Marijuana Goes Mainstream & Society is Better Off
Ryan Allway
October 22nd, 2015
Policy, Top Story
The number of Americans using marijuana has doubled over the past decade, rising to more than 22 million users representing 44% of respondents, according to a new Gallup poll, which analyzed health surveys sponsored by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.
Click Here: Sign-up for CannaLetter to Receive Stories like this in Your Inbox
A record 58% of Americans also believe that cannabis use should be legal in the U.S., according to the same poll, which is the highest level in 46 years and ties 2013 results.
The polling group predicts that these numbers will continue to increase over the coming years given the patterns of support by age and the ongoing legalization of medical and recreational marijuana in U.S. states. More than 70% of respondents born between 1981 and 1997 believe the drug should be legalized, compared to just 19% of those born before 1935, while senior citizens are alone among age groups in opposing legalization.
Regulatory Change
The rising support for cannabis legalization may put state and local governments under increasing pressure to ease restrictions on the drug’s use, particularly with nearly half of the population consuming the drug in some way.
The issue of cannabis legalization on a federal level has already come up during presidential debates, while several key states will be voting on the matter in November 2016. In particular, California has a number of initiatives designed to support the legalization of recreational marijuana, which would create the largest market in the world, which some experts believe could approach $10 billion in size.
The issue of federal legalization seems a bit less certain, with leading candidates like Hillary Clinton declining to comment, and many Republicans opposed entirely. However, a federal court’s recent ruling in a DEA harassment case has sent a clear message that the Department of Justice should respect state rights, as directed by House and Senate measures.
Impacts on Society
Many opponents to legalization believe that it would cause widespread chaos in society, but the evidence compiled to date suggests the opposite.
In Philadelphia, police have cited 73% fewer people than they arrested for possessing weed during the same period a year ago after decriminalizing the drug. The reduction in citations has resulted in fewer people having criminal charges on their record, which can make it difficult to find employment and has life-long consequences.
Other states like Colorado that have fully legalized recreational marijuana have reported that fewer teens appear to be using the drug, while a greater number of adults have consumed it. With the rising consumption, the legalization of marijuana has brought in $73.5 million of tax revenue in 2015, which is roughly double the amount collected in 2014. These funds have been diverted to public good projects, such as schools and prevention education programs.
While the legalization of marijuana is still relatively new, there seems to be a limited impact on society when compared to other drugs like tobacco or alcohol.
Looking Ahead
The recent Gallup poll suggests that cannabis legalization isn’t going away anytime soon and governments may face increased pressure to permit the drug. Based on recent data from state governments, this may not be a bad thing as it helps limit crime, raise tax revenue, and potentially help those in need when it comes to medical marijuana. These trends could lead to the federal government taking greater action over the coming year or two.
This article was published by CFN Enterprises Inc. (OTCQB: CNFN), owner and operator of CFN Media, the industry’s leading agency and digital financial media network dedicated to the burgeoning CBD and legal cannabis industries. Call +1 (833) 420-CNFN for more information.
About Ryan Allway
Mr. Allway has over a decade of experience in the financial markets as both a private investor and financial journalist. He has been actively involved in the cannabis industry since its inception, covering public and private companies.
Search CannabisFN
Press Coverage
Psychedelics Index
Top Videos
Tom Zuber is Zuber Lawler & Del Duca’s Managing Partner. He has a degree with highest honors in biomedical engineering and has advised some of the most iconic companies in the world on their patent and trademark portfolios. He is at the cutting edge of cannabis patent and trademark law. He holds degrees from Harvard University and Columbia Law […]
Technical420 is the premier provider of research and analysis on cannabis stocks. We provide investors with sponsored and non-sponsored information on the volatile and emerging cannabis industry. “Our research is our passion!” Your profit is our reward!
ManifestSeven (M7), formerly known as MJIC, is the first integrated omnichannel platform for legal cannabis, merging compliant distribution with a retail superhighway.
