Running head: Marijuana Tourism
Marijuana Tourism
Cheyenne Walcott
Monroe College Marijuana Tourism
The legalization of marijuana has been a contentious topic in the US for a long. There are different views concerning the effects of legalizing marijuana, with the common consensus that legalization of marijuana will have significant consequences in the world and everyday lives (Chepesiuk 99). Currently, the US drug policy forces stern measures regarding the consumption and possession of marijuana. In the light of this view, it is important to evaluate the dangers and beneficial effects associated with the legalization of marijuana. Overall, the practical effects of legalizing marijuana would be beneficial to the world for many different
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“Due to representation amendment 64 in 2012 adults aged 21 or older can grow up to six cannabis plants in a privately locked space, legally possess all cannabis from the plants they grow, legally possess up to one ounce of cannabis while traveling, and give as a gift up to one ounce to other citizens 21 years of age or older”( en.wikipedia.org). “Intake is allowed in a style similar to alcohol, with equal offenses prohibited for driving. Intake in public remains illegal”( en.wikipedia.org). Also amendment 64 also provides for” licensing of farming facilities, product manufacturing facilities, testing facilities, and retail stores” ( en.wikipedia.org). Visitors and tourists in Colorado can use and purchase marijuana, but cannot take it out of the state. “When Colorado decided to make recreation cannabis legal everyone was watching them to see what would happen, and most people through there would be chaos an increase in crime, car accidents, teenage use of marijuana and a decrease in tourism”(Legality of Marijuana in the United States in 2015). Everyone thought that this decision would negatively impact Colorado on a few different bases. The first was marijuana’s “addictive nature”, ‘although pot is not as addictive as other drugs like cocaine or heroin. Treatment specialists have seen that the use of pot over a long period of time can cause addiction”(Legality of …show more content…
“Since legalization, more people have been visiting Colorado than ever before”(Legality of Marijuana in the United States in 2015). The travel site Hopper.com reported “that flight searches for Denver surged around the time that recreational sales began in January”. Denver International Airport “saw record numbers of incoming passengers in January and in April, a month that included the first 4/20 holiday since pot stores opened”. Although it's not clear how much marijuana has to do with Colorado's increased popularity as a tourist destination, “dispensaries regularly see tourists who are drawn by the novelty of buying pot from friendly and knowledgeable salespeople in clean, well-lit stores ”(Legality of Marijuana in the United States in 2015) instead of getting it off the street on the down low from some dude you barely know. "We've had people book vacations that have never been to Colorado before, and the single reason is because of the freedom that we have here," says Kent McBride, a Denver-area limo driver. Others are "coming back specifically because they can buy cannabis” ”(Legality of Marijuana in the United States in 2015). Tourist say, 'I can't believe I can walk around with up to an ounce of pot and not have to worry about getting busted” ”(Legality of Marijuana in the United States in 2015). "At least once every two weeks there is a bus from Kansas of tourists who come in for the weekend,"
Although it is a highly common defense that marijuana is not addictive, it in fact is. Many regular smokers find themselves ridden with very similar withdrawal symptoms of a tobacco addict (Marijuana Addiction Symptoms and Effects). Around 9% of people who use find themselves dependent on marijuana (Is Marijuana Addictive?). That may not seem like much, but that is almost 1 in every 10 people hooked on a drug that is supposedly “non-addictive.” Legalizing a drug that causes disorientation, paranoia, depression, anxiety, dizziness, and a slowed reaction time is not safe, not to mention the fact that it is a gateway drug, often leading users to use even more damaging and dangerous drugs (Is Marijuana Addictive?). With the legalization of a drug like marijuana comes increased use and abuse of the drug. Marijuana is unsafe medically for the individual using and for the people around them when the user is under the influence, it will cost the government money and time and it will cost employers tons. Legalizing marijuana would be a huge mistake by our country.
Thesis Statement: Marijuana has been regarded as a harmful plant that can endanger lives and is thought to be nothing more than an extra problem to be dealt with in today’s society. However, based on its economic value and medical benefits, the cannabis has proven to outweigh its negatives with numerous other positives.
Also, marijuana can be seen as being addictive in nature. “Approximately 9% of individuals that use marijuana become addicted” (Marijuana Statistics). Marijuana contains many chemicals, such as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which can cause many positive and negative effects to the human body and brain. A major attribute for medical marijuana is the economic advantages that are produced from the distribution of the drug. Also, the legalization of medical marijuana can portray positive and negative outcomes for law enforcement. Therefore, medical marijuana has many positive effects, such as treatment for diseases, and negative effects, such as immune system suppression. Throughout this research paper, medical marijuana will be thoroughly explained to exemplify the advantages and disadvantages of legalizing the
This paper will look at the benefits and drawbacks to legalizing marijuana by looking in at Colorado.The state made forty million dollars by taxed marijuana in 2014 alone, also Colorado saved countless millions because of the extremely lower amounts of marijuana arrest and court cases. It is not clear how having new recreational marijuana stores opening will affect the cannabis market, or businesses expanding around them. Gov. John Hickenlooper says that the economy is thriving with record setting numbers of tourists (73.1 million). 49 percent of those tourist said that legal marijuana influenced their decisions to vacation in Colorado. The ER’s in Colorado have also seen a rise in numbers of marijuana related cases and those cases in non-residents have almost doubled. An unexpected situation that arose from legal cannabis was the amount of electricity that is being use to grow the drug. Some cannabusinesses have to go green with solar or wind power. There are many varying views on the effects of legal marijuana have developed in Colorado since marijuana became legal in 2014.
