and Rehm, par. 30) The belief that marijuana is detrimental to health is
a large reason why it remains illegal for recreational use in the state of Arizona. Despite its low
risk factor and the natural composition of the drug, citizens risk a felony charge for simple
possession of something that can be beneficial for both medical and recreational reasons.
Although numerous states have loosened their stances on the issue of marijuana, it
remains illegal under federal law; the drug is listed as a Schedule I substance, the highest and
strictest classification of controlled substances. According to the ALCU, Marijuana arrests now
account for over half of all drug arrests in the United States. Of the 8.2 million marijuana arrests
between 2001 and 2010, 88% were for simply having marijuana. (ACLU, Marijuana Arrests by
the Numbers) This money should not be spent on enforcing unnecessary laws against marijuana
when it could go toward infrastructure, education, and social programs that help prevent citizens
from using much more harmful drugs than marijuana. Although the War on Drugs was believed
to have begun with good intentions, it has been more harmful than helpful to marijuana users

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across the United States. Repealing the prohibition of marijuana begins with the states, and
Arizona must follow suit and join the other states that have legalized and regulated marijuana for
recreational use. Many politicians stress the importance of states rights, thus adding to the idea
that the federal government should not oversee the legislation of states. The United States is
known for boasting a mixed market, Arizona should embrace that and the state would see a large
amount of tax revenue, similar to the other states that have legalized marijuana.
Eight states and the District of Columbia have legalized marijuana for recreational use.
Although a few of these states recently passed the laws after the 2016 election, other states in this
category ended the prohibition in 2012. Colorado was among the states to legalize marijuana for
recreational use in 2012. Since the law went into effect in 2014, the state has earned hundreds of
millions of dollars in tax revenue. Where does the all of that money go? A portion goes to the
Building Excellent School Today (BEST) Fund. When voters approved retail marijuana
legalization, they dedicated the first $40 million in excise tax revenue to school construction in
the state constitution. (Silbuagh, par. 3) The rest goes to various state agencies and programs
that educate the population about marijuana use. Unfortunately, Prop 205, a proposal to regulate
marijuana like alcohol in Arizona, did not pass in 2016. Had it passed, 40% of tax revenue would
have gone to the Department of Education to be used in a similar manner as Colorado.
(Regulate Marijuana like Alcohol in Arizona) Arizona perennially ranks among the bottom
states when it comes to funding, the greedy propagandists who lobbied against it seem to want
the state to remain that way. Although marijuana may appear to be on a slow track toward
legalization due to its glowing potential, opponents have gathered a strong, yet flawed argument
responsible for the drug remaining illegal.

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Numerous organizations have spent millions of dollars in order to promote advertising

against pro-marijuana laws. Although a decent amount of the ads are senseless propaganda,
many organizations have valid arguments against legislation. For one, the worry of citizens
getting behind the wheel of a vehicle while impaired is a legitimate concern. Despite relatively
new sobriety tests for marijuana existing, many people driving under the influence could arrive
at their destination without a traffic stop. To refute, numerous states could implement more DUI
checkpoints that will help in limiting impaired driving. Another potential disadvantage of
legalizing cannabis for recreational use is that there would likely be an increase in consumption
among under aged individuals, leading to use of other drugs down the road. To counter, under
aged drinking occurs daily in the United States, despite strict laws, yet alcohol has not been
banned since the Twenty-First Amendment repealed prohibition. The age limit to purchase
marijuana in states that have legalized for recreational use is 21. There seems to be a false
narrative that marijuana is a gateway drug; marijuana is not a gateway drug! Arkowitz and
Lilienfeld said it best, Individuals often smoke cigarettes or drink alcohol before they latch on
to marijuana. Should we also be asking whether nicotine and alcohol are gateway drugs?
(Arkowitz and Lilienfeld, par 6) Another point the opposition frequently mentions is that the
research conducted thus far is relatively new, so it is difficult to truly know the benefits and/or
risks of consuming it. With that being said, multiple studies suggest it is highly beneficial, there
may be some negatives attached to long term use, but the positives attached outweigh them.
No matter what stance one has toward the idea of legalizing cannabis, the issue is finally
garnering enough press to potentially sway laws nationwide. Marijuana is a substance that
appears to be beneficial to health, safer than alcohol, highly profitable, and it just so happens to
be natural. So once again, why are people being jailed over this? As the United States attempts to

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move forward on a track toward legalization, Arizona must get with the program and legalize
cannabis for recreational use.

Works Cited
ACLU. Marijuana Arrests by the Numbers. American Civil Liberties Union,
www.aclu.org/gallery/marijuana-arrests-numbers.
Arkowitz, Hal, and Scott O. Lilienfeld. Experts Tell the Truth about Pot. Scientific
American, Scientific American, 13 Feb. 2012, www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-truthabout-pot/.
Lachenmeier, Dirk W., and Jrgen Rehm. Comparative Risk Assessment of Alcohol,
Tobacco, Cannabis and Other Illicit Drugs Using the Margin of Exposure Approach. Scientific
Reports, Nature Publishing Group, 30 Jan. 2015,
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4311234/#.
Madvillain. America's Most Blunted. Madvillainy, Stones Throw, 2004.
Prop. 205: Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol in Arizona. Regulate Marijuana Like
Alcohol in Arizona, Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol,
www.regulatemarijuanainarizona.org/prop205/.

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Silbuagh, Larson. Distribution of Marijuana Tax Revenue. Issue Brief: A Legislative

Council Publication, July 2015, leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/1510_distribution_of_marijuana_tax_revenue_issue_brief_1.pdf.