Spring Break
Our View: We need to go 'green'
Issue date: 4/21/08 Section: Opinion
Unless you live under a rock, you probably know that our country is in debt.
Big time debt.
Regardless of whether or not you support the war in Iraq, most will admit that it has cost us, both in lives lost and money spent.
Now, more than ever, our economy could use a little boost -- something that would benefit both the government and people.
And that something could be marijuana.
In light of recent holidays, the Collegian Editorial Board thought that this would be a good time to bring up the benefits of the legalization of this recently celebrated drug.
Economists have found that the legalization of marijuana -- that is replacing expenditures on enforcing this law with taxation and regulation -- would result in a savings of $7.7 billion in both state and federal spending, and additional tax revenues of up to $6.2 billion.
Now that's a lot of bowls.
Now that may not seem like much compared with the $3 trillion we're in debt -- but as college students, we should know better than anyone that every bit counts.
Marijuana is the most widely used and widely available drug on the market, and it's showing no signs of decreasing in popularity anytime soon.
The way we see it, keeping marijuana illegal is not only costly, but also ineffective and unnecessary.
Much like prohibition, it's likely we'll look back on this time and laugh.
And not just because we'll be high.
Big time debt.
Regardless of whether or not you support the war in Iraq, most will admit that it has cost us, both in lives lost and money spent.
Now, more than ever, our economy could use a little boost -- something that would benefit both the government and people.
And that something could be marijuana.
In light of recent holidays, the Collegian Editorial Board thought that this would be a good time to bring up the benefits of the legalization of this recently celebrated drug.
Economists have found that the legalization of marijuana -- that is replacing expenditures on enforcing this law with taxation and regulation -- would result in a savings of $7.7 billion in both state and federal spending, and additional tax revenues of up to $6.2 billion.
Now that's a lot of bowls.
Now that may not seem like much compared with the $3 trillion we're in debt -- but as college students, we should know better than anyone that every bit counts.
Marijuana is the most widely used and widely available drug on the market, and it's showing no signs of decreasing in popularity anytime soon.
The way we see it, keeping marijuana illegal is not only costly, but also ineffective and unnecessary.
Much like prohibition, it's likely we'll look back on this time and laugh.
And not just because we'll be high.
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