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Marijuana is made federally legal for adults 21 and older
Marijuana is still a gateway drug
Marijuana is still going to be illegally consumed by underage people
Illegal consumption could lead to consumption of other serious, more dangerous drugs
People who feel marijuana could help calm them down can finally do it legally
Increased sales of marijuana products brings lots of revenue to the American Government
Economy grows; already over 6,000 new jobs and total of over $260 billion
Arguably less detrimental for your health than alcohol
Deaths related to alcohol consumption potentially decreases from an alarming 95,000 deaths per year.
40% of all violent criminal cases (assault, manslaughter, murder, etc) involve alcohol. Marijuana as an alternative could potentially make the number of these violent offenses drop
Children raised in a troubled home by parents with substance problems may have a tired and hungry parent as opposed to a drunk and angry one.
A sizable amount of US citizens are made happy
People arrested on drug-related charges remain incarcerated until their sentence is fulfilled.
Individuals locked up for possibly years for something that is no longer illegal
Consumes resources that could be better allocated elsewhere
Marijuana use skyrockets federally
Possible increase in DWI's/DUI's (Driving Under Influence)
Increase in deaths as a result of DUI
Still dealt illegally- only street marijuana is now laced with other miscellaneous drugs
Underage users
Drug crime rate decreases, but not significantly
Drug incarceration rate stays the same
Overdoses (Several reports coming out of marijuana laced with fentanyl)