Legalization

I myself believe in the legalization of marijuana. Even though I do not smoke it, one must realize the huge economic benefit of its legalization. If it were to become legal, that is Marijuana being a federally regulated substance, the government would have the ability to tax both the cannabis and the hemp for profit. Most of America's agricultural fields would be able to sustain and grow it and us the hemp that is product from its growth into the paper industry. It can also be used in textile and fabrics. Also most plastics can be made by hemp. So thereby it is an environmentally clean industry.
An innumerable amount of jobs would be created in the process through its agricultural state and industrial state. Most of the reason it remains illegal is because of various slanders by the timber industry because hemp was on the rise to overthrow it. Its current illegal state is mostly due to the fact of Tobacco and alcohol funding the anti-drug campaigns.
Most of Mexico's most notorious Cartels mainly smuggle in Marijuana since it is the most used drug. That being said, that would bring the cartels out of America and render their smuggling useless. Most crimes and drug trafficking marijuana related would almost cease entirely.
As from moral stand point it wouldn't matter. The effects of Marijuana are mainly short term and have little lasting effects. It is not generally debilitating unless as with anything else it is taken to excess. Most kids and teenagers would cease to smoke it because (From the people I've talked to who use it) did or do it simply because of the shock value of it being illegal and the exploration of their inner selves that comes with that. Usage would decrease in teenagers.
As for crime. It would still be illegal to sell it unregulated . (Same as it is illegal to brew beer and sell it unregulated) The offense of driving under the influence of it would result in the same penalties as drunk driving. Selling it to minors or using it as a minor would result in the same as cigarettes or alcohol. As for the prisoners in jail in marijuana cases. The ones arrested for usage would be released and the ones who distributed it illegally or along with other illegal substances would remain jailed until their sentence was completed.
AGAIN. I do not smoke it. It is just a controversial issue that needs to be well thought out before you choose a side. Thanks for reading if you made it this far.(Sorry for no funny)(Insert apology for long read here.)