Legalizing Marijuana: the issues

By Jay Jang

The legalizing of Marijuana has been one of the hottest topics of debate since medical marijuana was first legalized in California. As marijuana supporters rally to reform prohibition laws against “weed”, possession of cannabis in Washington may become legal for adults over the age of 21. Mike McGinn, Seattle’s mayor supports the legalization of cannabis while Washington’s Attorney general, Rob McKenna does not. So, let us weigh the pros and cons of marijuana legalization.

Marijuana, also known as cannabis, ganja, buddha, weed and pot, refers to the dried herbal form of the cannabis plant. The high that many people experience upon ingesting or smoking the plant is induced by the chemical tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Due to its effects marijuana poses health benefits for people with cancer, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis, depression, anxiety, and Alzheimer’s.  Additionally, it is widely accepted that smoking “weed” does not pose significant health risks when done in moderation, and is often compared to smoking tobacco or drinking alcohol.

The number of cannabis related arrests in the United States has for many years far exceeded the combined number of arrests for all violent crimes (murder, manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery, and assault). Of the 872,721 marijuana related arrests in the United States in 2007, nearly 89 percent (775,138) were made solely for possession.   Many argue that decriminalizing marijuana would allow for police resources to focus on more serious crimes. Many more argue that legalizing marijuana would put drug dealers out of business and reduce the amount of violent crimes.

Many supporters of cannabis also propose the legalization of marijuana in order to ease the national deficit. Many feel that in a sense, America is fighting two wars at once; one on terrorism overseas and another on marijuana at home. Annually, approximately 10-12 billion dollars of tax money is used to uphold prohibition laws related to cannabis. When combined with the revenue that could stem from the taxation of marijuana sales, supporters have a valid argument in saying that the legalization of marijuana would help to alleviate the national debt.

Many of those opposed to the idea however, state that the sacrifice of public morals will not positively affect the future generations of America. The opposed stand firm by their argument that marijuana is a gateway drug and legalization coupled with widespread use would embolden citizens to experiment with harder drugs such as acid, LSD, methamphetamine, cocaine and/or heroin. Although many supporters dismiss this as government propaganda for the prohibition of marijuana, the logic of the argument seems sound.

The opposed also argue that the legalization of marijuana will cause an increase in the amount of people driving under the influence of marijuana, resulting in endangerment of public roads. Despite the heavy penalties and educational steps taken by law enforcement to decrease drunk driving, it still remains a problem today. Many opposed individuals worry that with the legalization of marijuana, driving high will become an unsolvable public problem. The reason being that spotting a high individual is much more difficult than spotting a drunk one. While the smell of alcohol stays on an individual for a long period of time, the smell of marijuana, once smoked, dissipates rather quickly, leaving no clues for law enforcement.

With the legalization of marijuana, those opposed to legalizing marijuana argue that we are putting our youth at risk. They argue that when marijuana becomes legal, youth will have better access to it causing an increase in drug use among younger populations. Along with an increase in access however, the idea of youth being exposed to marijuana through ads in gas stations, convenience stores, and TV are more worrisome. However, supporters argue that the current lines of distribution for cannabis within society give young people better access to marijuana than many believe, and that legalizing weed would actually be a step towards preventing youth drug abuse.

The legalization of marijuana is a touchy subject and while both sides offer great arguments for their points, ultimately the choice to use or not to use is up to individuals. For those already using marijuana, the question then becomes one of responsibility, whether to use or abuse.

Below are a few resources if you or someone you know needs help with marijuana or other substance abuse.

Alcohol and Drug 24-hour Help Line
206.722.3700
www.adhl.org

Alcoholics Anonymous
206.584.2838
www.seattle-al-anon.org

Marijuana Anonymous
http://www.marijuana-anonymous.org/

Crisis Clinic
24 hour Crisis Line (King County)
206.461.3222