This paper discusses the issue of whether or not marijuana should be legalized in Pennsylvania for recreational use. The new Governor of Pennsylvania – Tom Wolf – has come out strongly in support of legalizing marijuana for medical use (in line with around 80 percent of the voting population of Pennsylvania), and has also expressed support for a move to decriminalize using small amounts of marijuana for personal consumption (“Medical and Recreational Marijuana Advances on Election Day” 2014). With the Pennsylvania state legislature poised to approve medical marijuana use in the state, it is timely to evaluate the merits of approving recreational use, too.
The Research
In Texas, marijuana was originally outlawed almost a century ago, based on the alleged though unsubstantiated idea that Mexicans coming to El Paso were bringing marijuana across the border. As a consequence, today in Texas anyone possessing fewer than two ounces of it is risking a fine of $2,000 and up to six months in jail. Also, the prejudicial view of marijuana held by many is that using marijuana is the gateway to harder drugs like cocaine, but according to neuroscientist and psychology professor Dr Carl Hart, that is simply not true. As a consequence of its use being criminalized, Texas currently has over 24,000 drug offenders in jail or prison, and even more on probation (Silverman 2014).
Before that, unreasonable fears of marijuana being some sort of poison meant that by 1905, over 25 states had restricted its use, along with banning alcohol and tobacco. Following continuing opposition to its use, and fears that it caused violence and even insanity, coupled with the Great Depression, more states banned it completely. Then in 1932, passing of the Uniform State Narcotic Act transferred legislative control away from the federal government, and gave it to the individual states. Despite subsequent efforts to change that situation, marijuana is still illegal on a federal basis, but the position at state level varies from state to state. Today, there are still deeply-entrenched public misconceptions about marijuana, and the best chance of reform and legalization exists at individual state level, where the appointed lawmakers are more able to respond to the wishes of their citizens (Cardinale 2014).
A striking example of the consequences of anti-marijuana prejudice is reported from Seattle, WA. It was discovered that 80 percent of all tickets issued for possession between January and July of this year were written by the same city police officer, who has a deep hatred of marijuana. The city attorney has announced that all those tickets will be dismissed, and those who have already paid their fines will have the money refunded. In the meantime, that police officer is being investigated by the PD’s “office of professional accountability” though at the date of publication of the article, he is still active on patrol duties (Cush 2014).
As of November 5th 2014, four US states have already legalized the recreational use of marijuana, and they are expected to be followed soon by Alaska and Oregon. Figure 1 in the Appendix shows the existing situation in respect of the states where marijuana in some form is already legal. The laws and the permitted uses vary from state to state (“State Marijuana Laws Map” 2014).
Adding weight to the legalization argument, it is reported that there is widespread and increasing momentum to legalize “pot” and that a further five states are expected to introduce bills on the issue of recreational use by 2016. Those include the three states of California, Massachusetts and Nevada. Additionally, activists in support of legalization predict that by the end of 2016, another five states will be voting on this issue. Furthermore, no less than six other states are considering the creation or expansion of programs for the legal use of medical marijuana, or to dramatically reduce penalties for what is referred to as “small-time possession.” In the view of the author, because many polls now indicate that the vast majority of Americans think that cannabis should be taxed and regulated like alcohol, it is likely to be simply a matter of time before it becomes legal nationwide (Harkinson 2014).
There are those who express grave concerns about the negative consequences of making marijuana legally available for recreational use, including the potential for increased crime rates. However, according to Miles (2014), the experience in Denver, Colorado has shown the reverse has occurred. Specifically, since the first legal marijuana stores opened their doors on January 1st 2014, the numbers of what are termed “marijuana-related arrests” have fallen dramatically, allowing the city’s law enforcement personnel to focus on other crimes. Further, the Colorado Center on Law and Policy states that in 2012 alone (following the removal of penalties for marijuana use and possession), the state realized savings of $12 to $40 million. In 2014, between January 1st and April 30th, the murder rate in the Denver city and county has fallen by almost 53 percent. Another positive outcome of legalizing marijuana in Colorado is that an estimated 2,000 people have obtained employment in that industry this year, and that overall there may be as many as 10,000 directly involved with marijuana production and sales. That is also good news for the tax man. It is estimated that the state has benefited from retail sales to the tune of $10 million tax revenue in the first four months of 2014. Over the next fiscal year, the State Governor predicts total tax revenues from marijuana sales of a huge $134 million (Miles 2014).
