Let's Talk About It with Jenny White/The pros and cons of legalizing marijuana

According to a 2017 poll 44% of American adults use marijuana on a regular basis. As of 2018 the U.S. government claims the right to and does criminalize the growing selling and possession of marijuana in all states. This right is not given to them by the Constitution, but by the U.S. Supreme Court. The primary reasons in the support of legalizing marijuana include: 1) unwarranted government intrusion into individual freedom of choice; 2) marijuana is no more harmful to a person's health than alcohol and tobacco, which are both legal and widely used and regulated by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration; 3) marijuana has proven medical benefits for patients suffering from a host of ailments and diseases including cancer, aids, and glaucoma; 4) crime and violence both within the U.S. and at the Mexico border are increased due to illegal selling and buying of marijuana. Legalization would end the need for such criminal behavior. The cons are: some opponents of legalizing marijuana believe that individuals involved in buying and selling are more likely than average to be involved in other crimes and that society is safer with marijuana offenders incarcerated; and 2) law enforcement agencies don't want to be construed as supporting drug use.