Marijuana is always a hot topic and everyone has a clear cut opinion…maybe. This week the justice department made a huge announcement giving more power to states in terms of medical marijuana dispensaries. The DOJ stated that as long as these outlets were following state law, they would pretty much stay out.

With that news states like California and Colorado have had a surge in interest in the legalization of the drug. These states already allow marijuana for medical purposes and hundreds of dispensaries are popping up throughout the states. A recent New York Times article detailed how the marijuana movement is starting to gain some clout in the political circles. One group has obtained over 300,000 signatures supporting a bill that would legalize marijuana.

Let’s take a look from an economic perspective. Currently, the United States Federal government classifies marijuana as an illegal drug. As with anything illegal, someone will provide it. Recently Mexican drug cartels have invaded our nations national forecast, setting up huge grows deep in the woods. These is a major problem here in Colorado, and imagine your surprise as on your Sunday hike you run into armed Mexican Mafioso- not good. The government spends and estimated $17 billion annually on fighting the drug trade, with marijuana being one of the more used drugs, one can assume the cost of this “war”

Now I know what you’re thinking – yes its bad for your health, yes- driving under the influence is bad- but so is alcohol and tobacco. Both of these vices provide substantial tax dollars. With a pack of cigarettes pushing $10.00 in NYC, imagine the price people would pay for legal, pre packed marijuana cigarettes! By legalizing the drug that nearly 45% of the population has used at least once, we could eliminate the marijuana drug cartels and their profits would fall out of the market, increase tax revenue, and save billions as the US marijuana drug trade ceases to exist.

Many are worried about the effects, here in Denver, the city is allowing medical marijuana dispensaries. A recent Denver Post article interviewed one owner. When posed with the accusation they would be “bad neighbors” to the business district they stated they were installing all new lights, benches, fixing the sidewalk and most immortally “paying a lot of taxes”

This debate will surely fire many up, and be drawn out, but maybe its time to take a cost benefit analysis, spend our tax dollars on real issues – and hey…maybe even relax a little bit.

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