The legalization of marijuana has brought in millions (maybe billions?) in tax revenue to those states that have allowed it. Just imagine what each state and even the federal government could do with such extra money. Rather than wasting millions in tax money on a fight that can't be won ,right??
Or maybe you guys got another opinions??
It's less of a boon for the economy than people make it out to be. It just moves production and retail out of the black market. Most of those jobs already existed. They're just taxing the shit out of it now. The growth from yuppie consumers is probably offset by the wholesale destruction of small business that legalization brings. The corporate model (companies like Medmen, etc.) means lower wages and higher prices as small guys get squeezed by taxes and competition from big boxes.
Ask any heavy weed smoker, or poor/working class smoker, or small cultivation/retail business how legalization has treated them. It's driven everyone's costs up significantly (with nothing to show for it), and the only people emerging on top are large-scale corporate behemoths. The McDonalds and Coca Colas of the world. It kills the culture, kills small business, drives costs up from all angles. All for that sweet, sweet tax revenue.
But yeah it's good for all these inefficient bankrupt governments. It'll keep them afloat for a while.