California was the first state to legalize medical marijuana usage, dating back to the pioneering results of a 1996 vote. Since then, 14 states have followed suit, a tendency that undermines federal drug laws and further cheapens America's irrational concerns over the stigmatized plant. This atmosphere of gradual acceptance for the class A substance has snowballed into a movement calling for cannabis' total legalization in California, even for recreational usage.
Surprisingly, pro-marijuana activists, many of who would be dismissed as "potheads" or "hippies" in other regions of the nation, have accumulated enough petition signatures to put the initiative, the "Tax Cannabis Act", on the state's November ballot. The proposition isn't saturated with anarchy; it specifies that only persons 21 and over will be allowed to purchase or grow the drug.
A regulated system for buying marijuana in stores would eliminate many teenagers from obtaining the plant via unethical drug dealers. The sales practices would resemble that of alcohol and minors would have a harder time procuring the drug from legitimate businesses than they would through unauthorized street vendors.
Contrary to popular belief, many police officers are for ending the prohibition. These officers of the law feel that targeting marijuana users is a counterproductive activity that diverts valuable resources from prosecuting more serious criminal offenders.
Magnifying the relevance of the marijuana debate is California's dire financial situation. The state deficits are anticipated to stretch for at least five more years and California is notorious for its debt troubles. Any measures to reduce government spending, including releasing prisoners from the state's heavily overpopulated jail systems, are currently being considered. Instead of focusing on how to minimize spending through potentially irresponsible means, why not identify a state competence, marijuana cultivation, and capitalize off it?
The legalization of cannabis would have severe repercussions for the criminal underworld. Powerful cartels are fueled by the drug trade, and taking at least one income generating product off of their black markets would inevitably harm their criminal operations. Ironically the whole purpose of marijuana being illegal is to protect communities, all the while; its street drug status provides organized crime with a means of constant cash flows.
United States marijuana laws have contradictory elements that make a rational person question the legislations’ foundations. Alcohol, a drug far more adverse to an individuals’ health and cognitions, is backwardly granted social acceptance. Becoming over inebriated on spirits can alter behavior far more drastically than THC is capable of.
A University of Toronto study reports that marijuana affects driving capabilities far less than alcohol. Typically, a person driving while high on marijuana becomes overly cautious and slows down to compensate for their impairment.
Just because a substance is illegal doesn't mean the chances of wrecking for a high driver are elevated. Granted it doesn't mean the chances of crashing are reduced either, but the lesser of two evils between drunk and high driving would definitely be stoned steering.
The hypocrisy needs to end and marijuana users should be granted more rights than their public safety jeopardizing, alcohol consuming counterparts.
A marijuana industry in California would generate roughly $1 billion and ultimately pervade into other business sectors as well. Marijuana and hemp have multiple uses besides simply being used as a mind altering substance. The clothing industry could be granted a new low-cost, hemp based material. This could drive down the prices for the end consumers.
Additionally, marijuana has known medicinal values and legalizing it could allow for more research to be done on the subject. Marinol is synthetic THC that comes in pill form and is FDA approved. Other marijuana based medicines could be created if attitudes become more liberal and state money is used to fund further scientific research.
To assess the validity of questionable public policies, an observer must become a student of history and reflect on the legislations' origins. Anti-marijuana laws were conceived amidst public hysteria and an overall fact less media campaign against the plant.
Fear superseded rationality and solidified a tradition of brainless furor against a potentially beneficial commodity. November will provide the chance for nonsmokers and smokers alike to levy the consequences of legalized recreational marijuana usage and gauge the merit of the laws that have made criminals out of everyday people.
No comments:
Post a Comment