Pubdate: Mon, 05 Apr 2010
Source: GW Hatchet (George Washington U, DC Edu)
Page: 4
Copyright: 2010 The GW Hatchet
Contact: http://www.gwhatchet.com/home/lettertotheeditor/
Website: http://www.gwhatchet.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/757
Author: Gabrielle Friedman
Note: The writer is a freshman majoring in international  affairs.
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization)

SPEAKING OUT AGAINST THE WAR ON YOUTH

College Students Should Be More Vocal on Legalization

Throughout history the youth of this nation have rarely  shied away 
from the opportunity to lead progressive  cultural movements. Ten 
years after D.C. voters  approved the use of medical marijuana by a 
substantial  69 percent, the District has finally seen movement on 
the legislation. This makes it the perfect time for the  youth to go 
one step further and take action once  again.

Now you may be thinking one of two things: "Dude, that  is some 
exciting stuff," or "This is going to lead to a  slippery slope of 
legalization for recreational use."  Wherever you may fall on the 
issue, the fact of the  matter is that for our generation, there are 
simply  more pros than cons for complete legalization.

Of the 800,000 American busted for possession of  marijuana each 
year, 74 percent are under the age of  30; actually, one out of every 
four of these people are  18 or under, according to the National 
Organization for  the Reform of Marijuana Laws (better known as 
NORML).  It seems that the war on drugs is becoming a war on  youth, 
tainting the futures of thousands of people our  age by branding 
their files with drug charges that will  remain on their records for 
the rest of their lives.

With prisons becoming increasingly crowded, it is best  that we leave 
whatever space is available to actual  criminals, not young, harmless 
marijuana users who have  committed a crime with absolutely no 
victims and no  violence. No matter how you feel about the drug 
itself,  I think it is fair to conclude that marijuana arrests  are 
adversely affecting our generation. In a 2007  study, around 14.4 
million Americans admitted to using  marijuana at least once in the 
month before they were  surveyed, according to the National Institute 
on Drug  Abuse. It is time we face the music and see that  society is 
naturally progressing toward legalization.

So what are we going to do about it? Some will try to  fight the 
trend, but we need to realize is that this is  a petty crime not 
worth the punishment. In the words of  Gandhi, we should demand that 
those who are oppressed  be a part of their own liberation. Our 
generation needs  to step up to the plate and lead the movement to 
full legalization, rather than continue with the norm that  is 
locking up our fellow students.

Hardly a week goes by without The Hatchet reporting in  the Crime Log 
a marijuana-related offense, many of  which are referred to the 
Metropolitan Police  Department. This, on top of the two major drug 
busts  that occurred this past semester involving several GW 
students, makes me think that at some point we need to  stop and ask 
ourselves a crucial question: why are we  trying to prohibit a widely 
common practice that has  heavily influenced parts of our culture?

We need to start talking. Talk to others about how  prohibition 
disproportionately and adversely impacts  our generation. Or talk 
about how the policy limits our  opportunities at economic and 
academic success and has  repercussions that will affect people for 
the rest of  their lives. Or talk about how prohibition causes users 
of marijuana to interact and befriend pushers of other  illegal, 
actually dangerous drugs.

Essentially, it is up to us to get the message out. It  is time we 
take on the role of leading progressive  movements and fight for what 
is in our best interest.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom