Saturday, January 30, 2010
Decriminalization of Marijuana Nationwide
I think the decriminalization of marijuana in this country would be very beneficial to the economy and our nation as a whole. I recently came across this article on the internet, and find it to be very interesting. The name of the article is great which is: Presidential Candidate Barack Obama Backs Federal Decriminalization--"I think the war on drugs has been a failure, and I think we need to rethink and decriminalize out marijuana laws." I completely agree with President Obama on this topic for sure. If the so called drug was decriminalized, one who got caught possessing it would only get a fine similar to a traffic ticket. He's not supporting the full legalization of marijuana, but merely decriminalization so people who got caught with it could pay a fine and go on about their day. The money paid from the fines could help a lot in our economy and government's current situation. The war on marijuana alone costs American tax payers billions of dollars annually. Why keep spending money on something that to me is considered a national money pit, when you could capitalize and make everyone happy. Isn't that what this country is based on anyways? Currently, more and more states are becoming more lenient toward decriminalizing marijuana and using it medically, while other states are not as liberal classifying it as an illegal narcotic. It doesn't make sense to me that over a third of the country is liberal on marijuana laws, and the remaining states are so harshly against it. If you take a look at the states that have decriminalized or approved medical use of marijuana, the proceeds from this are being put to use in ways that can be very beneficial. I don't know how many others feel this way, but I am entitled to my opinion and don't want to offend anyone. I'm not an activist nor do I support the illegal use of marijuana. I just think that it could be beneficial to make laws less brutal toward it, and capitalize like we do on alcohol and tobacco but even more-so with marijuana because it could be the nation's number 1 cash crop.
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All things being equal, you are correct in saying that marijuana is just another drug that could be taxed with the income helping with taxes and other social programs. However, alcohol and tobacco take a far greater toil on the economy than any benefits the taxes from their sales generate. The human toil is immense. Any drug which can alter brain chemistry alters its utility. Anyone who needs an “altered” experience isn’t living fully in this society. I find it hard to agree to allow the freedom for people to do as they choose to dictate the relegation of the “good” of society to the “desire” of the individual. Public Administration is best when it is serving the public good.
ReplyDeleteI agree. I think if the focus was taken off of the minor things, such as marijuana, more time and effort can be focused towards more serious crimes such as sexual predators. The prisons are over-populated with people that commit such minor crimes, and this is forcing more serious criminals out of the prisons to commit more crimes. It is an on-going cycle. Not that I think decriminalizing marijuana will prevent overcrowded jails, and prisons, but it will cut down on it significantly.
ReplyDeleteFor clarity sake, taxing marijuana has nothing to do with it being illegal. Ask the TN tax commision that requires the anoyomous payment of taxes on the transporation of marijuana over a certain weight. With state and local budgets being squeezed tight and California having a fairly successful run at the decriminalization of marijuana, I think more states will begin to look at decriminalization as a real possibility. Especailly the financial burden many deparments of corrects bare for the incarceation of small acts of marijuana possesion, all while cuting state education budgets. Politicians need to start working smarter instead of only trying to appear as working harder.
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