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Let's Reconsider Marijuana Laws
Elbert Guillory | NORML | 03/14/2005

During the last two decades there has been much discussion of the evils and the benefits of marijuana. Any analysis of marijuana should begin with a look at its impact on our legal and economic systems.

FBI records show that in 2002 there were about 700,000 marijuana-related arrests. The arrest figure in 1992 was 340,000. Clearly more and more of our police time and dollars, jail space and dollars, and court resources and dollars are being used to process marijuana violations.

When more marijuana violators are forced into the court system, more of them are forced into drug treatment as an alternative to jail. Indeed, admission rates for marijuana treatment more than doubled from 45 per 100,000 people in 1992 to 118 per 100,000 people in 2002.

Without question, America is devoting increased amounts of police, jail, court, probation and treatment resources on marijuana violations. The financial impact of that investment is staggering.

An equally staggering impact is on the nation's economy. As more young marijuana users acquire police records, their futures become bleak. They can lose eligibility for federal assistance like school loans, mortgages and public housing. They can lose job opportunities because many employers do not want to hire persons who have histories of drug offenses. The productivity of many marijuana users is lost to the national economy; and that often forces them to turn to crime as a means of support for themselves and their families - a double loss to America.

So what about the productivity of marijuana users and the relative value of marijuana?

Marijuana has been in the news twice during the past few weeks. In one news story, President George W. Bush appears to have admitted that he has smoked marijuana. This president joins President Bill Clinton in admitting marijuana use. Note that Clinton said that he "did not inhale." His other most remembered quote is that he "did not have sex" with Monica Lewinski.

The two presidents, along with many members of Congress, the judiciary, business owners and CEO's, peace officers and others, grew up at a time when marijuana use in America was at its peak. Millions of then-young people smoked marijuana. Today they are part of America's rulers, and they are part of the horrible duplicity which governs America's marijuana policy. The bottom line is that marijuana use, in and of itself, does not prevent people from becoming productive, law-abiding citizens ( nor even from becoming presidents ).

The other news article is from some people in the medical community hailing marijuana's potential medicinal benefit in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. It is already accepted as medicine in the treatment of cancer, glaucoma, pain management and various other ailments.

Some states and countries already have legalized the cultivation and possession of marijuana for medical purposes.

It is clear then that marijuana has some medical value in addition to whatever other value productive, otherwise law abiding users have discovered.

Yes, using marijuana has dangers, and yes, using any mood altering substance has dangers, and yes, marijuana poses particular dangers to young, developing minds. But given the potential medicinal value and given the clear indication that marijuana use alone does not guarantee that one will wind up homeless and living in a ditch - given all this - it is time to stop making criminals of those who are caught possessing or using small amounts of marijuana.

It is also time to begin serious study about the medicinal value of marijuana. Finally, it is past time for yesterday's users who now run the system to stop sending today's users to jail at great cost to the users, their families and the nation's treasury.

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jducote

It is good to hear some news from Louisiana.....I hope this is just the beginning of good things to come

Unregistered

Don't you see that Pot is a government money making industry. Without the arrests, the police, FBI, the courts, drug clinics, the system would lose jobs, in turn the economy would slow down.More people on unemployment and seeking other proffesions. If the government regulated pot, the people wouldn't buy it, it wouldn't be potent enough and why should someone pay the governments taxes on crap that they would sell. The government couldn't regulate it and it would end up growing out of control. I don't use pot but I can't see any reason why not to legalize it. If it could be controlled the same way alcohol is, then why not...lets party!

cb007sax

I pretty much disagree with you 100% on that issue. America is LOSING money, lives, and young people due to this war on Marijuana. Given, a few jobs would be lost in treatment programs, but a 15 billion a year industry overwhelmes that by a longshot. If the government regulates Marijuana, Cigarette Companies will take advantage of that instantly; they have already trademarked names for brands. Why wouldn't the Marijuana be potent, if the customers want potency, they WILL get what they want. They will sell it at all different potencies, much like cigarettes today.

killer12382

The feds could make a mint by legalizing and taxing the hell out of cannabis.
I occasionally put on my dreamers hat and just wish I could go to Sam's Club and buy a pound of high quality weed at discount prices.

 

gravedigger

It's amazing that one of the largest industries in the country isn't taxed. If it was, it would probably raise more money than what we spend in taxes trying to stop it. I remember reading an article by William F. Buckley back in the '80s saying that we should legalize drugs and tax them. 1/2 of the money should be earmarked for treatment programs and the other 1/2 should be used for the deficit. Makes sense to me, but what do I know? I'm just a gravedigger.


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