As absurd as it may sound to some, I firmly believe that most, if not all, drugs should be legalized for recreational purposes. I believe this for a few distinct reasons, namely economic and those relating to liberty.

First of all, why shouldn’t a grown, thinking person be able to ingest what they see fit? Why is it that the government should restrict good, thinking people from doing what they want? And at that, why are alcohol and tobacco completely legal, and not marijuana or others? Tobacco cigarettes are exceedingly addictive, unlike marijuana or party drugs. Why not let a good, thinking population do what they want with their own bodies? Isn’t America supposed to be a free country? This is one step we could take to make it more of the sort.

According to Forbes, the legal cannabis industry is expected to reach $57 billion in sales by 2027, which brings me to my next point, economic growth. Cannabis and other drugs could be taxed, bringing in much revenue for the government, and alone it would be a significant force in the economy. And that projection was just for cannabis (mainly recreational at over 60%, but also medical). Just imagine all the revenue from other drugs, if legalized.

All in all, legalization seems like a great alternative to the utter failure of a “War on  Drugs” and prohibition in general, which has restricted freedoms, encouraged gang activity, and stopped economic growth.