Free the weed! The time has come for the legalization, taxation and regulation of marijuana for medical and recreational purposes. Let us end this hypocrisy that stains our imperfect union once and for all. Brutal drug wars in Mexico; an obscene, racist, prison-industrial complex at home; crumbling state budgets; and the utter failure of current drug policy; all speak to the need to legalize marijuana. Legalization, taxation and regulation would weaken the Mexican cartels profiting from U.S. pot sales, save billions in law enforcement costs and generate billions more in tax revenue.
More important, legalization is the right thing to do. Indeed, in a free society legalization is the moral thing to do. Anyone familiar with the history of marijuana prohibition knows the deliberate misinformation and blatant racism that is behind marijuana prohibition.
Some facts:
Marijuana is the third most popular recreational drug in America (behind only alcohol and tobacco), and has been used by nearly 100 million Americans. According to government surveys, some 25 million Americans have smoked marijuana in the past year, and more than 14 million do so regularly despite harsh laws against its use. Our public policies should reflect this reality, not deny it.
Marijuana is far less dangerous than alcohol or tobacco. Around 50,000 people die each year from alcohol poisoning. Similarly, more than 400,000 deaths each year are attributed to tobacco smoking. By comparison, marijuana is nontoxic and cannot cause death by overdose.
Marijuana is a cash crop greater than wheat and corn combined.
Enforcing marijuana prohibition costs taxpayers an estimated $10 billion annually and results in the arrest of more than 872,000 individuals per year -- far more than the total number of arrests for all violent crimes combined, including murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault.
America's political decisions to treat drug addiction as a crime rather than a public health problem, and to legalize AK-47s but not pot, fuels the drug wars in Mexico, and is an indication of the utter failure of common sense and decency in the halls of justice, our courts and our legislatures.
Prohibition does not work; prohibition is a historical and contemporary failure. Marijuana should be legalized, taxed and regulated for medical and recreational purposes. Drug use and abuse should be treated as a medical problem, rather than a criminal problem. All those incarcerated for non violent drug violations should be released immediately. The war on drugs is a war on Americans. Let us end the assault on our friends and neighbors.
News Hawk- Ganjarden 420 MAGAZINE ® - Medical Marijuana Publication & Social Networking
Source: Examiner
Author: Michael Stone
Contact: Examiner
Copyright: 2009 Clarity Digital Group LLC d/b/a Examiner.com
Website: Free The Weed! Legalize Marijuana Now
More important, legalization is the right thing to do. Indeed, in a free society legalization is the moral thing to do. Anyone familiar with the history of marijuana prohibition knows the deliberate misinformation and blatant racism that is behind marijuana prohibition.
Some facts:
Marijuana is the third most popular recreational drug in America (behind only alcohol and tobacco), and has been used by nearly 100 million Americans. According to government surveys, some 25 million Americans have smoked marijuana in the past year, and more than 14 million do so regularly despite harsh laws against its use. Our public policies should reflect this reality, not deny it.
Marijuana is far less dangerous than alcohol or tobacco. Around 50,000 people die each year from alcohol poisoning. Similarly, more than 400,000 deaths each year are attributed to tobacco smoking. By comparison, marijuana is nontoxic and cannot cause death by overdose.
Marijuana is a cash crop greater than wheat and corn combined.
Enforcing marijuana prohibition costs taxpayers an estimated $10 billion annually and results in the arrest of more than 872,000 individuals per year -- far more than the total number of arrests for all violent crimes combined, including murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault.
America's political decisions to treat drug addiction as a crime rather than a public health problem, and to legalize AK-47s but not pot, fuels the drug wars in Mexico, and is an indication of the utter failure of common sense and decency in the halls of justice, our courts and our legislatures.
Prohibition does not work; prohibition is a historical and contemporary failure. Marijuana should be legalized, taxed and regulated for medical and recreational purposes. Drug use and abuse should be treated as a medical problem, rather than a criminal problem. All those incarcerated for non violent drug violations should be released immediately. The war on drugs is a war on Americans. Let us end the assault on our friends and neighbors.
News Hawk- Ganjarden 420 MAGAZINE ® - Medical Marijuana Publication & Social Networking
Source: Examiner
Author: Michael Stone
Contact: Examiner
Copyright: 2009 Clarity Digital Group LLC d/b/a Examiner.com
Website: Free The Weed! Legalize Marijuana Now
