Jesse L.

Kirkland II
Professor Thomas
UWRT 1102 – Writing and Inquiry in Academic Contexts
April 8, 2018
 Thesis First Draft
In these trying times that we live in, you likely might wake up to weather that is

exceeding record highs and lows progressively every year similar to that of our stock market

exchange, some obscene drug or violent catastrophe striking somewhere local or remote, or the

President playing “Twitter Wars” or firing one of his cabinet members as if he was still on his

nationally syndicated sitcom, “The Apprentice”. While behind the scenes, we the American

people are left wondering about the real issues, poverty-stricken families, constantly changing

unemployment figures and unchanging minimum wage, worsening immigration policy and a

lack of reform all while trying to function as a productive member in society and raise awareness

in our homes to the battles that we face every day. The general consensus is that it affects us all

in one way or another and it seems like no one really cares about these issues. Instead of coming

up with new ways to advance collectively and push us into a stronger, more united front. These

days it seems imperative that division not be a current focus, but yet and still everything that

results from our present situation. If only we could work together? If only we could look into less

traditional means of economic flourishment? What could lead us to this promised land a repeal of

the present marijuana laws in lieu of legalization and taxation. How different is this from what

we encountered and overcame with the Prohibition with alcohol? Is this really any different at

all?

If college was free, at least at the state college or university level how much would that

change our society? What if the only debt one had to worry about acquiring was for property? I

am being a bit overzealous, but the truth is that where marijuana is legal and taxed the consumers

reap massive benefits in the form of tens of thousands of jobs and potentially hundreds of

millions (ranging to figures close to the billion-dollar mark) in gross tax revenue. What if we
could reallocate the use of such funds, in a direction that we all might be able to benefit from

such as education? Right now, so many people go through so much just to raise their children

(multiple jobs, utilizing many state ran programs welfare, Women Infants and Children program,

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and etc.) and the last thing that they can afford to

think about is college (at least not without help).

The question becomes what if we could fix that, through a logical means. What if we

could fix a number of things through the legalization and/or decriminalization of marijuana

process and paying for education could just serve as the tip of the iceberg? I mean if you think

about it, we wouldn’t just be serving the families by putting their children through school, we’d

be serving the economy by educating millions of children and providing them with the

opportunity to be qualified for these jobs which we need young graduates to fill. Let’s explore

this by first venturing through those states that have already battled and came out the victor in

the legalization of marijuana.

While we discuss change, there are a lot of constituents and lawmakers actually putting

those ideas into motion. In the last year 18,005 full-time jobs were created and about $2.4 billion

were added to the state of Colorado’s economy last year, an analysis from the Marijuana Policy

Group (MPG) shows. Every dollar spent in the industry generates between $2.13 and $2.40 in

economic activity (Pyke, 2016). This being With some of the challenges faced economically,

alternative means should be sought after for ways to advance and preserve life. The answer to

advance a society, to raise lower social classes, to bring more balance to the measure of men and

women: higher education. How does one tie in with the other, economic worth? With a less than

stellar economy yet one that is recovering what might be able to generate much needed funds

like the legalization (and decriminalization) of marijuana.

 While the idea of free higher education was brought up by our previous President of the

United States’ Barrack Obama (whom specifically referenced community college) and current

Senator Bernie Sanders (whom spoke ideally about public colleges and universities). Ranging in

costs from 60 billion over 10 years (for the “community college plan”) and generally 70 to 75

billion a year (for the “free college for all plan”). The problem comes down to funding, if it

should fall upon the shoulders of the federal government or the state and legalization of

marijuana along with the taxation will allow for those dollars to be accounted for equally

between state and federal funding. Whether you agree about the legalization and taxation of

marijuana, one thing that cannot be denied is the boost it would give the United States

economically (both in jobs and in revenue).

Several states have already began allocating their marijuana revenue but out of all the

states that are redistributing the funding into the state, Nevada is leading the charge by saying

that all of its extra money will funnel into its general fund and support Nevada schools and

public education (Robinson, 2016). This is monumental, that something once depicted as a

“gateway drug” could open up doors for a better future. While the purpose of redistributing the

funding could drastically boost our economy, educationally what if it didn’t stop there? What if

we allocated funding into upgrades to the energy infrastructure system that is in dire need of

overhaul as well? What if it went past that as well and started to chip away at the over 19 trillion-

dollar national debt?

Is the government thinking peanuts when it should be thinking of a more progressive

means of which it cannot substantially avoid anyway? In California for instance, they are

creating a tax fund designed to go specifically in the state treasury which will fund: 10 million

going to a public university in California for research on legalization, 10 million (increasing

annually for five years until it reaches 50 million) will support efforts to help communities

harmed by the war on drugs, 3 million will be distributed to the California Highway Patrol for

five years to help establish protocol for identifying drivers under the influence of marijuana, 2

million will be spent on medical marijuana research at the University of California at San

Diego’s Center for Medical Cannabis Research, The California bureau that oversees marijuana

control and other state bodies will receive funds “for their reasonable costs”, with remaining

funds going toward youth drug prevention, education and treatment, environmental restoration

and protection, and state and local law enforcement (hint, hint pay raises) (Robinson, 2016).

