A 'chronic' ailment
Issue date: 9/17/09 Section: Perspective
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Regardless of where you live, there are two versions of "The Man" in your area: the state government and the federal government. When these two entities don't get along, some funny things start happening.
Things like the legalization of marijuana, for example.
Marijuana is illegal under federal law, something few students should be shocked to hear.
What students might not know, though, is that some states have opted to bend that law a little with laws of their own.
In recent years, 13 states have enacted laws that legalize marijuana for medicinal purposes.
Before anyone gets too excited, note that the list does not include Kentucky. And the operative words here are "medicinal purposes."
Debate rages regarding the medical benefits and risks of marijuana, but the following point remains: there are places in the United States of America where pot is both illegal and legal at the same time.
The ridiculous ambiguity is just the tip of the iceberg. And it begs the question, "How can we eliminate this hypocrisy and contradiction?"
The answer lies in legalizing marijuana at the federal level.
A statement like that conjures up some frightening images. Imagine people rolling joints during class, lighting up on the commute to work or blowing smoke in children's faces at Lake Reba.
Imagine a 14-year-old walking into Wal-Mart with $20 and walking out with a pack of new, over-the-counter marijuana cigarettes.
Those images are upsetting because they should be, but there's absolutely no reason to believe any of that would happen.
Legalization doesn't imply carelessness, and regulating legal substances is infinitely easier than regulating illegal substances.
It's understandable to oppose the legalization of any drug, but we're much too late for that. There are a number of perfectly legal drugs that surround us each and every day, many of which are arguably more harmful and dangerous than marijuana.
Alcohol is an obvious example, but so is the nicotine in tobacco cigarettes or the caffeine in sodas and coffee. Those three substances are drugs in every sense of the definition. They each alter our mental and physical states and are potentially habit-forming, yet are legal in American society.
Controlling these substances through laws and regulations is part of what keeps them legal. We can limit sales and usage by age, by location and by amount, and we routinely do.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 12
People
posted 9/17/09 @ 8:19 AM EST
Great article. Conservatives (which I am one) always claim to be for the original intent of the Constitution and government by saying States Rights trump the Federal government. (Continued…)
Traviss Witt
posted 9/17/09 @ 3:48 PM EST
So glad to see this topic come to public attention. Awesome article.
Mason Brock
posted 9/17/09 @ 9:10 PM EST
A refreshing article. The only point of contention is that the ability to tax marijuana is the best argument for legalizing it...in my mind that is the best argument for keeping it in the black market!
As former Chief Justice John Marshall wrote "The power to tax is the power to destroy. (Continued…)
Traviss Witt
posted 9/18/09 @ 10:56 AM EST
I think the word happiness should also be underlined in the graphic, for obvious reasons.
Horatio IV
Jerry Donnley
posted 9/18/09 @ 9:50 PM EST
Mason Brock, your mind works in mysterious ways. I have no doubt that over the counter herb would be taxed but all current legalization bill proposals allow individuals to grow their own stash. (Continued…)
Traviss Witt
posted 9/19/09 @ 6:30 PM EST
It's definitely possible to grow your own stash, but without an extensive botany background you're going to be growing some shwag. It's also very inexpensive to grow enough tobacco for self use, but creating a quality product takes much more time and effort than most people are willing to put forth. (Continued…)
Traviss Witt
posted 9/19/09 @ 6:33 PM EST
"I'm not saying marijuana is going to be more expensive if it is legalized, but it paves the way for it to be outright banned if the gov't desires for it to be. (Continued…)
RFWoodstock
posted 9/21/09 @ 3:15 PM EST
Valid medicinal value, it's a victimless crime, the War on Drugs WAY too costly, too many arrests for simple possession, tax it and use the money to pay for health insurance and to reduce the deficit. (Continued…)
Mason Brock
posted 9/21/09 @ 3:35 PM EST
Definitely legalize it. Just be careful about taxing it, because if we start levying excessive "sin" taxes that could turn into a form of soft prohibition, just like people are trying to do with tobacco. (Continued…)
TViss
Traviss Witt
posted 9/24/09 @ 1:20 PM EST
LEGALIZZZZZE IT....DON'T CRITICIZZZZZE IT...LEGALIZZZZE IT....AND I WILL ADVERTIZZZZE IT.
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