Pubdate: Fri, 04 Apr 2003
Source: Technician, The (NC State U, NC Edu)
Copyright: 2003 The Technician
Contact:  http://technicianonline.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2268
Author: Heather Cutchin

PROHIBITION IN THE 21ST CENTURY

In everything we consume, there is the possibility of it either harming or 
helping our bodies.

Caffeine is known to be addictive, yet soft drinks are very tasty and 
therefore are consumed frequently. Cigarettes contain tar that coats the 
lungs and causes respiratory problems, but the tobacco is grown by farmers 
and helps them put food on the tables of their families.

Even alcohol, as deadly as it can be, has the redeeming qualities of 
lowering stress and helping to prevent heart attacks.

All of these things are dangerous, yet legal.

So why do we keep marijuana, another dangerous yet potentially helpful 
drug, illegal?

California is one of eight states that have legalized the use of marijuana 
for medicinal purposes.

By doing so, cancer patients have been able to seek relief from pain and 
regain their appetites.

Also, patients with glaucoma and those with AIDS can use marijuana to 
alleviate pain and discomfort. These eight states may have legalized 
marijuana for this purpose, but they are not the only states with cancer 
patients.

True, there are other pain relievers and appetite builders, but they can 
cause side effects much worse than the pain the patients are going through. 
Alcohol can cause many health problems, yet it is still legal to buy and 
consume at age 21. Cigarettes and other tobacco products cause problems for 
users, as well as those experiencing second-hand smoke.

We are taught from early on in our lives that tobacco products have no real 
value to the user except for stress management. Marijuana, though it has 
the potential to cause health problems, is seldom related to these 
problems. Rather, it is known as a victimless crime drug, one that if it 
does cause problems, they are only to the user. It is true that countless 
lives are taken every day because of the category of drugs (by which I mean 
illegal) that marijuana has been placed in. But the drug does not take 
these lives; they are taken by the actions against those using it. Because 
buying and selling marijuana is illegal, dealings with the authorities 
often result in huge fights, leaving many dead. If marijuana were legal 
these types of fatalities would not occur, because people could get the 
drug from legal sources.

Authorities could regulate the marijuana, ensuring that it was not cut with 
any other drugs that could be harmful to users.

These other drugs, such as cocaine and heroin, are the ones that have 
health-related problems.

These highly addictive drugs are deadly even if used in minuscule amounts.

If used responsibly, marijuana just gives a buzz much like alcohol.

Having marijuana legalized for medicinal purposes was a great step, but not 
good enough.

There are people out there that enjoy the recreational use of the drug just 
as they do smoking or consuming alcoholic beverages.

Denying them the pleasures of marijuana is comparable to the Prohibition of 
alcohol in the 1920s. Jails were filled, and many arrests were made because 
an activity people were going to do regardless of legality was made illegal 
for a short period of time. When the Prohibition act was first enacted, the 
crime rate went through the roof ... but immediately fell again after it 
was amended.

The valuable time and lives of our law enforcement are taken up by 
needlessly arresting marijuana users and battling the drug war when there 
are alternative ways to dealing with more harmful drugs. The argument is 
made that marijuana is a "gateway drug" that leads to use of other more 
deadly and dangerous drugs, therefore it should stay illegal for that reason.

But what if it was legalized?

Then people could use marijuana recreationally, drug dealers would be taken 
out of the picture and the pressure to use the more harmful drugs would be 
gone. Marijuana would no longer be a gateway drug. I still believe that 
there are drugs out there that should be illegal, but marijuana is not on 
that list. If used sensibly and rationally, marijuana can serve the same 
purpose as soft drinks, alcohol and tobacco products.

As with these substances, it is up to the user to be responsible while 
under the influence of marijuana and to conduct themselves appropriately.

Heather is often under the influence of caffeine to help her through the 
day. E-mail her at    to let her know what you are influenced by.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom