Brendan Forte
Extra Credit
The
Pot Republic
Summary
Did
you ever think that marijuana would become legal? Well in the city of Oakland,
California, medical marijuana is. This documentary focuses on the legalization
of this drug in California, the rules and regulations, and the process of the
new medical marijuana growers.
Body
In
Mendocino County, medical marijuana has become legal and we see behind the
scenes of a grower named Matt Cohen. He is a man who started growing weed
illegally at first, and is now a legal grower. Although in this area it is
legal, it is still federally illegal. There is controversy of whether or not
marijuana should be legal at all.
Economic
Matt Cohen is one
of the legal medical marijuana growers. To grow, you must sign up for a licensing
program that requires each plant to be tagged with a red zip-tie to show that
it is legal. The zip ties are $50, being in the program costs $1,500 and every
inspection is $500. As of right now there are about 80 people in this program. When
this first started, they were receiving around $1 million in taxes but after a
few years, they expected around $5 million to $8 million dollars in taxes. With
the legalization of marijuana in certain areas, open doors for marijuana
related businesses follow.
Politics
The
politics of pot are currently at a stalemate. Still, California’s marijuana market place,
legal and illegal, are still thriving. To seek out and cease illegal marijuana,
there is a special agency in California that makes sure everyone growing pot is
legal. This agency has confiscated about $17 billion worth of marijuana plants.
A sheriff from California believes that marijuana is all a black market and it
is illegal no matter what. Some people argue differently and say they hope that
the little legalization in California would pave a way to the end of
prohibition. As of right now, medical marijuana is legal in certain places but
as a whole, it is still federally illegal. The main problem is that in
California it is legal and it is influencing drug dealers across the country.
Geography & Demography
Geography
is important in marijuana growth. Many people grow marijuana crops, and some
attempt to grow it in random areas where they think they will not get caught.
Marijuana is a drug used by a large percentage of the population. 14 states
have approved medical marijuana when this video aired. The legalization in some
places is causing drug dealers to become fluent nationwide.
Culture
Marijuana
legalization and production in California effects the low to middle class culture.
These are the people who are trying to produce and sell their marijuana and
usually. Medical marijuana can help
people by opening business opportunities, and for others, they get the
satisfaction of smoking their favorite drug.
Conclusion
After
watching this documentary, I have learned that the legalization of marijuana in
one area can affect other areas as well. Although it is legal in Oakland, many people disagree because it is still against
the federal law. A positive effect that I got from this was the money that they
received in taxes. If the United States legalized marijuana, they would be able
to get a lot of money in taxes. I am curious to know if any new states will
legalize it in the upcoming years.
Bibliography
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/the-pot-republic/
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