On that same subject of economic benefits of legalization of marijuana, Smith (2014) makes a powerful case in support. Although he cites various reasons for its legalization, he asserts that the primary reason is that it will bring huge economic benefits to the US, just at the time when the country’s economy is in a need of a major boost. Furthermore, in his view, it will not only boost the federal economy, but will bring what he calls “top-down economic improvements in local communities, state coffers, and more” (Smith 2014). He sees legalization as not just generating direct revenue in the form of tax dollars, but also in saving money at all levels of government due to the reduced need for expenditure on law enforcement. Smith finds it surprising that there is still a stigma associated with marijuana use, while alcohol and tobacco are not only legal and well-regulated, but produce considerable revenue for the government (Smith 2014).
He quotes a recent New York Times article that called for marijuana to be fully legalized, reminding readers that marijuana has been banned by Congress for 40 years, which by prohibiting something less harmful than alcohol, inflicted considerable harm on our society. However, Smith notes that the article did not adequately address the economic advantages of making marijuana freely available. He reiterates that increased tax revenues provide the most powerful argument for legalization. Smith quotes Jeffrey Miron – a Harvard economist – as stating that an estimated marijuana trade of $113 billion would generate almost $45 billion in additional tax revenues. For those with drug dependencies, some of that money could fund assistance programs, which more than two-thirds of Americans support in preference to imprisoning offenders (Smith 2014).
Other than the tax gains mentioned, Smith refers to the savings that would come from reduced law enforcement costs by taking marijuana out of war on drugs efforts, releasing personnel and resources to fight crime in other areas. There would also be massive costs savings in running our prisons and a real opportunity to cut prison overcrowding as a result. Because those convicted of drug offenses are in the majority black or Latino, those minorities represent the largest sectors of inmates in the American jails and prisons. Thus by legalizing marijuana and ending the incarceration of those using it, there would be a reduction of racial imbalance in the US Justice system. Furthermore, by not imprisoning drug offenders, men could stay with their families continuing to support them and reducing poverty, and in parallel reducing the need for government support (Smith 2014).
Legalizing marijuana is likely to have a positive effect on local employment in farming and many associated industries, as jobs are created in the growing of marijuana, its processing, laboratory testing, distribution, transportation, and more (Smith 2014).
Former NFL player and respected Harvard Business School graduate Jack Brewer offers three reasons why recreational marijuana use should be made legal “in all 50 states.” He explains that as a youngster he was warned by various people including his parents and grandparents that marijuana could kill him, and that in middle school marijuana was grouped with hard drugs like PCP and cocaine. Whilst he realized even then that these were all what he calls “scare tactics” he asserts that had those warnings been valid, they should also have included processed food and other everyday substances. He reports that he did his own research in college, and learned the truth – that marijuana represents no greater danger to us than most other things we consume, and in some cases is less harmful (Brewer 2014).
The first reason for legalization submitted by Brewer is that the policies that make marijuana illegal are not consistent with the legal status of alcohol and tobacco, although both of those are known to be the cause of many fatalities. Taking alcohol first, he cites CDC statistics which show that in 2013 almost 25,000 deaths resulted from overdoses of alcohol, and there were almost 16,000 deaths due to alcohol-induced liver disease. Further, in the previous year (2012), there were over two million arrests arising from alcohol-related crime. Tobacco is responsible for around half a million deaths annually in the US, and for related annual medical costs of almost $140 billion. Additionally, Brewer reports that unhealthy diet leading to obesity is the cause of circa 20 percent of all US deaths each year, and that associated annual health care costs are running at up to $200 billion. He makes the point that anyone attempting to regulate alcohol, tobacco or junk food faces a strong backlash, as was evidenced when Michael Bloomberg attempt to curb the latter in New York (Brewer 2014).
Brewer’s second reason in support of legalization is that its medicinal properties are well-substantiated. Even so, when he suffered with arthritis at the age of 24, he was prescribed various prescription drugs that he later found were damaging his liver and other organs. Marijuana would have been just as effective and without damaging his organs, but he would have faced prosecution if he was found to be using it (Brewer 2014).
