MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION

The dispute on whether or not marijuana should be legalized has grown over the past few years after many states have started legalizing it. Ohio recently had the chance to legalize marijuana and the majority voted against it’s legalization. Was this the right call? What if marijuana was legallized in Ohio but had restrictions…?

Marijuana has been known as “the gateway drug” for quite some time now. It has caused many issues in many areas. Illegally selling and using marijuana has been the biggest problem. The Drug Policy Alliance stated on drugpolicy.org, “Number of arrests in 2014 in the U.S. for marijuana law violations: 700,993” (DPA). The War on Drugs has been an ongoing war, trying to stop dealers and buyers from spreading supply of illegal drugs. DPA also states, “Amount spent annually in the U.S. on the war on drugs: More than $51,000,000,000” (DPA). By legalizing marijuna use would we be condoning sellers and buyers to proceed with their actions and throw away The War on Drugs?

Restrictions can be made to prevent throwing away all their hardwork and prevent sellers from supplying marijuna to just anyone. In Colorado they use numerous restrictions to prevent overstepping the boundary. If we follow their example, legalizing marijuana might not be so bad. There are numerous rules we could make.

· Only licensed sellers can supply marijuna

· Only a certain amount can be sold to an individual

· Depending on occupation you can be denied as a buyer

· The use of marijuana may only take place on private property or a designated area which allows marijuana use specifically (Bar or club of some sort)