It’s Time For Legal Marijuana

Since 2012, marijuana legalization has skyrocketed. It is currently legal in 11 states recereationally, with medical marijuana legalized in 33 states (those 11 and 22 others), limited-THC medical marijuana made legal in 14 other states, and marijuana decriminalized in 16 states. Only 2 states-- South Dakota and Idaho-- have not made any moves to legalize it, and South Dakota is expected to offer a referendum later this year. Meanwhile, federal legislation has been proposed and is gaining support.

This is long overdue. William Randolph Hearst launched a crusade against hemp when it threatened his monopoly on the timber industry. It grew nearly six times as quickly and produced a more durable fiber, and the hemp industry ceased its role as a major economic fixture in the 1920s. Later, Richard Nixon saw it fit to target the African-American and anti-war communities, seeing drug use as a common fixture with which he might indirectly put them in prison and stifle political resistance to his administration.

The result has been some people receiving sentences of 10 years or more for simple possession of marijuana, with one non-violent marijuana offender famously being pardoned after spending decades in prison. In fact, half of all drug busts are marijuana, as opposed to more harmful drugs like heroin, opiods, or methamphetamines. This has contributed to the incarceration crisis we currently face and has cost taxpayers billions.

Conversely, legalized and regulated marijuana can generate hundreds of billions of dollars in tax revenue nationwide, tax revenue that could go towards reforms the education system desperately needs. Successful programs have been implemented in Washington and Colorado.

Of course, there is always room for OUI offenses. and such crimes, whether related to drugs or alcohol, need to be punished more harshly, a simple thing to do with the creation of regulations, legal framework, and protocol. On the whole, however, marijuana is less dangerous than alcohol and tobacco, both of which are perfectly legal.

It's time for legal marijuana.