See Both Sides: Legalizing Marijuana for Recreational Use

On the issue of legalizing marijuana for recreational use, Coby and I do have some common ground. There are likely to be significant monetary savings should marijuana become legal, along with ample opportunity for revenue to be earned. If all the prisoners currently incarcerated for non-violent marijuana crimes were released, an average of $32,000 per prisoner per year would be saved. In addition to the money saved by releasing non-violent offenders, another $7+ billion could be saved in policing and prosecuting these offenders. After the cost savings, one also must look at the income that could be earned by taxing marijuana sales, just as alcohol and cigarettes are taxed. An estimated $6+ billion a year can be earned this way. This money would not just be divided amongst states that have legalized pot but also would aid the federal government. We both agree that non-violent offenders caught possessing small amounts of marijuana do not belong in our prisons and jails. The United States has 5% of the world's population but 25% of the world's prisoners. This increase in the prison population began in the 1970's when the war on drugs began in earnest. Also, it has been noted that these non-violent offenders are more likely to become violent offenders after being imprisoned. We also agree that there are no compelling studies that indicate marijuana is a dangerous drug. Alcohol and cigarettes are far more likely to cause both long-term health issues and death. There is no evidence that marijuana causes cancer and no documented cases of a marijuana overdose. These facts come from SaferChoice.

We feel like people on both sides of this issue can find common ground by accepting that ultimately marijuana use is a personal choice. We don't have to agree with the choice to use, just like many people don't agree with smoking cigarettes, but we don't condemn smokers for making that choice, as long as they are not endangering us or our families. Marijuana use, if legalized, will still be about individuals using in the privacy of their own homes, and laws for driving while intoxicated will be just as strict as they are with alcohol. Second-hand smoke from marijuana is a concern, but the current proposed laws call for private use only. It will likely be many years before public use of marijuana is considered.