According to the article by Ken MacQueen, “Strict Control of Cigarette Sales,” it was predicted that Colorado would make about $20 million in revenue from the sale of marijuana. In British Columbia, a province in Canada, researchers estimate that marijuana sold for recreational use will make “$500 million a year in taxation and licensing revenues” (MacQueen). Those for legalization of marijuana also believe it will provide more income for those who grow and sell it. According to Dan Schneider, who wrote the article “Pot Economics,” it would be ideal for marijuana production to remain homegrown, in the power of independent pot growers. This argument makes it seem logical that these growers will make quite a bit of money and would therefore be better for the economy, especially if small businesses remained in control of production. Many opposers also argue that government regulation will produce safer marijuana than street dealers and will keep it out of reach of …show more content…
Their justification is that, because marijuana is natural, made from the leaves or resin of the female cannabis plant (Tebbett), it must be safe, even beneficial, for a person to smoke. Another argument is that marijuana is not nearly as harmful as other drugs. Cocaine, opiates, hallucinogens such as LSD, and even the nicotine in cigarettes are much more addictive than marijuana (Tebbett). As psychologist Mitch Earleywine so eloquently stated, “If you tell an opiate addict you’re ‘addicted’ to marijuana, you’re probably going to get kicked in the crotch,” (Sanders,