Pubdate: Wed, 07 Aug 2013 Source: Burlington Free Press (VT) Copyright: 2013 Burlington Free Press Contact: http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/632 Author: Daniel Lawrence Gordon Note: Daniel Lawrence Gordon lives in Burlington. LEGALIZE MARIJUANA IN VERMONT In the 1920's, Americans learned the dangers of alcohol prohibition. It created a surge in crime as organized gangs fought for control of the underground liquor distribution and ordinary persons who just wanted a drink were targeted as criminals by the state. So why in 2013 are we still making the same mistake with cannabis? In the 2012 general election, 70 percent of Burlington voters said "yes" to the question of "Shall the people of Burlington support the legalization, regulation, and taxation of all cannabis and hemp products?" Legalization clearly has public support and it also makes economic sense -taxation of cannabis would raise vast amounts of revenue for the state of Vermont. The states of Washington and Colorado have already passed statewide cannabis legalization efforts. Washington estimates it can generate up to $2 billion in additional revenue from cannabis taxation over five years, while Colorado estimates it can generate up to an additional $115 million over five years. Vermont House Rep. Susan Davis said, "Regulating marijuana like alcohol and allowing the production of industrial hemp would create hundreds of new, legal jobs and generate business for a variety of other Vermont industries." Legalization of cannabis would also shift control of the cannabis market from underground cartels and gangs to regulated and taxed Vermont businesses. Unlike street dealers, Vermont businesses are regulated and held accountable for the quality of their products. This is the same sensible way we deal with alcohol and tobacco. Like alcohol prohibition, cannabis prohibition does not eliminate the use of the product and simply steers all of the profits to the underground market. Rep. Davis rightfully said, "Given the fact that marijuana is far less harmful than alcohol, it is time we have it produced and sold in a legitimate, regulated market." Like tobacco and alcohol, a legal and regulated outlet for marijuana also makes it harder for underage minors to obtain the product. Street dealers don't care if they sell to minors, regulated businesses do. Cannabis legalization would also free up police resources and funding for tackling more serious crime, instead of consensual adult behavior. The State of California was able to save $1 billion in law enforcement expenses between the years 1976 and 1985 just by decriminalizing cannabis. Prohibition of cannabis also gives police an unjust pretense for targeting minorities. The General Assembly of the State of Vermont found that despite similar usage rates, African American Vermonters were over four times more likely to be arrested for cannabis possession than their white counterparts. Legalizing cannabis is also important for health concerns. Whether marijuana is legal or not people will use it. Legalization allows for greater control over the quality and safety of the product, unlike in an illicit underground market. Legalization would also open up more resources for research into cannabis related health issues, which could then be treated as a medical problem instead of a criminal one. Legalization can also end the legal uncertainties and social stigmas associated with medical marijuana patients. Marijuana offers legitimate medical benefits for those suffering from chemotherapy or glaucoma, and criminalization of cannabis shuts down most research avenues for exploring these benefits. Finally, prohibition of cannabis also denies people the right to have control over what they can put into their own bodies, and instead wrongly grants that power to the government. The government should have no business interfering into one's personal and private life in one's own home. Legalization gives responsible adults the right to make their own choices, and if responsible adults can drink liquor and smoke cigarettes, they can certainly handle the much more benign marijuana. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom