Join Alvin Barnes of Jackson, Mississippi, in his comprehensive PowerPoint presentation as he delves into the contentious debate surrounding marijuana decriminalization. In this insightful exploration, Alvin meticulously examines the advantages and drawbacks associated with this hotly debated topic. From potential economic benefits and social justice considerations to concerns regarding public health and law enforcement, Alvin provides a balanced analysis that sheds light on the complexities of marijuana decriminalization. Whether you're an advocate, policymaker, or simply curious about the issue, this presentation offers valuable insights to inform your perspective.

1. The Pros and
Cons of
Marijuana
Decriminalization

2. A L V I N B A R N E S O F
J A C K S O N M I S S I S S I P P I
P R E S E N T A T I O N B Y :

3. T H E H I G H L I F E

4. Arguments in Support of
Marijuana legalization

5. Pro Marijuana
Legalization provides for improved Quality & Safety Control:
The recent fentanyl-laced-heroin problem has brought to light, that there is no way for weed (marijuana) users to
know exactly what they are getting when they purchase marijuana from street vendors. Legalizing marijuana
creates standards to ensure quality and safety control. We’ve seen how this works in the regulation and control of
alcohol and tobacco.
Improved quality and safety controls also ease the burden on the medical system. There is less of a risk of serious
problems occurring due to overdoses on unknown substances hidden in unregulated marijuana.
Touching on the benefit of Medicinal Cannabis
Marijuana has been proven to treat a wide array of “untreatable” conditions including
• Epilepsy Multiple sclerosis
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Cancer

6. Increased Tax Revenue
The biggest pro of the legalization debate is
the chance of increased tax revenue. To
illustrate the point, legal sales of cannabis
products amounted to $996 million in 2015.
That’s almost a billion dollars spent! And the
tax revenue collected off those sales
was equally as staggering—$135 million. That
money can be used to fix roads, fund public
projects, improve schools, hire more police
and firefighters…the list goes on and on
Show me the
money!!!!!!.
Pro Marijuana

7. Pro Marijuana
Decrease In Gang-Related Drug Violence
Gang-related drug violence is still a very real part of life in many urban areas around the country.
However, the legalization of recreational marijuana would remove one of those sources of dispute. In
the states where marijuana is completely legal, those who encounter injustice of some type can now
turn to the police and the court system rather than turning to vigilantism. That benefits not just their
safety, but the safety of the public at large who were often innocent victims of gang-related drug
violence.
Allows Police & Courts To Focus On More Violent Crimes
The legalization of recreational marijuana would do two very important things:
• Provide the police and the courts with more money (through tax revenue)
• Give them more time to focus on more violent crimes
Better funding means more individuals to handle the load. And more time means more attention is paid
to preventing violent crimes. Too often, both the police and the court system were overwhelmed with
handling individuals brought in for simply possessing marijuana. The problem is, under the law, those
individuals had to be treated as though they were carrying meth, heroin, or cocaine. Legalizing
marijuana would relieve the pressure on these already overworked public servants.

9. Arguments in Opposition to
Marijuana legalization

10. Anti-Marijuana
Marijuana Is Addictive??????
Scientists are still divided on the subject of addiction. Some claim cannabis is not as addictive as
harder drugs like crack and meth. Others claim, that one in ten marijuana users develop
dependence over time. They point to the fact that stopping marijuana cold turkey will lead to
withdrawal symptoms like irritability and anxiety. The same, however, could be said of cigarette
smoking (which is legal). More studies will need to be done to determine if marijuana is truly as
addictive as the opponents of cannabis legalization claim.
Marijuana Is A Gateway Drug
Marijuana has long been considered a gateway drug. It is thought that once a person tries
marijuana, he is more susceptible to trying harder, more dangerous drugs. Specialists like to point
to research that suggests that using marijuana might be linked to more serious illegal substances
like heroin and prescription painkillers. Legalizing marijuana would increase the number of
individuals who try marijuana and then, eventually, move on to harder drugs. This could put more
financial pressure on the medical system and the public coffers to provide treatment for these
individuals when they have serious problems.

11. Like alcohol, marijuana alters your
perception. And like alcohol, this altered
perception could lead to problems of
impaired driving. Driving under the
influence of marijuana could compound
the already major problem of driving
while under the influence of alcohol. It
could also, opponents claim, lead to an
increase in harder crimes like robbery
and violence because of lapses in
judgment brought on by marijuana’s
psychotropic effects.
Anti Marijuana

12. Anti Marijuana
Decreased Mental Health
Opponents of legalized recreational marijuana like to point to studies that show that marijuana smokers suffer from
everything from restricted blood flow to the brain to memory loss, to the increased likelihood of schizophrenia and
depression. But science is still not completely certain about these assertions.
Marijuana Users’ Lungs Are At Risk
The marijuana smoker, (at least presumed) takes the smoke deeper into her lungs and holds it there longer, than she
would if she were smoking a cigarette. This deeper, longer exposure to carcinogens can increase the likelihood of
lung cancer. The theory, though, does not touch on the different frequencies with which cigarette and marijuana
smokers partake. Nor does it take into account the alternate methods of administration like vaporizing, tinctures,
and edibles.
Second-Hand Smoke Could Become A Problem
We’re all familiar with the debate involving the negative health effects of second-hand smoke from cigarettes. The
same debate swirls around cannabis smoke. Could second-hand smoke from marijuana cause non-smokers to have
lung problems? Can they accumulate THC in their bloodstream? Will they experience a contact high? These
questions are still being studied to determine the efficacy of the opponents’ claims.

14. T H E F A C T S

15. T H E F A C T S
Both sides of the marijuana debate Claim that public health is on their side however the facts never lie.
Marijuana is replacing alcohol for a growing percentage of youths. Only 2 people have died from
marijuana overdose on record. States with medical marijuana laws have lower rates of death caused
by opioid overdoses.
Marijuana leads to fewer heroin addictions based on arrest data. Studies show marijuana is addictive.
More than coffee and sugar, but less than alcohol or nicotine. Regular users of marijuana have a 40
percent increased risk of psychosis and depression. Causes a 20 percent increase in heart rate. If you
smoke and drive you are 2X more likely to be in a car crash.

16. Proponents say legalized marijuana
improves the justice system. Opponents
can’t argue with this point because it is
true. All studies conducted concur that
legal marijuana has a positive effect on
the justice system. Legal Marijuana frees
court and police time, revenue, and
manpower
T H E F A C T S

17. T H E F A C T S
Research suggests that marijuana can lead to the use of another drug which can lead to addiction. A study that
used data from the National Epidemiological Study of Alcohol Use and Related Disorders. This study found that
people who used marijuana during the first part of the survey were more likely than people who did not use
marijuana to get an alcohol use disorder within 3 years “People who use marijuana and already have an alcohol use
disorder at the outset are at greater risk of their alcohol use disorder worsening. Marijuana use is also linked to other
substance use disorders including nicotine addiction. These findings are consistent with the idea of marijuana as a
"gateway drug. “However, the majority of people who use marijuana do not go on to use other, harder substances.
Alcohol and nicotine also prime the brain for a heightened response to other drugs and are, like marijuana, also
typically used before a person progresses to other, more harmful substances. The facts seem to be inconclusive on
the question of marijuana as a gateway drug.