Life with marijuana policy

Crime
In Colorado, marijuana cases filed in state
courts decreased 77% between 2012 and
2013. Petty marijuana possession charges also
fell 81%. This is one of the main reasons why it
is now legalized in Colorado.

Taxes
Colorado collected over 12 million dollars in
retail marijuana taxes in the first five months of
sales.
The legislature has set aside 2.5 million dollars
in marijuana tax revenue to allow schools to
hire health professionals.

Driving
A minority of states have zero tolerance laws for marijuana, meaning an
individual will automatically be guilty of DUID if THC and/or marijuana
metabolites are found in his or her blood. Other states have per se laws,
meaning drivers can be convicted solely for having a certain concentration of
THC or metabolites in their blood. Metabolites can be detected in a persons
system for weeks after impairment wears off, and THC can be detected days or
even weeks after some regular consumers last used marijuana. To avoid
criminalizing medical marijuana patients who drive long after marijuanas
effects have worn off, most medical marijuana states with zero tolerance laws
have carved out an exception for patients.

Medical
Studies show that many patients suffering with
HIV/AIDS, glaucoma, cancer, chemotherapy,
multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, and other
debilitating illness find that marijuana provides
relief from their symptoms.

Cost
With the estimated retail value of the U.S. marijuana
market at $113 billion, the local, state, and federal
governments are forgoing $31.1 billion in potential sales tax
each year. At the same time, marijuana arrests cost
taxpayers $10.7 billion annually. A cost-benefit analysis of
the situation indicates that the country could save roughly
$42 billion a year by legally regulating and taxing the
marijuana industry.