In nature how an animal lives and thrives is usually formed by the type of environment it has been brought up in and the surroundings it inhabits. As always human beings may seem different but are still animals and apply to the same general rules that “Mother Nature” has set. While being said that these actions and traits are created by environment, adaptations and other behavior that separate some parts of a species from the others can be based on change and movement of an individual from the lowest insect to the greatest human being. These relocations we make as organisms not only change what happens instantaneously but also change the live of an organism. This is presented in Charles Darwin’s Natural Selection and Wes Moore’s, The Other Wes Moore.
Charles Darwin states directly “that a change in the conditions of life… causes or increases variability,” and this is no different from a kid growing up in any rough or pleasant neighborhood from the Hamptons to the worst ghettos in New York City (Darwin, 601). Wes Moore was no exception to this factor beginning his life in a drug infested rough neighborhood of Baltimore, eventually shifting his surrounding to a completely different location and habitat of Wayne Pennsylvania and the Valley Forge Military Academy (Moore, 89). It could be said that this shifting in homes could have nothing to do with the change in behavior and life one Wes Moore experienced, but when compared to the very similar life origins but very different outcome experienced by “the other Wes Moore” it is indisputable that a shift in surroundings does greatly alters an individual’s outcome and adaptations. Wes Moore, the author, was uprooted from his “thugesque” life style to the disciplined life of a military cadet. This change differed from the no change in the “others” life, sending both Moore’s in totally different paths. The author became a successful professional through his “better chance[s] of profitable variations” due to his new home, while unfortunately the other Wes ended his chance for variation and success while maintaining his original habitat and behaviors, resulting in a tragedy (Darwin, 601) (Moore, xii). This great difference can be attributed to several causes but none so great as the change in surroundings and the local influences on life from the successful’s Captain Hill, to the “tragic” ones brother Tony (Moore, 70-97).
Environmental factors have always and will always affect every species on the planet. A human being is no exception to the effects on behavior and actions ones surroundings will have, and a change in habitat will greatly alter the individual’s life events and outcomes. This is proven by the in-depth theories of Charles Darwin, and also the real life proof experienced and presented by Wes Moore.

On another level, though, there is a very cogent argument that describes the economic benefits of legalizing marijuana. Needless to say, even while it is illegal, millions of people in the United States are buying it anyway. Our regulations do little to stop them, but they do stop the government from taxing these sales. With legalization comes a whole new market to generate revenue for the national or state governments. In light of our pressing economic situation, the long-term effects of such an increase of revenue are obvious. A common counterargument to this idea, though, says that if people are buying marijuana illegally already, they will simply revert to their old channels for marijuana in order to avoid the tax. However, as long as the tax is not overly exorbitant, I am sure that most people will instead switch to legal methods and pay the tax in order to avoid legal repercussions.

One last argument I have heard against marijuana sale in the United States is its role in international narco-trafficking. A vast majority of illicit narcotics come from denied areas around the globe, places like Afghanistan, which has a monopoly over the worldwide poppy production (the origin of heroin). Terrorist organizations across the world (like al Qaeda) get a huge percentage of their revenue from the production, movement, smuggling, and sale of illicit narcotics. The argument that has subsisted for so many years says something along the lines of, “If you buy drugs, you are financing terrorism.” Obviously, this is something most people would like to avoid. But there is no reason that this would continue if marijuana were legalized. the only reason drug trafficking is so lucrative is because they are the only ones doing it. If it were legalized, drugs would be produced, transported, and sold like any other commodity.

So, in some slightly backwards way, legalizing marijuana could directly contribute to the downfall of international terrorism. Hooah.