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The world is full of choices, and children are confronted with the question of drug use at an early age. Illegal drugs are more available today due to the widespread gangs with numerous supply lines. Marijuana, also known as cannabis, is a drug that, while illegal, is more tolerated by society. Many high profile people have argued for marijuana legalization for years. The actor Woody Harrelson and Progressive Insurance founder, Peter B. Lewis, have spent large amounts of money to lobby for the legalization of marijuana. Heavy resistance would be felt, if one were to argue the legalization of cocaine or heroine. Cocaine and heroine are more addictive drugs, with harmful side effects causing a greater dependency. If the United States were to follow other countries in the world and legalize marijuana, the positives would outweigh the negatives. The United States would gain tax income from the sales, prison over-crowding issues would be impacted, and marijuana trafficking would decrease.
The drug marijuana was legal in the United States until about the time prohibition ended. With the declaration of marijuana becoming an illegal substance, the U.S. government opened opportunities for trafficking to criminals. Once marijuana was illegal, gangs viewed the supply as a means of income, as they had with alcohol during prohibition. Trafficking marijuana across boarders turned into a multi-million dollar trade. Private citizens began to grow plants in their homes and hidden fields. Legalization of cannabis would render the illegal trafficking less profitable. It may not stop private growth, and could cause growing marijuana privately to increase, as consumers attempt to avoid the tax on sales. The government would have to dictate supply lines, allowing sales only from a pharmacy or other regulated sources. The private growth would still need to be deemed illegal, yet not a felony charge, but possibly a fine. By making marijuana legal the gangs would have little...