Legalization
Seems like the “legalization” talk has been becoming more and more prevalent nowadays, doesn’t it? We’ve got states taking some pretty progressive action in the realm of drug laws. Sure, we aren’t where a lot of the proponents would like, but we all have to admit that things are definitely changing. So what’s the big deal about all this? Why should marijuana and/or other “controlled substances” be legal? Well, here are some ideas.
For starters, a staggering percentage of people incarcerated today are where they are because of non-violent drug offenses. Though prison over-crowding isn’t the headline issue it was years ago, it’s still an issue nonetheless. Prison subculture being what it is, and for all of you that have seen the movie Blow, isn’t it apparent that putting someone with a record of possessing or even selling something like marijuana into an environment with bigger players in the crime world can have some pretty bad results? Someone serving time over petty possession can end up meeting and then associating with people who are much more unsavory. As if someone put through the penal experience doesn’t have a hard enough time re-assimilating to society when they’re released.
If marijuana or other organic drugs were made legal they could be regulated by the government (it’s gonna get ya!) similarly to tobacco and alcohol. Medical-grade products could be produced and sold under the supervision of the government and taxed, generating revenues for not only the businesses that could offer the products but also the states themselves. Tax revenues increasing in such a broad way could help to pay off the massive debt our country is currently in or relieve some of the burden on the taxation of income.
Despite its “negative” effects such as causing impairment, which is something plenty of legal substances and pharmaceuticals also do, marijuana in particular can have many medical benefits. If it were made legal across the board it could become not only a recreational purchase for many people out there but also an over-the-counter remedy for certain afflictions. It’s even been considered in the treatment of certain cancers and has benefits in the realm of pain and stress relief. The affects marijuana has on the body and mind are similar to alcohol in the respect that, of course, in excess it can be harmful and cause severe impairment. Though, isn’t this why the DUI laws nowadays also include a subsection for controlled substances? If you smoke and drive you are penalized just as well as if you drink and drive.
As for other drugs, the jury is still out. It’s easy to assume that the legalization of marijuana would lead to the legalization of other drugs. There are some who support total decriminalization of all controlled substances, a viewpoint with which I personally disagree. Some man-made drugs are a little too scary for most people to accept being sold in a gas station or pharmacy to anyone who is at least 21 or even possibly 18. But when it comes to small-time substances such as marijuana I think it’s time we move past the fear of change and scary plants that are natural without any wholesome carcinogenic additives like we shovel down our traps every day. Let’s look at things like this as opportunities to join the rest of the civilized world and, for you greedy business and political people out there, make a lot of money (money money money).
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