Wouldn’t regulating a drug like marijuana bring the government needed revenue and keep it out of the hands of our youth?
- If we were to regulate marijuana, we would have to agree that it’s acceptable for society to profit from a person’s addiction. Addiction is a completely preventable disease that takes the life of over 30,000 people a year.
- The cost of treatment and rehabilitation from addiction and usage associated illnesses far outweighs the cost of any revenue possibly generated; a government estimate of the cost of drug use just for one year (2002) was over $180 billion.
- Regulation hasn’t kept prescription drugs, alcohol or tobacco from being used by youth; it’s a failed model.
- Studies demonstrate that when people perceive the use of drugs as harmless, drug use increases - if marijuana or other drugs were legalized, it is certain that the perceived harm would decrease, making the incidence of use rise regardless of age-related regulations.
- Alcohol and tobacco have proven harmful, addictive and difficult to regulate, so why would we add another substance to that list? What would we legalize next? What would the age restriction be?