Analysis of Legalization of Marijuana - Article Example

Legalization of Marijuana The issue of legalization of marijuana has been raised from time to time since the year when its possession and use were decreed illegal i.e. 1937. Different states, lobbyists and non-profit organizations have been pushing to legalize medicinal marijuana and in some cases, freedom to use it as a recreational drug has been demanded as well. On the other hand, opponents of marijuana legalization are vehement in their insistence of it being a harmful drug whose legalization will negatively impact the American society. This tug-of-war has been going on for quite some time and the past few years have witnessed more and more lawsuits, more legislative initiatives, both in US Congress and state legislatures and more aggressive lobbying and protests from pro-marijuana groups. If one were to analyze the legislations and initiatives of the past few years it will be evident that public favor to legalize medicinal marijuana has increased and this in return has propelled some states to decriminalize medicinal marijuana. Only a few weeks back, the Joint Mental Health and Substances Abuse Committee of Massachusetts removed criminal penalties for possession of less than one ounce of marijuana by a 6-1 vote ("Massachusetts: Decrim Bill Advances", 2006). The Joint Committee on the Judiciary was scheduled to begin deliberations on it in March. The legislation aimed to decrease penalties for the minor possession i.e. less than ounce of marijuana to a civil offense instead of a criminal offence as custom and sought to reduce a fine of $500 to $250. This legislation, however, was quashed by the state legislature and medical or otherwise use of marijuana in Massachusetts still remains illegal. In February, this year, Congress, hitherto immovable and unbending on all marijuana related issues, took a significant step by allowing students, previously charged with marijuana possession, eligibility to apply for student aid. Enacted in the year 1998, this ban - commonly known as "drug offender exclusionary provision" of the Higher Education Act - has refused financial aid to some 175,000 students until now. To some, this has been landmark legislation in the fight for marijuana decriminalization and a tentative admission of the Congress about the futility of penalizing citizens for the possession of a recreational drug ("Congress Scales Back Ban On Student Aid For Drug Offenders," 2006). More evidence of growing support for marijuana legalization came to view in 2005 when the US House of Representatives voted against lifting of ban on medicinal marijuana. The most important point however, was that despite the vote going against marijuana legalization, 161 House members had voted in favor of marijuana, which was the record highest. In November 2005, the population of Denver voted to eliminate penalties for the possession of one ounce of cannabis by citizens more than 21 years of age. Fifty-four percent of voters decided in favor of legalization ("Denver Votes To Abolish Pot Penalties," 2005). In 1998, voters in Oregon had voted in favor of a law that allowed patients to possess and grow marijuana for medical reasons. In August 2005, the voters of Oregon further amended the law in favor of marijuana users by allowing marijuana dependent patients to grow and own 24 ounces of cannabis as opposed to previous 3 ounces ("Legislature Amends Oregon Medical Cannabis Law," 2005). The most important point of objection raised by those who oppose decriminalization of marijuana is the type of message it will send to the citizens of America in general and to the youth and children in particular. They hold that although some medical reports reveal marijuana to be the least harmful of all drugs, yet it cannot be denied that it is a drug and harmful as well. In addition, if marijuana use and possession were to be legalized for medicinal purposes it will only be available through two means. Firstly, patients will be forced to buy it through black- market. This could bring about a boom in the drug trafficking industry and to add insult to injury - most users would be buying it for government-sanctioned use! Secondly, patients, who choose not to rely on drug peddlers for supply, will have no choice but to grow them in homes. This could be highly hazardous, as the drug will then be openly available to not just youth but children. Lawmakers insist that recent researches, from respectable institutes, suggest that pharmaceutical drugs perform more efficiently and are more effective in meeting the needs of suffering patients than cannabis. There is, hence, no need for people to smoke marijuana for medical reasons. Tom Riley, spokesman for White House drug policy director John Walters said, "The medical establishment is not in favor of marijuana as medicine and it is not like there is this drug being kept from sick people. It is not medicine" (qtd. in Miller, 2003). It is my belief that use and possession of marijuana should be legalized under certain conditions. First and foremost the use and possession of marijuana should be banned for all citizens below 21 years of age without exceptions. A marijuana user registration system should be introduced in every state so that accurate statistics could be gained and users could be issued registration cards identifying them as medial users or recreational users. This would allow the authorities a measure of control and check could be kept on anyone below 21 trying to smoke cannabis. The issue of legalizing marijuana might appear intimidating to an average citizen yet if one were to analyze our society it will be noticed that our society not only allows but also actually promotes active and open use of two other substances more toxic and more hazardous than marijuana, namely tobacco and alcohol. If alcohol and tobacco - that pose higher risks to health, are more addictive and definitely more dangerous to society, happen to be legal then why not marijuana Every year a significant portion of the tax payers money is engaged in building road blocks in the way of the legalization process and apprehending, penalizing and jailing marijuana offenders. These offenders include those HIV, cancer and multiple sclerosis patients that use marijuana to lessen their pain and those who smoke marijuana responsibly and in majority cases run no risk of addiction or harming others. This, I am afraid, is not what can be claimed for alcohol and cigarettes. I believe it will be wiser and more just if the resources of law enforcing agencies are channeled towards crimes needing urgent attention instead of apprehending sick patients caught growing marijuana bushes in their backyard. Arrest laws regarding possession and use of marijuana are highly damaging too. If an otherwise law abiding and responsible citizen is found to be in possession of cannabis, his previously clean record is tarnished forever. This leaves him open to discrimination both socially and professionally. I believe it will be appropriate for prohibitionists to accept the fact that millions of citizens in USA alone smoke pot. The current laws regarding marijuana are doubly damaging as they force a pot smoker to commit felony and to break state laws. A pot smoker would naturally turn to illegal drug seller for his intake of pot and thus would be committing a serious crime. The government needs to objectively analyze the mixed signals being sent to the American public. Use and possession of marijuana is legal in thirteen different states today but it is still a federal offence as the Congress has classified it as Schedule I controlled substance. This inconsistency in the state and federal laws leads to much confusion. If a citizen of Rhode Island or Oregon uses marijuana, he is not committing a crime in the eyes of the state but he can be apprehended and penalized by the federal justice department. It is time to redirect the energy, resources and taxpayers money to other more important issues. References The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, (2006). Congress Scales Back Ban on Student Aid for Drug Offenders. Retrieved Apr. 04, 2006, from NORML Web site: http://www.norml.org/index.cfmGroup_ID=6809. The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, (2005). Denver Votes to Abolish Pot Penalties. Retrieved Apr. 04, 2006, from NORML Web site: http://www.norml.org/index.cfmGroup_ID=6809. Hyslop, Margie. (2001, March 1). Senate Debates Details of Medicinal-Marijuana Bill. Washington Times, p.1. The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, (2005). Legislature Amends Oregon Medical Cannabis Law. Retrieved Apr. 04, 2006, from NORML Web site:http://www.norml.org/index.cfmGroup_ID=6809. The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, (2006). Massachusetts: Decrim Bill Advances. Retrieved Apr. 04, 2006, from NORML Web site: http://www.norml.org/index.cfmGroup_ID=6809. Miller, Steve. (2003, July 20). Pot Paradox; Medical Marijuana Draws Unusual Political Backing. Washington Times, p.A01. Read More