Marijuana accounts for 53% of all drug arrests in Tennessee, 33% of which are for simple possession. Approximately 20,000 residents of Tennessee have been arrested for marijuana possession. With the requirement for arrest being 1 ounce of marijuana worth potentially $580 dollars at street value, equating to $11,327,400 minimum worth of potential sales in a legal setting, based on arrests alone. With Tennessee's tax rate of 9.25%, that equates to $1,047,784.50 in potential tax revenue as a minimum. After Legalization, Tennessee can expect figures similar to the state of Washington where marijuana sales will generate $700,000,000 in revenue by year 2019. (Drugscience)

Alcohol, a legal drug, caused 88,000 deaths from 2006-2010, according to the CDC. Marijuana has never been reported to cause death in the history of mankind. One would sooner die of smoke inhalation than of an overdose of THC. Recreational legalization poses no threat to public health or society anywhere. Studies show that motor skills can not be impaired by marijuana more than the legal limit of 0.05% Blood Alcohol Concentration. Driving while under the influence of THC, while not recommended, is still safer than alcohol, according to a 2001 study. (NORML)

In Tennessee, marijuana prohibition has created a racial disparity of arrests in an otherwise fairly equal society of marijuana users. Marijuana users of African descent are 4 times more likely to be arrested than their Caucasian counterparts, even though Caucasians are 5% more likely to partake in recreational marijuana, according to a study done by the American Civil Liberties Union. (ACLU)

The American Chemical Society has shown that Marijuana is an effective treatment for Alzheimer's. Rather than further bogging down our healthcare system with prescription marijuana, legalizing it for recreational purposes will allow those with medical disorders to treat themselves. It is also nature's oldest nausea medication for cancer patients, as well as a stimulant for those who suffer from narcolepsy.(ACS)

Recreational legalization has already been shown by Forbes.com to be a massive boost in tax revenue for states that have taken the first steps. Colorado witnessed a $2,000,000 boost in tax revenue from a 10% flat tax on all marijuana products added to the original sales tax of 2.9% in just the first month of 2014 from marijuana sale. Regardless of special taxes in areas of Colorado, sales stayed consistent and healthy, with a total of $14,200,000 worth of marijuana sold. The legalization also came with a bylaw that dedicated the first $40,000,000 of tax revenue directly to school construction. (Forbes)

Tennessee should adopt legislation that legalizes growth, sale, and use of recreational marijuana for all citizens of the age of majority, create bylaws that directs this tax revenue back into the state's infrastructure, school system, and potential growing subsidies in order to compete with other states on recreational marijuana.

Works Cited:

Schmidlin, Kyle. "Column: 'War On Drugs' Merely Fights The Symptoms Of A Faulty System." CBSNews. CBS Interactive, 13 Sept. 2008. Web. 03 Oct. 2014.

Eubanks, Lisa, Claude Rogers, Albert E. IV, George Koob, Arthur Olson, Tobin Dickerson, and Kim Janda. "A Molecular Link between the Active Component of Marijuana and Alzheimer's Disease Pathology." - Molecular Pharmaceutics (ACS Publications). American Chemical Society, 9 Aug. 2006. Web. 03 Oct. 2014.

http://www.drugscience.org/States/TN/TN.pdf

"Fact Sheets- Alcohol Use and Your Health." Center for Disease Control. CDC, 19 Aug. 2014. Web. 3 Oct. 2014.

Armentano, Paul. "NORML.org - Working to Reform Marijuana Laws." Cannabis and Driving: A Scientific and Rational Review. NORML, 12 Sept. 2011. Web. 03 Oct. 2014.

Erb, Kelly. "It's No Toke: Colorado Pulls In Millions In Marijuana Tax Revenue." Forbes. Forbes Magazine, 11 Mar. 2014. Web. 03 Oct. 2014.

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