Jushi and its trade main administration crew is constructing a built-in multi-state proprietor and operator of cannabis and hemp licenses throughout America. Jushi is concentrated on persevering with to construct a various multi-state portfolio of branded cannabis and hemp-derived property by means of opportunistic investments and by internally pursuing licenses in enticing jurisdictions. Jushi strives […]
Network Partners
About CFN Media Group
CFN Enterprises Inc. (OTCQB: CNFN) owns and operates CFN Media Group, the premier agency and financial media network reaching executives, entrepreneurs and consumers worldwide. Through its proprietary content creation, video library, and distribution via www.CannabisFN.com, CFN has built an extensive database of cannabis interest, assisting many of the world’s largest cannabis firms and CBD brands to build awareness and thrive. For more information, please visit www.cfnenterprisesinc.com.
Disclaimer: Matters discussed on this website contain forward-looking statements that are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. CFN Media Group, which owns CannabisFN, is not registered with any financial or securities regulatory authority and does not provide nor claims to provide investment advice or recommendations to readers of this release. CFN Media Group, which owns CannabisFN, may from time-to-time have a position in the securities mentioned herein and will increase or decrease such positions without notice. The Information contains forward-looking statements, i.e. statements or discussions that constitute predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, estimates, or projections as indicated by such words as "expects", "will", "anticipates", and "estimates"; therefore, you should proceed with extreme caution in relying upon such statements and conduct a full investigation of the Information and the Profiled Issuer as well as any such forward-looking statements. Any forward looking statements we make in the Information are limited to the time period in which they are made, and we do not undertake to update forward looking statements that may change at any time; The Information is presented only as a brief "snapshot" of the Profiled Issuer and should only be used, at most, and if at all, as a starting point for you to conduct a thorough investigation of the Profiled Issuer and its securities and to consult your financial, legal or other adviser(s) and avail yourself of the filings and information that may be accessed at www.sec.gov, www.pinksheets.com, www.otcmarkets.com or other electronic sources, including: (a) reviewing SEC periodic reports (Forms 10-Q and 10-K), reports of material events (Form 8-K), insider reports (Forms 3, 4, 5 and Schedule 13D); (b) reviewing Information and Disclosure Statements and unaudited financial reports filed with the Pink Sheets or www.otcmarkets.com; (c) obtaining and reviewing publicly available information contained in commonlyknown search engines such as Google; and (d) consulting investment guides at www.sec.gov and www.finra.com. You should always be cognizant that the Profiled Issuers may not be current in their reporting obligations with the SEC and OTCMarkets and/or have negative signs at www.otcmarkets.com (See section below titled "Risks Related to the Profiled Issuers, which provides additional information pertaining thereto). For making specific investment decisions, readers should seek their own advice and that of their own professional advisers. CFN Media Group, which owns CannabisFN, may be compensated for its Services in the form of cash-based and/or equity-based compensation in the companies it writes about, or a combination of the two. For full disclosure, please visit: https://www.cannabisfn.com/legal-disclaimer/. A short time after we acquire the securities of the foregoing company, we may publish the (favorable) information about the issuer referenced above advising others, including you, to purchase; and while doing so, we may sell the securities we acquired. In addition, a third-party shareholder compensating us may sell his or her shares of the issuer while we are publishing favorable information about the issuer. Except for the historical information presented herein, matters discussed in this article contain forward-looking statements that are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. CFN Media Group, which owns CannabisFN, is not registered with any financial or securities regulatory authority, and does not provide nor claims to provide investment advice or recommendations to readers of this release. CFN Media Group, which owns CannabisFN, may from time to time have a position in the securities mentioned herein and will increase or decrease such positions without notice. For making specific investment decisions, readers should seek their own advice and that of their own professional advisers. CFN Media Group, which owns CannabisFN, may be compensated for its Services in the form of cash-based and/or equity- based compensation in the companies it writes about, or a combination of the two. For full disclosure please visit: https://www.cannabisfn.com/legal-disclaimer/.
Copyright © Accelerize Inc. · All Rights Reserved · Privacy Policy · Legal Disclaimer
