Pubdate: Fri, 28 Mar 2014
Source: Daily Targum (Rutgers, NJ Edu)
Copyright: 2014 Daily Targum
Contact:  http://www.dailytargum.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/715
Author: Cortney Han

OPPOSITION TO LEGALIZATION OF MARIJUANA UNCONVINCING

The debate on the legalization of recreational marijuana is a topic that
has been hitting a record high in publicity right now. Very recently,
Sen. Nicholas Scutari (D-22) proposed a bill to legalize the
recreational use of marijuana in New Jersey. This has sparked public
controversy, as well as the input of Governor Chris Christie, who has
stated several times in the past that he is very much against the
legalization of marijuana for recreational use.

Legal prohibition of marijuana does nothing to curb its production or
consumption. Those opposed to the legalization of recreational
marijuana are convinced that if the drug were legalized, inexperienced
smokers would all of a sudden get caught up in this supposedly bad
habit. Christie has been very vocal about his opinion against the
legalization of recreational marijuana.

In the "Ask the Governor" program on New Jersey radio station WKXW-FM
101.5, he was quoted as saying, "I believe that [recreational
marijuana] is a gateway drug into other more serious drugs." There are
several issues that I have with this statement.

First of all, numerous scientific studies have shown that recreational
marijuana does not lead to the use of harder drugs.

Often, individuals that started with marijuana and eventually become
addicted to drugs like cocaine may have come across these harder drugs
through the process of having to illegally obtain marijuana.

Government regulation of marijuana
distribution could ensure that the drug does not cross paths with harder
drugs, and that people would not have to risk of coming into contact
with them. Another point to make is that thousands of people in the
United States have been using marijuana recreationally despite the laws
against it. Just look at the sales in Colorado: The first week of sales
for 37 retail sellers of marijuana in Colorado came to over $5 million.
Yes, $5 million.

I think it is safe to say that these people weren't making these
purchases because they wanted to try the new herb store in town. While
of course there may be unsavory customers, there are plenty of average
people that smoke marijuana recreationally that will never try harder
drugs in their life. While many people that use harder drugs started
with marijuana, correlation does not mean causation.

In addition, Christie has said, "I think [marijuana] sends a wrong
message to our kids and I don't think it makes anybody a better or
more productive person." I can think of an abundance of other
substances that are worse for the youth of our nation than the
legalization of recreational marijuana.

For example, fast food. Obesity is one of the leading causes of death
in the U.S., and yet, it would be impossible to watch an hour of
television without seeing a fast food commercial. Another concern that
Christie has is productivity. What about alcohol or cigarettes?
Cigarettes cause lung cancer and tooth decay, but cigarette smoking
has been accepted as a legal activity in our society for decades.
Smoking cigars are even seen as a status symbol, something to be proud
of.

If marijuana were legalized, it would be regulated just like any other
drug. It would be made clean, and sold in environments that do not
carry a negative dead-beat-stoner stereotype. It could remove the
stigma for those that have to use marijuana for medical reasons, and
create revenue for the government. And it is not as if people would be
smoking all over the place.

We have seen the strict cigarette smoking laws that are in place at
most public places.

Smokers are usually not allowed to smoke within a certain radius of
public buildings, and most restaurants are completely smoke free or
have a distinct smoke-free section.

These same rules would be put into place for smoking marijuana.
Understandably, it can be hard to shake one's code of morals when it
is based on an idea that has been in place for so long. Many people
have the mentality that because marijuana has been illegal, it should
just stay that way. But we have been wrong in the past. We have to
accept that societies can make changes in their beliefs, and that
there is not harm in accepting them despite the tradition of time.

Courtney Han is a School of Arts and Sciences first-year student
majoring in journalism and media studies and political science.

Her column, "Fit Wit," runs on the third Friday of every month. 
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