Other Voices | Southern Political Watch: Cannabis Legalization in Mississippi

Every 42 seconds, an individual is arrested for cannabis according to the FBI; this same individual will most likely lose his or her job, their house, their family, and everything they own. All of this because of a natural growing plant? Cannabis needs to be legalized because it has medicinal value, has properties which will stimulate our lagging economy, and is overall unconstitutional. Also, counter-arguments will be addressed and refuted. First off, we will examine the medical benefits of the plant.

Physicians and researchers have “overwhelmingly identified the cannabinoid CBD as the active medicinal compound in cannabis,” according to News-Medical. Dr. Sanjay Gupta, who received his Doctor of Medicine from the University of Michigan Medical School, states that cannabis products are being used to treat cancer, seizures, multiple sclerosis (MS), glaucoma, pain and other ailments. Among these benefits, cannabis is also known to treat cerebral palsy. In the documentary In Pot We Trust, Jacqueline Patterson is featured with cerebral palsy. When Patterson smokes marijuana, she transforms into another woman, a woman who can speak clearly and use her body more effectively and less painfully. The plant clearly has health remedies for our bodies, but it also has health remedies for our economy.

The legalization of cannabis will stimulate the economy. In Colorado, where cannabis is legal, the Colorado Department of Revenue states that $52,185,870 comes from the “Total Marijuana Taxes, Licenses, and Fees.” 52.2 million dollars is added to the state’s revenue from the fees associated with the sale of marijuana. Not only is the tax revenue great from the legalization, but the overall economy is thriving. Colorado sits at a 4.7% unemployment rate which is lower than the national unemployment rate of ~7%. In 2014, Colorado added over 67,000 jobs. Mississippi’s unemployment rate sits at 7.7%. Considering roughly 50% of Mississippi’s revenue comes from federal funds, the state could use all of the state generated funds it can use. Also, Mississippi has the perfect climate for hemp farming. Hemp can be used to make a myriad items from paper, clothing, ropes, and fuels. In order for Mississippi to gain this revenue, it has to be legal. Continue Reading…………..