It is indicative of an ignorant society when racism, fear, and lies can control public policy. It is ignorance which allows the few, the corrupt, to control what it is we believe. Let us indulge in a simple exercise of logic, on an issue which perpetually gets looked over. The issue? Marijuana.
The federal government, from 1920-1933, imposed prohibition. If caught with alcohol, you were slapped on the wrist and sent on your way. Prohibition led to an increase in corruption, and organized crime. Instead of simply walking into a bar for a quiet drink, you had to rely on criminals to supply you with booze which might not even be safe to drink. Canada laughed at us.
The federal government banned marijuana, officially, in 1937. It's procurement has been made a crime worthy of (in Indiana) a five-thousand dollar fine and up to a year in prison... Just for having less than an ounce. It has been placed on a very nasty list which contains the most addictive and lethal substances known to man. It has been labeled, "The Gateway Drug". Marijuana trafficking is violent. Wait.
The trafficking of marijuana is violent? The competition amongst DRUG DEALERS leads to VIOLENCE? The importation, cultivation, and distribution of an illegal plant leads to secretive and life threatening business practices? The people who grow this extremely lucrative crop pay thugs for protection of said crop? Logical point number 1: Legalizing marijuana would effectively cut out the crime associated with it. It would no longer be necessary to circumvent an entire justice system, eliminate competition, or spend millions smuggling a legal substance into the United States.
Crime, then, cannot be the only reason marijuana is illegal. Logically, it cannot be a reason at all. It must be, then, the children. It isn't as though we have addictive substances on the market today, substances prohibited by law to be sold to minors. These substances don't exist and do not commonly sport handy labels informing users that the use of the substance can lead to complications during pregnancy. Logical point number 2 is self evident.
This next bit is taken directly from the "White house drug policy" (
here):
"Marijuana also harms society by causing lost productivity in business, limiting educational attainment, and by contributing to illnesses and injuries that put further strain on the health care system."
Hold up. Logical point number 3: If one were to show up to work drunk, one would be fired; logically, if one showed up craving Doritos, one could be fired as well. Our educational attainment is not limited by marijuana, it is limited by our educational system; the Netherlands beat our test scores..
alot. As for health care, the Netherlands have managed just
fine.
Oh, and Canada is still laughing at us.
