Legalize it
Fabion Seaton
Issue date: 10/21/09 Section: Always Fair, Never Balanced
Why is marijuana illegal? I have been asking myself this for years, and I still cannot find an answer.
They say, "It's bad for you," but cigarettes are still legal, so that cannot be the reason. They say, "it would just make driving more dangerous," but we allow people to drive while drunk as long as they are below the legal limit. I do not buy any of the justifications that people give me for marijuana prohibition. There are more benefits to marijuana legalization than there are detriments.
First, marijuana provides the government with another taxable revenue stream. Both federal and state governments could impose taxes on marijuana in order to generate income in this down economy.
According to the CDC, 6.0% of Americans over 12 years has used marijuana in the last year. Although that number pales in comparison to the 25 percent of American males who smoke cigarettes, it is still sizable enough to provide revenue for a government that is currently strapped for cash.
Second, regulation is safer for America's children than prohibition. When the government regulates marijuana usage, they have control over several things. 1. They have control over age limits for usage. If marijuana was treated in the same fashion that we treat alcohol, less children would use it, because it would be harder to acquire. 2. They have control over the potency of the marijuana.
Marijuana is getting more potent yearly; The Washington Post said that locally grown marijuana is sometimes two or three times more potent that imported cartel-supplied marijuana. 3. There would no longer be a black market for marijuana, so the associate crimes would decrease. Since there would no longer be a profit in illicit marijuana distribution, the dastardly evil-doers who flock to weed farms would no longer have an incentive to continue their criminal enterprises.
Third, it would curb prison overpopulation. The fact that there are American citizens in prison for non-violent possession offenses is disgusting. When was the last time you met a violent pothead? Potheads are mellow, sometimes lazy, and always relaxed. It is also illogical.
Take this anecdote as an example: Joe is an average Joe Pothead. Joe was arrested one day for possession. Due to the draconian drug laws, Joe was sent to prison with hardened criminals. Keep in mind that Joe had never committed a violent crime before in his life. His crimes were victimless. Looking at Joe's story, how could anyone expect him to leave prison better than he started? Joe will leave prison a worse person than he began.
Our government is taking nonviolent criminals and placing them in close proximity with people who have an almost encyclopedic knowledge of crime. We are creating our own problems.
Although that logic was a stretch, it is not without merit. It makes no sense to place nonviolent criminals in prison. Who benefits? They do not benefit from it, nor do the taxpayers, nor does society.
They say, "It's bad for you," but cigarettes are still legal, so that cannot be the reason. They say, "it would just make driving more dangerous," but we allow people to drive while drunk as long as they are below the legal limit. I do not buy any of the justifications that people give me for marijuana prohibition. There are more benefits to marijuana legalization than there are detriments.
First, marijuana provides the government with another taxable revenue stream. Both federal and state governments could impose taxes on marijuana in order to generate income in this down economy.
According to the CDC, 6.0% of Americans over 12 years has used marijuana in the last year. Although that number pales in comparison to the 25 percent of American males who smoke cigarettes, it is still sizable enough to provide revenue for a government that is currently strapped for cash.
Second, regulation is safer for America's children than prohibition. When the government regulates marijuana usage, they have control over several things. 1. They have control over age limits for usage. If marijuana was treated in the same fashion that we treat alcohol, less children would use it, because it would be harder to acquire. 2. They have control over the potency of the marijuana.
Marijuana is getting more potent yearly; The Washington Post said that locally grown marijuana is sometimes two or three times more potent that imported cartel-supplied marijuana. 3. There would no longer be a black market for marijuana, so the associate crimes would decrease. Since there would no longer be a profit in illicit marijuana distribution, the dastardly evil-doers who flock to weed farms would no longer have an incentive to continue their criminal enterprises.
Third, it would curb prison overpopulation. The fact that there are American citizens in prison for non-violent possession offenses is disgusting. When was the last time you met a violent pothead? Potheads are mellow, sometimes lazy, and always relaxed. It is also illogical.
Take this anecdote as an example: Joe is an average Joe Pothead. Joe was arrested one day for possession. Due to the draconian drug laws, Joe was sent to prison with hardened criminals. Keep in mind that Joe had never committed a violent crime before in his life. His crimes were victimless. Looking at Joe's story, how could anyone expect him to leave prison better than he started? Joe will leave prison a worse person than he began.
Our government is taking nonviolent criminals and placing them in close proximity with people who have an almost encyclopedic knowledge of crime. We are creating our own problems.
Although that logic was a stretch, it is not without merit. It makes no sense to place nonviolent criminals in prison. Who benefits? They do not benefit from it, nor do the taxpayers, nor does society.
Viewing Comments 1 - 7 of 11
Lindsey Franz
posted 10/21/09 @ 2:46 PM EST
LEGALIZE MARIJUANA!!!!!!
dp63
posted 10/21/09 @ 5:03 PM EST
Let me say this, you're damn right marijuana should be legalized. But SCREW the government making money off of it. Our precious "government against the People" has been ruining MILLIONS of LIVES for DECADES because they catch someone, usually a MINORITY, smoking pot. (Continued…)
RFWoodstock
posted 10/22/09 @ 9:34 AM EST
Valid medicinal value, it's a victimless crime, the War on Drugs WAY too costly, too many arrests for simple possession, tax it and use the money to pay for health insurance and to reduce the deficit. (Continued…)
Rockville Movers
posted 10/22/09 @ 11:42 AM EST
There are definitely a lot of arguments in support of legalization and they do make sense. At the same time, the government is slow to change its policies because this is such a contentious and sensitive issue. (Continued…)
Mike
posted 11/01/09 @ 1:25 AM EST
Your arguements for leaglization of marijuana are absurd.
You say "They say, "It's bad for you," but cigarettes are still legal, so that cannot be the reason. (Continued…)
Mike
posted 11/11/09 @ 2:46 AM EST
You tossing out insults over the internet makes you one tough guy.
The reason marijuana is illegal is becasue it has not been documented as having medical benefits across the board. (Continued…)
Mike
posted 11/19/09 @ 1:26 AM EST
Original Post:
"Do you honestly believe what you just typed? Do you really? It is an honest opinion. I have a couple points.
1. Potheads don't commit crimes to get money for weed. (Continued…)
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