The topic of legalizing recreational marijuana in the United States has been a very controversial one. States such as Colorado and Washington have gone on the offensive and have legalized recreational marijuana and have enjoyed the high revenues brought in from cannabis sale. On the other hand other states have kept low profiles because they are wary of the possible negative outcomes of legalizing recreational marijuana and are using the states of Colorado and Washington as guinea pigs to see what their next course of action on this controversial topic should be. This is not only a highly debated topic among politicians, but also by the people. According to a poll conducted by the Pew Research Center 52% of Americans
The decriminalization of marijuana is an incredibly controversial topic in the United States. Conservative views deem the drug dangerous and debilitating, while reformers suggest that legalizing the plant would have an enormous positive impact on the economy. While others, the terminally ill, wish for the plant to be legal so it can be offered as a less toxic and sometimes more effective alternative to harsh prescription drugs. an overwhelming wealth of facts that state the benefits marijuana can have medically.
The legalization of marijuana will lead to a boost to the economy. With the United States being trillions in debt, an increase in tax money would be a big help to lower the national debt. Colorado, one of the first states to legalize marijuana for recreational and medicinal uses, is showing valuable data of an increase in tax money, “In 2015, Colorado collected more than $135 million in taxes and fees on medicinal and recreational marijuana. Sales totaled over $996 million” (Krishna, Mrinalini). Now, Colorado is joined by seven other states, Washington, Oregon, California, Alaska, Maine, Massachusetts, and Nevada, in the full legalization of marijuana. With these states joining with Colorado, the United States is seeing sales “[grow] by 30%, to 6.1 billion, in 2016 and a projected 20.1 billion in 2021” (Krishna, Mrinalini). With that in mind, these sales are shared among only eight states, add another forty-two states and the rates could surpass the trillions. Considering the evidence, the act of not legalizing marijuana would be foolish.
Marijuana in the United States has been a big issue for decades dating back to when it was first made illegal in 1937. Using scare tactics, propaganda, and false facts, the government decided to classify the plant as a schedule one drug along with substances such as ecstasy, LSD, and heroin. Marijuana has since become a more common and socially acceptable (Not by the government) drug in recent years. This past year Colorado, Washington, and Oregon had decided to vote on the issue of legalizing marijuana for recreational use. Focusing on Colorado, Amendment 64 passed on November 6th, 2012 which would legalize the possession of up to an ounce of the plant.
The modifications found in Article XVIII, Section 14, and 16 of the state’s constitution, provides very specific guidelines related to what is allowed under the new rules. (Article XVIII, Section 16: Personal Use and Regulation of Marijuana, Colorado Constitution). These rules are in place to prevent any potential abuse of the drug or other damages that may arise in an unregulated environment. Business owners seeking to do business within the state need to obtain a thorough understanding of all of the following regulations in
This article from los angeles time talks about the use of marijuana or pot in the state of Colorado.
Another man, a resident from Georgia, who suffers from anxiety and alcoholism decided to make his stay permanent after realizing the constant marijuana use was able to help him stop his bad drinking habit. Accompanied by his son from North Carolina, who has previously been an illegal recreational user, is happy that his habits can now continue guilt free. Another source reported that Colorado has welcomed 36,284 people who have migrated from within the US in 2013 (source). That is 8,000 more people than 2012 due to the “go West” mentality of marijuana enthusiasts (source). If Colorado’s predictions are correct, they will receive an extra $100 million in revenue due to marijuana sales (Dickinson & Haglage). This money can be used for beautification, safety improvements, schooling resources and many other positive things that will make living in Colorado even more appealing.
There has been major news forming around the legalization of marijuana in Colorado. Medical marijuana has been effective in Colorado since 2000. Now marijuana is legal for recreational use for people 21 and up. Many rules and regulations follow the legalization of marijuana. Many people of Colorado fear this legalization, where others are totally for it and think it will help boost Colorado’s economy. I have found many
Colorado is one of the first two states in the U.S. to legalize marijuana. The legalization indicated a momentous shift in drug policy in the state, and nationally as well, since the federal government has yet to seek to override Colorado’s violation of federal drug policy. Beforehand, there were many predictions made on the economic and social impacts of the legalization if it occurred, and to date, many have not come true. Of course, with such a small data set to work with, and only a couple years of information so far, it is unwise to make broad generalizations about the effects of the drug being legal, as enjoyable as making those assertions may be for some people. Nonetheless, some data is in, and these paint a preliminary picture of post-legalization Colorado.
Living in the 21st Century, a majority of the laws and regulations that guide our daily lives have already been legitimized and written decades ago. Although a large portion of these laws still exist today, there is always need to revise and rewrite laws. In this article I will talk about the myths and beliefs of marijuana and compare them to reliable sources to form an opinion on whether or not marijuana is a relatively safe drug for medical and recreational use along with the physical and social effects to the user and their environment. Regard, this paper will not focus on any other associated topics such as the price of prisons, annual marijuana dispensary revenue, drug trafficking or law policy’s. However many of the used articles compare and contrast the use of alcohol to cannabis.
Now we have Colorado. The state of Colorado has more Marijuana dispensaries than Starbucks and McDonald’s locations combined. Residents and tourists alike can buy up to an ounce of weed there.