Legalizing marijuana could potentially reduce crime rates in several ways: 1) It may reduce the incentive for people to commit crimes in order to obtain marijuana or profit from its sale since it would be legal. 2) Lower prices from legalization may decrease marijuana's appeal. 3) Police could focus on more serious crimes instead of possession offenses. However, legalization could also increase drugged driving and make marijuana more accessible to youth. The overall impact on crime rates would depend on how legalization is implemented and regulated.

1. How Marijuana Legalization Would Affect Crime Rates
In troubled times such as the global economic crisis of the early twenty-first century, every
government is doing whatever they can to make a profit and save themselves from the
worst situation. In such a time, decisions like legalizing marijuana are tough but necessary.
Its potential legalization is focused solely on the profits it will bring to the economy. But we
must also get an insight into the effect it would have on other factors, especially crime rates
of different states.
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Marijuana is used in limited quantities for medical purposes. When given to cancer patients
it helps renew their appetite, cure insomnia, reduce anxiety and thus help relieve chronic
pain. All these medical benefits, especially to ease the troubles of cancer seem worth the
trouble. Unlike most other drugs, medical marijuana is not physically addictive, although it
can have a high psychological impact.

2. http://atodblog.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/marijuana.jpg?w=640
It is important to understand the effect that marijuana legalization would have on all factors
of the social structure:
1. Less incentive for criminal behaviour:
Often illegal drugs act as a motivation for committing crimes. If marijuana is legalized
it would mean that people have one less thing to gain from the crimes they commit
like robbery, arson, embezzlement, small thefts or public brawls. Even illegal drug
trading and illegal drug mafia would be discouraged.
2. Lower prices:
Illegality causes prices of drugs to steep higher. If made legal, drug cost would
reduce dramatically, thus taking away the ‘charm’ from the drug. People often think
that things that come at a high price are worth the trouble. On the other hand, if
drug rates go down, it will be easily available to the common people, especially
young kids. This would mean pushing youngsters into a circle of drug use and abuse.
It could lead to irrational behaviour, violent instincts, and increase in petty or serious
crimes.
3. Drug and drive:
Now the police have to deal with alcohol abuse on a regular basis, but with the
legalization of drugs their problems might get multiplied. People might not be held
for illegal possession, but what they do under the influence of an overdose of such
drugs is unimaginable.
4. Focus on real crimes:

3. Police might be freed from checking everyone for possession of drugs, instead they
can focus on the more serious crimes inflicting the society. It will also free people’s
minds towards trying pot once in their lives and it will not be a big deal anymore.
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It would be wiser to have people use drugs under a controlled environment, but that would
mean more vigilance from the police. Even with that kind of vigilance, it will not have to be
to the extent that they are vigilant currently. The profit that can be made from the
legalization would ensure more taxes for the state and federal government. This will, in
turn, benefit the average tax paying citizen and can be used to strengthen the judicial and
security system for the society, thus ensuring that any kind of crime is discouraged.
Sources:
1. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/04/marijuana-legalization-
research_n_1850470.html
2. http://ascjportfolios.org/mmm/?p=617
3. http://www.whitehouse.gov/ondcp/ondcp-fact-sheets/marijuana-legalization
4. http://www.rawstory.com/exclusives/amanda/legalizing_marijuana_violent_crime_731.htm
5. http://sundial.csun.edu/2009/11/legalizing-marijuana-can-reduce-crime-increase-revenue-
for-state/
6. http://www.alternet.org/marijuana-decriminalization-drops-youth-crime-rates-stunning-20-
one-year
7. http://www.cnbc.com/id/36201668
8. http://growingpot.org/medical-benefits-of-cannabis-2/can-legalizing-cannabis-lower-the-
crime-rate/