The numbers are in and the numbers don't lie! Legalization of marijuana would save the United States an estimated $20 billion per year! Reasons for Legalizing: Tax marijuana and hit cartels where it hurts.\t Legalizing marijuana would create more jobs and business opportunities for the economy\t Decriminalizing on a Federal Level, would increase state tax revenue\t Legalize marijuana and initiate more research for medical uses For More Information:http://sandiegofreepress.org/2014/06/why-marijuana-legalization-is-good-for-you-even-if-you-wont-use-it/#.U58wRPldXPB Can you guys think of anymore reasons for legalizing/decriminalizing marijuana?
It would save a bit more than that with retroactive sentencing adjustments (unless you already figured in the costs recouped by taking nonviolent offenders from prison). About half of the people in jail for drug use or possession are in jail for using cannabis - that's billions of dollars in tax money not going into the prison system if those people go free, and new ones aren't sent in their place. It would (ideally) free up law enforcement to go out and pursue things like violent crime.