The U.S is taking too The U.S is taking too much time on busting people much time on busting people for marijuana and too much for marijuana and too much money is being spent.money is being spent.

Brennan StarkBrennan Stark Elijah KnowlesElijah Knowles2/7/122/7/124th4th

Problem.Problem.

The people being affected are, marijuana The people being affected are, marijuana users, police officers, government, users, police officers, government, everyday people.everyday people.

Wikipages, Wikipedia, drugabuse.gov.Wikipages, Wikipedia, drugabuse.gov. People should care because marijuana is People should care because marijuana is

a demand that has been going on in a demand that has been going on in America for years. About 1.4 million America for years. About 1.4 million people is it daily. It is a national problem.people is it daily. It is a national problem.

CausesCauses

What is the root cause?What is the root cause?

The main problem is the The main problem is the demand for marijuana demand for marijuana has not gone down has not gone down through the years.through the years.

How do we know?How do we know?

We know this because We know this because there have been over there have been over 225,000 arrest in one 225,000 arrest in one year for possession of year for possession of the drug. the drug.

Marijuana is a serious Marijuana is a serious issue and needs to be issue and needs to be addressed. addressed.

CauseCause

Over the last couple years the demand Over the last couple years the demand for marijuana has risen and become for marijuana has risen and become worse. More and more people are being worse. More and more people are being introduced to this drug and others are introduced to this drug and others are getting arrested time and time again. Our getting arrested time and time again. Our peers in school are getting arrested for peers in school are getting arrested for marijuana possession.marijuana possession.

Scope?Scope?

It is a federal issue. It is a federal issue. The nation has been affected by The nation has been affected by

marijuana.marijuana. It is being used in all 50 states and It is being used in all 50 states and

illegal in each one. illegal in each one. The issue has been getting bigger and The issue has been getting bigger and

more serious. more serious.

3 Possible Solution.3 Possible Solution.

Legalizing Marijuana: Let Legalizing Marijuana: Let the government set strict the government set strict rules toward the drug. rules toward the drug. But let the people smoke But let the people smoke as they would cigarettes. as they would cigarettes.

Give fines: For prisons to Give fines: For prisons to save space and money save space and money create fines for the drug create fines for the drug instead of jail time.instead of jail time.

• Put a long towards prison sentence if found with the drug:Put a long towards prison sentence if found with the drug:

If you put a long term sentence for possession of marijuana If you put a long term sentence for possession of marijuana less people would do marijuana because they would be less people would do marijuana because they would be scared towards the sentences. scared towards the sentences.

Best SolutionBest Solution

The solution we think would be most The solution we think would be most effective is legalizing marijuana. This effective is legalizing marijuana. This would save the government tons of would save the government tons of money and give police officials more time money and give police officials more time to arrest people for more serious to arrest people for more serious offences. offences.

ContactsContacts

U.S Representative: John Carney / jokncarney.house.govU.S Representative: John Carney / jokncarney.house.gov

U.S Senator: Chris Coons / coon.senate.govU.S Senator: Chris Coons / coon.senate.gov

U.S Senator: Tom Carper / carper.senate.govU.S Senator: Tom Carper / carper.senate.gov

Letter.Letter.

Dear John Carney,Dear John Carney, My friend Brennan Stark and I are doing a Social Studies project on some problems us My friend Brennan Stark and I are doing a Social Studies project on some problems us

Americans are facing as a whole. One thing we thought of is our government and the trouble they go through Americans are facing as a whole. One thing we thought of is our government and the trouble they go through enforcing marijuana laws. The problem is our nation is taking to much time on busting people for possession enforcing marijuana laws. The problem is our nation is taking to much time on busting people for possession of marijuana. The government is spending a lot of money on the offenders. There is a way to stop all the of marijuana. The government is spending a lot of money on the offenders. There is a way to stop all the trouble with the drug, legalize marijuana. There are other solutions towards the trouble with the drug, but this trouble with the drug, legalize marijuana. There are other solutions towards the trouble with the drug, but this seems to be the best solution. The cause is the demand for the drug. Through the years the demand for seems to be the best solution. The cause is the demand for the drug. Through the years the demand for marijuana has not gone down. The people of our nation want the drug. Why not give it to them? A study in marijuana has not gone down. The people of our nation want the drug. Why not give it to them? A study in 2009 showed that if the U.S sold the drug, the tax on it would bring in more than 6.7 billion dollars. Not only 2009 showed that if the U.S sold the drug, the tax on it would bring in more than 6.7 billion dollars. Not only would it bring 6.7 billion dollars but hundreds of thousands of offenders for possession of marijuana would be would it bring 6.7 billion dollars but hundreds of thousands of offenders for possession of marijuana would be released from prison. This would give more space for offenders of other crimes, and give the government back released from prison. This would give more space for offenders of other crimes, and give the government back the millions of dollars that they spend to house the offenders of marijuana in prison. The solution is legalizing the millions of dollars that they spend to house the offenders of marijuana in prison. The solution is legalizing the drug. The drug would be produced in factories and sold to business with permits to sell the drug. The the drug. The drug would be produced in factories and sold to business with permits to sell the drug. The permits would give the company permission to distribute the drug. The permits would be given out by the permits would give the company permission to distribute the drug. The permits would be given out by the federal government. You would have to be at least 18 in order to buy the drug legally. The drug would be federal government. You would have to be at least 18 in order to buy the drug legally. The drug would be taxed the same as cigarettes. Please take consideration to this action. My acquaintance and I truly believe this taxed the same as cigarettes. Please take consideration to this action. My acquaintance and I truly believe this action would benefit the nation. Please write back to us with your opinion. Thank you.action would benefit the nation. Please write back to us with your opinion. Thank you.

Brennan Stark: Address: 120 South Paula Lynn Drive, Seaford, Delaware 19973.Brennan Stark: Address: 120 South Paula Lynn Drive, Seaford, Delaware 19973. Email: Email: Likeaboss365@gmail.com Elijah Knowles: Address: 804 South Market Street, Blades DE, 19973Elijah Knowles: Address: 804 South Market Street, Blades DE, 19973 Email: Email: Rajaholes21@yahoo.com

SourcesSources

http://www.uri.edu/personal/atro6990/

LegalizationofmarijuanaLegalizationofmarijuana.com/.com/

http://economics.about.com/od/http://economics.about.com/od/incometaxestaxcuts/a/marijuana.htmincometaxestaxcuts/a/marijuana.htm

Gracias!Gracias!