Legalization of Marijuana in the United States - Research Paper Example

The legalization of marijuana would make smoking marijuana an integral part of the youth culture in the US. There would be negative effects on the academic and professional performance of people who openly smoke marijuana. Marijuana should not be legalized in the US because if it is legalized, this would essentially offset the effect of illegalization of marijuana that has been achieved over decades. The current rate of past 30-day marijuana use among Americans at least 12 years of age in the year 1979 was up to 13.

2 percent which dropped down to 6.1 percent in 2008, thus showing a 54 percent reduction in the use of marijuana achieved over a period of almost three decades (CNBC, 2010). This is a significant triumph in the area of public health, which should not be overlooked. The main issues associated with the legalization of marijuana include but are not limited to an increase in the consumption of marijuana, health issues, increased cost of healthcare, lost productivity, and the cultivation of unhealthy culture in general.