Brewer’s third reason is fiscal. As also reported by Smith (see earlier in this paper), decriminalizing marijuana can bring a tremendous return in a state’s tax coffers. Citing Colorado as an example, Brewer reports that the state’s $6 million tax windfall in the initial two months following decriminalization is expected to increase substantially, and has permitted the state public schools to benefit from a planned $40 million program. Washington state is expected to benefit in a similar manner, projecting a gain over the next four years of circa $200 million in tax and associated fees. He also notes – again echoing Smith – that the prison system burden could be significantly eased, dramatically reducing costs in that area, too (Brewer 2014).
Conclusions
The research has shown that there are several powerful arguments to support legalization of recreational marijuana in Pennsylvania (and in other states, too). Arguments against tend to be based on unfounded prejudice and fears that could be corrected by concerted efforts by the authorities to publicize the available scientific and other evidence.
Probably the most powerful of all the supporting arguments is the fiscal one. Along with other states, Pennsylvania’s economy could be given a significant and long-lasting boost from the projected tax and other revenues, including those arising from the creation of significant numbers of jobs. In summary, it is high time that Pennsylvania decriminalized recreational marijuana use, and introduced a legal and properly-regulated environment for it.
Works Cited:
Brewer, Jack. (Jul. 2014). “3 reasons recreational marijuana should be legal in all 50 states.” Jacksonville Business Journal. Web. Accessed 30 November 2014. URL: <http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/how-to/growth-strategies/2014/07/3-reasons-recreational-marijuana-should-be-legal.html?page=all>.
Cardinale, Alexandra. (Jan. 2014). “A Brief History of How Marijuana Became Illegal in the U.S.” Mic Network Inc. Web. Accessed 30 November 2014. URL: <http://mic.com/articles/78685/a-brief-history-of-how-marijuana-became-illegal-in-the-u-s>.
Cush, Andy. (Sept. 2014). “Seattle Prosecutor Drops All Pot Tickets in Response to Weed-Hating Cop.” Drugs Gawker. Web. Accessed 30 November 2014. URL: <http://drugs.gawker.com/seattle-prosecutor-drops-all-pot-tickets-in-response-to-1638052404>.
Harkinson, Josh. (Nov. 2014). “Map: The United States of Legal weed.” Mother Jones. Web. Accessed 29 November 2014. URL: <http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2014/11/map-united-states-legal-marijuana-2014-2016>.
“Medical and Recreational Marijuana Advances on Election Day.” (Nov. 2014). Legalize PA. Web. Accessed 29 November 2014. URL: <http://legalizepa.com/blog/2014/11/05/medical-and-recreational-marijuana-advances-on-election-day/>.
Miles, Chris. (Jul. 2014). “Benefits of legalizing Marijuana in Colorado: Less crime and more profits.” Signs Of The Times. Web. Accessed 29 November 2014. URL: <http://www.sott.net/article/281459-Benefits-of-legalizing-Marijuana-in-Colorado-Less-crime-and-more-profits>.
Silverman, Lauren. (Jan. 2014). “Nearly 100 Years After Marijuana Was Made Illegal In Texas, Fight To Legalize Gets Stronger.” Breakthroughs: KERA. Web. Accessed 30 November 2014. URL: <http://breakthroughs.kera.org/100-years-after-marijuana-was-made-illegal-in-texas-the-fight-to-legalize-lives-on/>.
Smith, S., E. (Nov. 2014). “How legalizing pot could save America’s economy.” The Week. Web. Accessed 30 November 2014. URL: <http://theweek.com/article/index/271498/how-legalizing-pot-could-save-americas-economy>.
“State Marijuana Laws Map.” (Nov. 2014). Governing the States and Localities. Web. Accessed 29 November 2014. URL: <http://www.governing.com/gov-data/state-marijuana-laws-map-medical-recreational.html>.
Appendix:
Figure 1: State Marijuana Laws Map
(Source: “State Marijuana Laws Map” Nov. 2014)
Notes: 1. The state shown “detached” at the lower left of the image is Alaska. The other three colored lighter green are Colorado, Oregon and Washington
2. The states shown in darker green are: Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii (“detached”), Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, and Vermont.
