There's a lot of Green in Green: Regulate, Educate, Medicate

Regulate, Educate, Medicate.

The times are certainly changing. The stereotypical "Cheech and Chong" stoner is slowly being debunked. Many high functioning members of society from the Wall Street broker to the respectable lawyer, people everywhere have made marijuana a part of their daily lives, while still maintaining professional careers, happy relationships, and motivated lifestyles. There has been a misunderstanding about marijuana throughout history. Americans are becoming much more educated about the benefits legalization could serve. Legalization would reduce the amount of unjust arrests, provide economic benefits, and be used more widely for medicinal purposes.

  

An unabashed supporter of marijuana legalization, the great Willie Nelson once stated this very sweet and eloquent quote: "I think people need to be educated to the fact that marijuana is not a drug. Marijuana is an herb and a flower. God put it here. If He put it here and He wants it to grow, what gives the government the right to say that God is wrong?”  Although this all sounds splendid, there are several valid arguments in opposition of marijuana legalization that should be addressed. However, there have been positive outcomes in places such as Colorado, Washington, Oregon, D.C. and Alaska after recent legalization. So how did this “herbal flower” become classified as a Schedule I Drug in the first place? Schedule I drugs are deemed as the most dangerous drugs by the Federal Government and include drugs like heroin, ecstasy, acid, and…marijuana.

The reason marijuana became illegal in the first place is actually very racist. After the Mexican Revolution in the early 1900s, there was an increase in Mexican immigrations coming to the United States. Naturally, these immigrants brought their native language, culture, and customs, one being the use of cannabis for medicinal use and relaxation. Americans were very familiar with “cannabis” because it was used in tinctures and other medicines in their own cabinets. However, these immigrants referred to the plant as “marihuana” and Americans didn't make the connection. The media began to spread propaganda about these “dangerous immigrants” who had "rowdy behavior because of their marihuana use". There was a fear instilled in the public by this false information which led to the decision to outlaw marijuana in order to control Mexican immigrants and have an excuse to detain and deport them. 

The procedure to control certain groups of people based on their customs became a popular strategy for the nation. In the 1930’s, men of color were often accused of becoming violent and soliciting sex from white women while under the influence of marijuana. These hearings led to the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 which banned the use and sale of marijuana. The 1938 film “Reefer Madness” embodies this kind of propaganda.  It dramatizes the "violent narcotic's... soul destroying" effects on naive teenagers.
Check out this timeline with some significant moments in the history of cannabis.

Americans soon associated fearful feelings towards this “narcotic”. Fortunately, we have made improvements since then. California became the first state to legalize marijuana for medicinal purposes in 1996. Now 23 states have passed medical marijuana laws, and 5 have made recreational marijuana legal. Politicians and the public are starting to take a more objective look at marijuana. 

Prohibition of alcohol in the 1920s failed miserably. It increased the number of violent crimes in America by opening the door for bootleggers and other organized crime syndicates. Terrible gang wars like the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre of 1929 erupted over the country. Prohibition failed then. It’s still not working today. In Norm Stamper’s article, “Prohibition: A parallel to Modern War on Drugs”, he quotes a retired police officer who worked to enforce the modern day’s prohibition-the “war on drugs” saying” “I think it’s a lesson we would do well to remember. The new ban on alcohol did not slow people down from consuming alcohol. They continued to drink, making generally law-abiding citizens criminals under federal law. The criminals who were supplying the booze, such as Al Capone were considered kings. These cartels are bringing in billions of dollars from the drug war, letting nothing get in their way. Stamper reported that 4,323 U.S. homicides between 2005 and 2009 have been directly linked to illegal drug trade. In Mexico, more than 40,000 illegal drug trade-related murders have been reported since 2006.

Nonviolent marijuana offenders often receive longer prison sentences than those allotted to violent offenders. Marijuana prohibition costs taxpayers at least $7.5 billion annually. This is an enormous waste of scarce federal dollars that should be used to target violent crime. Most Americans do not want to spend scarce public funds incarcerating nonviolent marijuana offenders, at a cost of $23,000 per prisoner, per year. It is absurd to continue spending money and using law enforcement resources to arrest genuinely peaceful people. Politicians must reconsider our Country's priorities and attach more importance to combating violent crime than targeting marijuana users. Drug cartels are bringing in massive amounts of money today with it costing about $75 to produce a pound of marijuana, which sells at about $6,000 depending on the quality. Legalizing marijuana could potentially eliminate a major source of funding for these dangerous organized crime groups. There have been no real findings on the harmful effects of marijuana, but there are very dangerous effects resulting from the marijuana black market. 

Many opposing marijuana argue that it could lead to addiction and become a gateway drug. Marijuana certainly can be abused, just as other vices. It is believed that between 4% and 9% of users are likely to develop a dependency problem. Authors, Jonathan P. Caulkins, Angela Hawken, Beau Kilmer, and Mark Kleiman of Marijuana Legalization: What Everyone Needs to Know, report that while some former heavy marijuana users may feel some slight discomfort when kicking the habit, it does not lead to dangerous physical and psychological withdrawal that occurs with hard drugs. When looking at statistics of drug use, it’s important to remember that that correlation does not equal causation. Just because users of hard drugs are likely to have used marijuana at some point in their lives does not mean that marijuana is a a catalyst for their later drug-related decisions. In fact, there have been studies that show marijuana has been a helpful aid in helping those recovering from severe symptoms of alcohol and cocaine addiction. 

Another important argument for legalization is the ridiculous potential for revenue. According to the Marijuana Policy Project site, there have been very positive results from the legalization of marijuana in just over one year in Colorado. Ranked as one of the fastest growing economies, Colorado’s unemployment rate is at its lowest since 2008. In just the first 12 months, Colorado earned more than $76 million in taxes and fees from the marijuana industry. Majority of this revenue will go to youth prevention efforts focused on marijuana and mental health. This initiative to educate has actually resulted in a slight decline in youth use rates. Marijuana possession charges went from 30,000 in 2010 to 2,500. According to some historians, our own founding fathers George Washington and Thomas Jefferson cultivated marijuana and advocated a hemp-based economy. Legalized marijuana would allow for greater regulation. Just as cigarettes and alcohol come with warnings, marijuana would have the same.

Despite anyone's personal opinion on marijuana, it is here to stay. Labeling all marijuana smokers as criminals, even adults who smoke in the privacy of their own home is absurd. By continuing to keep marijuana illegal through Federal Law, we are wasting police and prosecution resources. Courts and prisons are being clogged with these peaceful people and taxpayers are footing the bill. America has learned over the last decade that education is the most effective way to curb problems associated with marijuana legalization. People are beginning to see many positive benefits from the recent marijuana legalization victories in Colorado, Washington, Oregon, and Alaska. More and more people are realizing the positive impact that could come from legalization across the country. This could potentially reduce crime and arrests, increase tax revenue, and offer an alternative medicine to harmful pharmaceuticals. 

Watch these three adorable older women smoke weed for the first time in Washington where it recently became legal. How harmful is it? You be the judge. 

AIGA and ADP poster