Pubdate: Mon, 20 Apr 2009
Source: Red and Black, The (U of Georgia, GA Edu)
Copyright: 2009 The Red and Black Publishing Co., Inc.
Contact:  http://www.redandblack.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2800
Author: Megan Otto
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?420 (Cannabis - Popular)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

PERCEPTIONS OF POT

Today, we're reminded the culture of marijuana is changing drastically.

Today, pot smokers celebrate their unofficial holiday by blazing up. 
Lately, though, it is not only the stoner crowd who are advocating 
the legalization of marijuana.

Given the current economic situation, several political officials 
have put forth new bills that would authorize and tax the 
recreational use of marijuana. There is a bill in the works in 
California that, if passed, could generate $1.3 billion a year. Aside 
from simply taxing the drug, there is another way to save money by 
decriminalizing it.

According to the Associated Press, America spends $68 billion per 
year on corrections, and one-third of those being corrected are 
serving time for nonviolent drug crimes. We spend about $150 billion 
on policing and courts, and 47.5 percent of all drug arrests are 
marijuana-related.

Although each member of the editorial board has his or her own view 
of legalization, we were reluctant to take a public stand because of 
the negative stigma associated with marijuana.

Fortunately, the implications of smoking pot or supporting its 
legalization are changing. It is no longer reserved for teenagers in 
vans at Grateful Dead concerts. The "Dazed and Confused" youths of 
the '70s are now middle-aged, and not all of them have given up their 
old habits. Statistics have shown that 24.3 percent of adults between 
the ages of 26 and 34 have smoked at least once in the past year, 
21.7 percent of people ages 35 to 49 did so as well.

So while that stoner who sits behind you in class will probably skip 
today, so might your professor.

- - Megan Otto for the editorial board
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom