Here is the essay I wrote to dicuss in a political debate club later this week. it's about legalization/decriminalization. Comments/criticisms welcome.








Legalization/Decriminalization of Marijuana



Much has been made, in recent years, of the debate over the decriminalization and/or legalization of marijuana. Although much of this debate has centered around the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes, many people, myself included, feel that marijuana should be legalized for recreational use. The main arguments for legalization are that it is a free country, it has medicinally beneficial uses, it is no more harmful than alcohol or tobacco, and that what people do in the privacy of their homes is not the business of the government. Another major argument is the amount of income it could bring in to state and federal governments (via taxes), and the crippling effect it would have on the dealers of hard drugs. Other than disputing these point, there are only a few arguments against legalization, the most reasonable of which is the lack of a way to test for DUIs. There is no breathalyzer-like test for marijuana. The only tests are invasive urine or blood tests which can take days to analyze, and which will come back positive weeks after a person uses marijuana. While I fell this is a reasonable argument, I think the only reason such a device does not exist is because there is no market for it. If marijuana was decriminalized (and eventually legalized), every law enforcement agency in the country would be looking to buy such a device. With such a large and lucrative market, a device would certainly be invented. Even without using such a device, a standard field sobriety test, like those used for suspected drunk drivers, is very effective for those under the influence of marijuana. Although DUIs would be a problem, they should not be the deciding factor against legalization.

In 1997, the federal government reported 695,199 marijuana related arrests. In 2004 alone, the DEA had a spending budget of over $2 billion. Granted, that money is spent on stopping the trafficking of all drugs, illicit and prescription, but seeing as marijuana is the most abused illegal drug in the county, it would be fair to estimate that much of that money was spent on marijuana trafficking. The DEA does not release specific spending reports on their website. Now, if marijuana was legalized, that money could either be cut out of the budget, or put towards stopping the flow of far more harmful drugs, such as cocaine or heroin (the use of which is on the rise for the first time in years). On top of no longer having to spend money on stopping marijuana trafficking, the government would most likely place very high taxes on marijuana (as it has with tobacco and alcohol). This money would more than cover the cost of rehabilitation programs for addicts, as well as providing a large source of income for a government that is facing the highest budget deficits in history.
As well as greatly lowering the costs for the DEA, legalization could cripple much of the illegal drug black-market. Every drug dealer, grower, and transporter would be hurt by legalization. Much of their market would be ruined once there is no need for smuggled marijuana. Most of the drug lords who deal in hard drugs deal in marijuana as well. Legalization would hurt their business in the same way Phillip Morris would be hurt if tobacco was made illegal. Legalization would be the most devastating weapon imagineable in the war on hard drugs.
A major argument against legalization is that it would lead to the legalization of other drugs as well, such as hard drugs. IN making this argument, one lumps marijuana into the same group as heroin and cocaine; a group into which it certainly does not fit. The major difference here is that it is not possible to overdose on marijuana. It is possible to overdose on alcohol, a drug which has been legal since the creation of this country (save the few years of prohibition), but not marijuana. In this way, it is no more harmful than tobacco. There was an ad campaign a few years back that stated that the carcinogens in one joint was equal to those in 5 cigarettes. It is actually closer to the amount in three cigarettes, but either way this is a stupid argument. A smoker might smoke a pack of ciggarets a day, maybe a bit less. A casual user of marijuana may smoke a joint a day, maybe two. In total, they are inhaling far fewer carcinogens than a smoker of cigarettes. Not to mention that marijuana can be eaten, as it usually is by those who use it for medicinal purposes, which eliminates all damage to the lungs. In addition to these facts, marijuana is not physically addictive (meaning there is no withdrawl or symptoms of cravings). All such feeling are in the head of the user (mental addiction). In this way, it is no worse than many substances which are currently legal.
Although legalization would be a big leap, I feel that decriminalization would be a step in the right direction. According to current federal laws a second-time offense of possession (in any amount) of marijuana carries a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 days in prison. This means that if a person is caught with a joint twice, they must go to prison for at least 15 days. As well as jail time, they will face a fine of up to $2,500. A first time offender can face up to one year in jail. Some states, such as California, have successfully reformed their laws. In California, if you are caught with one ounce or less of marijuana (generally defined as the maximum amount for personal use) you will not face jail time, no matter how many times you have been caught. You face a maximum fine of only $100 (less than the value of the marijuana you have been caught with). In essence, California has decriminalized marijuana for personal use. Other places, such as the Netherlands or Vancouver, Canada, have successfully legalized marijuana for sale. Despite these few examples, most of the United States has strict drug laws with mandatory jail time.
Regardless of all these facts, America is a country based on freedom, and smoking marijuana in your home is causing no harm to others, it is your right as a free adult to make that decision. Why should the government draw the line at alcohol and tobacco, two substances no more harmful than marijuana? While I feel that the government must draw the lines at some hard drugs, out of responsibility to it’s citizens, marijuana falls into the category of soft drugs. As well as this simple yet important reason, marijuana has medicinal. It has been successfully used to treat those suffering from glaucoma, it reduces nausea, and it is the only drug, illegal or otherwise, know to induce hunger (although it is not known why). The combination of facts I have outlined above, along with the rearding medicinal uses, makes me feel legalization, or at least decriminalization, is the right move.

No comments?

good job

Thanks for the free essay, I hope I get a good grade.

I agree with you. Legalize it! If so many other countries are legalizing marijuana than why not over here in the western world. I believe one day it will be once all the old people in the government die off, and its our generation one day that are in charge...good essay.

Unfortunately, that's what your parents thought too.

--PunkDavid

High hopes?

yeah but my parents, weren't so 'into' marijuana. I think that its so much of an issue today that there's a possiblity. why not.

I wasn't talking about your parents in particular. But the closest marijuana ever came to legalization in the US at least was in the 70's when your parents were your age. They all said, "just wait until all the old fogies are gone and we're running things." Well, we're no closer now than we were then.

--PunkDavid

Well I dont know. I dont think the U.S. will ever legalize marijuana, only because there is such a huge effort against drugs and marijuana. Your country isnt easily swayed on such topics as this one.

You are right. though, i agree with what your saying. heavy marijuana use in the 70s, you'd think by now it would be legalized...as there is heavy marijuana use now in my youth.

But lately my country has been considering it. Which makes me think maybe the right people are in parliment. but your country is once again influencing us and has probably stopped that idea right in its tracks.

Yeah, it's probably America's fault.

You neglect to mention that these days it is her parents that are running the government.

Chances are pretty good if you were a hippie type in the 60s and 70s, you became a yuppy in the 80s and denied every 'ethic' your generation ever stood for.
babyboomers. pffffft.

haha. indeed

I thought I implied that pretty clearly.

--PunkDavid

oh, I must be stoned.

+ =

--PunkDavid