Argument for Federal Cannabis Legalization
A total of 39 states allow medical cannabis use, while 18 states allow both medical and recreational cannabis use. However, police still allocate $3.6 billion every year for enforcement of marijuana laws and make an average of 820,000 arrests. That is $3.6 billion that could be used to solve more dire problems, like homelessness or food insecurity in the United States. The time and resources spent arresting people for marijuana charges could be used to investigate more significant crimes.
Marijuana Related Arrest Rates 2019
86.7% of marijuana arrests are due to possession. The rates of arrest in the West are so low because many western states have legalized cannabis and are now making hundreds of millions in tax revenue from the legal market. It is unjust that someone could be arrested for marijuana possession in one state while other states support the cannabis industry. Federal legalization would create a more equitable justice system.
Cannabis can also be very beneficial in treating chronic pain, medical ailments and mental illness. Although some research has been done to study this, federal legalization would open the door for more funding to study the health benefits of cannabis. A study published in the Hawaii Journal of Medicine & Public Health researched the different ways cannabis can be therapeutic.
Average Pain Levels Reported
Along with a 64% decrease in pain, the study also found the following:
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50% of people experienced relief from stress and anxiety.
45% of people experienced relief from insomnia.
10% of people had decreased nausea.
9% of people had increased focus and concentration.
7% of people experienced relief from depression.
Sources
https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2019/crime-in-the-u.s.-2019/tables/arrest-table.xls
https://www.insider.com/marijuana-arrests-are-costing-the-us-billions-2019-6
https://mjbizdaily.com/map-of-us-marijuana-legalization-by-state/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3998228/
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