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End Pot Prohibition
Pubdate: Wed, 12 Mar 2008
Source: Cord Weekly, The (CN ON Edu)
Copyright: 2008 The Cord Weekly
Contact: http://www.cordweekly.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4637
Author: Dan Belgue
END POT PROHIBITION
Legalizing The Marijuana Industry Is The Only Option That Makes Sense
Marijuana should be legal. This statement always seems to garner a lot
of attention, and rightfully so, as there are several relatively
complex issues surrounding its legalization.
However, there is absolutely no logical reason why marijuana
prohibition continues to be a valid issue.
All the facts point to one solution: legalization.
Now, if you've never really thought about the legalization of
marijuana, this statement may come as somewhat of a shock to you, but
let me give you the facts.
First of all, keeping marijuana illegal is a violation of a basic
human rights. Marijuana is not harmful, so there is no reason that
human beings can't choose for themselves if they use marijuana or not.
Every person should have the right to this choice.
Before you question the validity of the non-harmful nature of
marijuana, take a moment to read the next fact.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
approximately 20,000 Americans die every year as the direct result of
alcohol consumption, and - you guessed it - zero as a result of marijuana.
Next, let's take a quick trip through our nation's history, all the
way back to the 1870s. We tried prohibition once, remember? It didn't
work.
Alcohol was sold illegally in Canada until 1930 (1948 in PEI), and was
a flourishing business during that time. The ban of the substance only
encouraged an underworld of illegal activity.
I think Albert Einstein said it best: "For nothing is more destructive
of respect for the government and the law of the land than passing
laws which cannot be enforced."
Furthermore, the reason alcohol was ever banned in the first place was
because it caused disorderly and rowdy behaviour, which brings me to
my next point.
Pot is far less violent a substance than alcohol. People do get drunk
and rowdy. I'm not saying everyone who drinks gets violent or
belligerent every time they sip a few back, but it unarguably happens
to some.
We, as students, are exposed to this kind of behaviour extremely
often. But ask yourself this: when was the last time you saw someone
smoke some pot and then get all fired up looking for a fight, want to
hook-up with a random or want to steal a road sign?
So why should it be legal to purchase and consume alcohol, a more
violent and dangerous drug, and not marijuana? It makes no sense.
This theory can be applied to cigarettes as well. There is an
overwhelming amount of research showing that cigarette smoke is more
addictive and dangerous to one's body than marijuana smoke, yet it's
controlled and sold just like alcohol.
Also, Canada has some of the highest tax rates on cigarettes and
alcohol in the world, while at the same time our government spends
countless dollars, through the costs of law enforcement, prosecution,
incarceration, etc. on marijuana-related offences.
According to Harvard Economics professor Jeffrey Miron, if marijuana
were to be legalized, taxed and controlled in the United States, there
would be an estimated $10-14 billion (USD) worth of benefits.
Undoubtedly, the fiscal benefit would be high in Canada as well.
Of course, there are several medicinal reasons marijuana should be
legalized as well, including the fact that cancer and injury patients
who develop adverse side effects from treatment or painkillers should
be able to easily access the marijuana they need without a
prescription -?-like any over-the-counter medication - instead of
having to enter into a world of illegal activity.
I could go on and on listing off the reasons why marijuana prohibition
is detrimental to society and clearly quite absurd, but that would get
really boring. I've made my point. Now it's up to you to think about
it. Why not go discuss it with a friend over a, umm . pint?
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MAP posted-by: Derek