Marijuana is made federally legal for adults 21 and older

Still dealt illegally- only street marijuana is now laced with other miscellaneous drugs

Overdoses (Several reports coming out of marijuana laced with fentanyl)

Tragic deaths

Drug crime rate decreases, but not significantly

Drug incarceration rate stays the same

Underage users

Marijuana use skyrockets federally

Possible increase in DWI's/DUI's (Driving Under Influence)

Increase in deaths as a result of DUI

People arrested on drug-related charges remain incarcerated until their sentence is fulfilled.

Consumes resources that could be better allocated elsewhere

Individuals locked up for possibly years for something that is no longer illegal

People who feel marijuana could help calm them down can finally do it legally

A sizable amount of US citizens are made happy

Arguably less detrimental for your health than alcohol

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.

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

Deaths related to alcohol consumption potentially decreases from an alarming 95,000 deaths per year.

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

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

Sources

Zha, W. (2020, December 21). High economy: Impacts of marijuana legalization on the US Economy. Retrieved April 16, 2021, from https://theeconreview.com/2020/12/18/high-economy-impacts-of-marijuana-legalization-on-the-us-economy/

Solutions, I. (n.d.). Addiction treatment servicesgambling treatment services. Retrieved April 16, 2021, from http://www.sasc-dbq.org/alcohol-and-crime

Deaths from excessive alcohol use in the U.S. (2021, January 14). Retrieved April 16, 2021, from https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/features/excessive-alcohol-deaths.html

Anders, C., Ayala, A., Baughman, B., Buehler, N., Cahya, C., Campbell, A., . . . Zhai, X. (n.d.). Legalization of marijuana and its effects on licit and illicit markets in the United States. Retrieved April 16, 2021, from https://iu.pressbooks.pub/perspectives2/chapter/legalization-of-marijuana-and-its-effects-on-licit-and-illicit-markets-in-the-united-states/