After projecting 1 billion dollars in revenue for its first year (which it will only grow thereafter)

and with the allocations you have over 950 million dollars remaining to invest in not only higher

education but some of the other needs within the state and federal government.

One thing that has been in the news a lot lately is the opioid epidemic, in the states that

have legalized marijuana the fatality rate for opioid overdoses have dropped by an average of 25

percent and hospitalizations due to opioid dependency/use has been reduced by 13-23 percent

(NBC News, 2017). While I’m not saying that the answer to all of our nation’s problems is in

marijuana legalization, there is something to be said for the end result and what can come from a

little thinking outside of the box. If we can shift the dependency from Oxycontin and Vicodin

which claims 91 lives a day to a substance which as of to date has claimed 0 lives, why shouldn’t

we. So, we could shift the conversation, without the risk of any added danger, why not?

Before writing this paper, I wasn’t an advocate for marijuana legalization. I thought about

it as any other American might, as a drug a controlled substance. Not a potential treatment for

people that could use it: HIV/AIDS patients, cancer patients, patients with mental health

disorders, sufferers of multiple sclerosis, glaucoma, and chronic/severe pain. Not a potential
earner that can boost the economy through taxation bringing in amounts ranging from: Maine

10%, Massachusetts 3.75%, Nevada 15%, California 15% (just to name a few). Maybe if more

lawmakers opened their eyes to what was possible a conversation could lead to a longer lasting

result, that could impact our economical regions as well as our socio-economical and level the

playing field by providing opportunity not had by earlier generations. The way to continue to

advance with things is to continue to progress and to allow for a better future for our families and

our families families’.

Where might we be if we put more money into our schools? If we could raise the pay of

our educators, first responders and the like? The jobs that legalization would produce, the

funding that might be able to send someone to higher education that otherwise might not be able

to attend, and the opportunities that might result from having a smarter, more diverse population

of people. What are we waiting for?

In Closing

To be both clear and fair one thing that this paper is not is intended to change your mind

or to deliberately provoke your way of thinking. I think it’s very important to note that I am not a

political activist, advocate or have anything to gain personally or professionally by portraying

either side of the discussion whether, it be viewed as a point to be taken or otherwise favorably

or unfavorably. I objectively chose a discussion point and I argued it to the best of my ability,

supported by facts and credible sources alike and I hope that is respectable to my audience. One

thing I do hope comes out of this is a renewed state of mind and the fact that all things are not

simply black and white and the point of writing, researching and analyzing things is to think and

to hopefully learn. As did I, my hope is you did as well. Even if all you did learn, was just barely
more than what you started knowing or you find yourself following a citation to get a better

perspective on the material. That is more than enough for me.

Works Cited Page

Pyke, A., “Marijuana’s $2.4 billion impact in Colorado is a lesson for 5 states considering

legalization.” ThinkProgress.org, October 28, 2016, WordPress.com VIP,

www.thinkprogress.org/5-states-weighing-marijuana-legalization-would-reap-enormous-

economic-benefits-study-suggests-cb06831d154b/ , Accessed February 8, 2018.

Kamenetz, A., “Clinton’s Free-Tuition Promise: What Would It Cost? How Would It Work?”

NPR.org, July 28, 2016, NPRed, www.npr.org/sections/ed/2016/07/28/487794394/hillary-s-free-

tuition-promise-what-would-it-cost-how-would-it-work , Accessed February 8, 2018.

Robinson, M., “4 states legalized recreational weed this week-here’s how they’ll spend the extra

tax money.” Business Insider, November 12, 2016, Business Insider,

www.businessinsider.com/recreational-marijuana-tax-revenue-allocation-2016-

11/#massachusetts-plans-to-bolster-services-offered-by-the-states-3 , Accessed February 8, 2018.

Kazmi, S. H. (2015). HIGHER EDUCATION COST IS PROHIBITIVELY HIGHER. Pakistan

& Gulf Economist, 34(14), 11-12. Retrieved from https://librarylink.uncc.edu/login?

url=https://search-proquest-com.librarylink.uncc.edu/docview/1677223715?accountid=14605.

Accessed March 15, 2019.

Peck, G. (2013), “For Marijuana Legalization, Lessons from Prohibition.” The New York Times,

May 22, 2013, The New York Times Company,

https://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2013/05/22/how-can-marijuana-be-sold-safely/for-

marijuana-legalization-lessons-from-prohibition . Accessed March 25, 2018.

Robert B. Archibald & David H. Feldman (2010) Why Do Higher-Education Costs Rise More

Rapidly Than Prices in General?, Change: The Magazine of Higher Learning, 40:3, 25-

31, DOI: 10.3200/CHNG.40.3.25-31. Accessed by March 1, 2018.

Unknown, “Legalizing Marijuana Decreases Fatal Opiate Overdoses, Study Shows.”

Drugabuse.com, Unknown, Drugabuse.com, drugabuse.com/legalizing-marijuana-decreases-

fatal-opiate-overdoses/. Accessed February 19, 2018.

Unknown, “Legalized Marijuana Could Help Curb the Opioid Epidemic, Study Finds.” NBC

News, March 27, 2017, NBC News, www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/legalized-marijuana-

could-help-curb-opioid-epidemic-study-finds-n739301 . Accessed February 19, 2018.