Drug violators are a major cause of extreme overcrowding in US prisons. In 1992, 59000 inmates were added to make a record setting 833600 inmates nationwide. A high percentage of these prisoners were serving time because of drug related incidents. Most of this increase is attributed to drug violators, and sadly, this number will only continue to rise. Legalizing marijuana would deter future criminal acts, therefore slowly, but effectively lessening crime. Legalization would also increase countries revenue. .
During prohibition, alcohol use was still rampant. People were still drinking, only it was illegal. In the US, the 21st amendment annulled prohibition and alcohol taxes were increased. The same thing should be done with marijuana and other illegal drug today. Weed should be heavily taxed to increase revenue. Legalizing alcohol did not increase alcoholism, so why would legalizing marijuana elevate drug abuse? .
Another argument as to why marijuana and other illicit substances should be legalized is because medical professionals have found several applications for the hemp plant. Until 1937, marijuana was legal in the United State for all purposes. As of autumn 1995, only eight Americans were legally allowed to use marijuana as a medicine. Hemp is classified as a controlled class C substance. If someone is caught in possession of it, they can be fined and or jailed, depending on how much they possess, even when the use of this substance could cure their illness or prolong their life. Many people have been apprehended by authorities for growing marijuana even though it was for their own private medicinal use. .
For years people have been saying that marijuana should be a legal crop and that possession should be no more of a crime than the possession of alcohol. A recent Harvard survey of oncologist showed that almost half would prescribe marijuana if it were legal. Marijuana is one of the safest therapeutically active substances known.