Anyone who has ever read Milton Friedman's Free To Choose (a book everyone interested in Economics should read at some point in their life) knows that Friedman is a staunch supporter of the legalization of marijuana. Friedman isn't alone in that regard, as he joined over 500 economists in signing An Open Letter to the President, Congress, Governors, and State Legislatures on the benefits of legalizing marijuana. Friedman isn't the only well known economist to sign the letter, it was also signed by Nobel Laureate George Akerlof and other notable economists including Daron Acemoglu of MIT, Howard Margolis of the University of Chicago, and Walter Williams of George Mason University.
Text of Letter Signed By 500+ Economists:
We, the undersigned, call your attention to the attached report by Professor Jeffrey A. Miron, The Budgetary Implications of Marijuana Prohibition. The report shows that marijuana legalization -- replacing prohibition with a system of taxation and regulation -- would save $7.7 billion per year in state and federal expenditures on prohibition enforcement and produce tax revenues of at least $2.4 billion annually if marijuana were taxed like most consumer goods. If, however, marijuana were taxed similarly to alcohol or tobacco, it might generate as much as $6.2 billion annually.
The fact that marijuana prohibition has these budgetary impacts does not by itself mean prohibition is bad policy. Existing evidence, however, suggests prohibition has minimal benefits and may itself cause substantial harm.
We therefore urge the country to commence an open and honest debate about marijuana prohibition. We believe such a debate will favor a regime in which marijuana is legal but taxed and regulated like other goods. At a minimum, this debate will force advocates of current policy to show that prohibition has benefits sufficient to justify the cost to taxpayers, foregone tax revenues, and numerous ancillary consequences that result from marijuana prohibition.
Drugs. Marijuana. Whenever we get to hear the term, we react so negatively. But of course, who wouldn’t? Everyone knows it is ethically wrong especially in the Filipino’s perspective. The use of marijuana has already caused many social problems in the community. When abusively used, this could even cause violence and death; in fact, news and reported information are just but evidences on these. On the contrary, the use of the said drugs was never really gone amidst all the legal prohibitions on this. These has just resulted into a much chaotic society for trafficants still produces and sell drugs, while users continue to enjoy the use of the latter. Recently, the campaign on the legalization of marijuana has become stronger among the foreign countries. Their main point is that since prohibition could not do any better, it is much easier to just cut the exclusion of the drugs and make government income from it through tax.
I believe the proponents have a great point on this issue. The legal prohibition itself does not stop the use of marijuana in the first place. The only ones benefited are those who produce since the value of the said drugs increases abnormally because it is out on a black market. Not only that the government did not gain from the market of this, they only have to get the burden on arresting the pushers and users when in fact there’s a lot of bigger problems the country’s facing nowadays.
Studies show that myths about marijuana are not all true. People before think that the said drug is very dangerous because of the chemicals it contains and can cause severe illnesses. They believe that it is addictive and can even impair learning abilities. However, it is scientifically proven that marijuana’s chemical content are much smaller compared to coffee or with cigarettes out in the market, and that the use of alcohol and caffeine are more dangerous and that are more close to causing learning ability weakness and addiction. Well, if ever there may be reported cases of violence about the use of such, then it’s only when the government could arrest and duly punish people responsible just like any other crimes committed.
Morality, I believe this is what mainly keeps people from opening their horizons in many possibilities such as this case. Most people nowadays are guided by the norms and teachings of the society. However, people also want to seek their own personal will. If the government prohibits the use of marijuana to protect its citizens from harm, then there’s no point in also tolerating them in things like overeating or bungee jumping. In reality, bungee jumping can take lives in an instant and that obesity is an epidemic that kills millions of people every year, yet the government has no right to regulate what they eat and what activities they can join into. Aside from reconciling with the human rights issues, the government could in fact generate more income from this said legalization. These tax revenues could be used on projects for the welfare of every citizen.
The campaign about legalization of marijuana is still in progress. Of course, it is much possible that a lot will not adopt this because of morality issues we are all concerned unto. Well, I say, it’s a matter of personal choice and responsibility. One may choose to use any drugs he wants and still keep it away from the knowledge of the authority and may not be caught. Yet, the accountability to take care of his health and not abuse it is all his, not of the people around him, and most of all not of the government which currently prohibits the use of marijuana. If because of these things, your life will be messed up, there’s no one to blame but yourself. Man, be responsible enough.
