How would I fix the economy? First of all, I'd get rid of all of the high-moral problems that are currently hindering us from progress. I think you all know what I'm talking about; the high intolerance against currently-illegal substances (marijuana, for example) is a serious problem that should be ended. The regulation and taxation of these highly popular substances would cause a serious economic boost, at-least for the federal government. Now, with that being said, I feel like I have to make it clear that I am one to use drugs or narcotics for recreational purposes. However, I feel that there are enough responsible users out there to cause a serious amount of depletion of U.S. Debt.

Think about it. We arrest about 1,000,000 people every year for marijuana-related offenses. The entire time we do so, the government is paying for their stay inside a prison cell, their food, their water, everything they are given is paid for by the government. All in all, per year, the government spends about 7.6 billion dollars out of the taxpayers' money in order to arrest citizens for marijuana alone. Legalization would put all of those criminals (considering that they don't have any other charges against them) out of the government's care and back on the street. That's 7.6 billion dollars that the government has back in its pocket to care for the national debt.

Along with that, regulation of marijuana along with age prohibition can gain us even more revenue for the government, considering that we put a 7% tax on it. Approximately 40% of people in the United States population, from ages 12 and up, have used marijuana before and use it quite regularly. We put a price on that marijuana, and suddenly 40% of that population (before subtracting those underage) is putting money that used to be gained off of the black market into sales tax.

Along with that, legalization of marijuana can create an entirely brand-new industry, thus creating more jobs for citizens everywhere in the country. More farmers and scientists alike will be able to make a profit off of selling a brand new cash crop on the market. This should take down the unemployment rate substantially.

In rebuttal to those who oppose marijuana usage on the basis that it is either an addictive substance or that it ruins lives, I have to say that the former claim is incredibly hypocritical. In the United States we have evolved from treating drug-abuse problems as a disease to treating them as a federal offense. When people succumb to alcoholism, they aren't arrested, are they? They're taken into AA or other forms of treatment. Why don't we do that for all drugs?

The list goes on and on in favor of marijuana legalization. Our nation could take a serious improvement, economy-wise, if we were to just get over this personal conflict and work towards the greater good.