"" Furthermore, civilians who did not smoke marijuana were nearly 70% more likely to attain glaucoma than those who smoked routinely. Marijuana relaxes all the muscles in the body, including those of the eye. It substantially lowers the intraocular pressure (IOP) of the eye, which aids in the prevention of blindness or glaucoma.
Cancer, AIDS and glaucoma patients are only a handful of people who can benefit from smoking marijuana. "Since 1932, marijuana has been an illegal substance in the United States (PBS.com)."" However, the laws have been modified in a few states to allow marijuana for medicinal purposes, but recreational use remains illegal. Marijuana is widely used, despite its illegal status. "Over 70 million Americans over the age of 12 have tried marijuana at least once (LaFave)."" With so many people using the drug, there is potential for a lucrative industry with economic benefits. .
The government is constantly raising the taxes on cigarettes and alcohol to make money off of the publics' bad habits and toxins of choice. "Currently, the Indiana state government makes 15.5 cents off of each pack of cigarettes (IN.Gov)."" Despite the climbing tax rate, cigarette sales are steady and the government depends on the product for revenue. Imagine how much money the government could make off of marijuana sales.
Also, cigarettes companies like Philip-Morris or RJ Reynolds have to meet content and advertisement regulations set by the government. Only set percentages of tar, tobacco, and nicotine are allowed in each cigarette. Hence, the government could regulate the type of marijuana that is sold, and help eliminate the strands of crop that are so strong and so popular today. "Today's marijuana is ten to fifteen times stronger than marijuana that was smoked forty years ago (LaFave)."" Furthermore, the advertisements of the marijuana products would be regulated and limited, so popularity of the drug would not increase due to efforts by the market.
