On November 2nd, Californians will vote on the legalization of marijuana under Proposition 19. “This initiative would legalize private marijuana use for people 21 and over. It would also allow local governments to regulate and tax the drug's production and distribution” (CNN). As good as an idea as this may seem, to cut into California’s debt crisis, I believe that this will do more harm than good.
We should not try to make up the deficit by legalizing an illegal substance, that is attached to a history of criminals and suspect behavior. First of all, this sends the wrong message to young teens growing up, that marijuana is acceptable to use, because it would be legal. The overwhelming majority of law enforcement is opposed to this initiative because this drug is usually associated with gangs, and they do not want more drugged drivers on the road. Marijuana is legal for medicinal purposes in California, and is very easy to come by as is. This initiative would just open the flood gate for any person over the age of 21 to use the drug recreationally. That means that the guy who drives your children’s school bus, can smoke this right up until he starts the engine. That seems like it would be a little scary.
Unfortunately there is always money involved and main reason many people support this proposition is to earn revenue off of the taxes. So private businesses would then become the drug dealers. Even though drug cartels profit from the selling of marijuana, the price would have to be significantly lower in the local businesses. The drug cartels would just start pushing cocaine and heroin even harder than they already do. There are plenty of other illegal substances that will most likely see an increase in use and sales. I believe that they should not give up on the drug war and keep prosecuting offenders and dealers.
The timing for legalization of marijuana may not be right in California, but the idea should not be completely dismissed. It is worth another look. Police departments all over the country invest countless hours and thousands of dollars in overtime to work complicated drug cases. The good cases end with criminal convictions along with drugs, cash, cars, and other assets being forfeited to the state. The problem is that even after all of the time and money invested in investigation and enforcement, the drug trade moves on and continues to breed violence. We have lost a generation of young people because of the destructive effect of the illegal drug market. Your concerns regarding increased use and sale of other illegal drugs and the potential for additional public safety hazards are valid, but doing more of what we have been doing for the last several decades is not working. As one of ten cops in my family, I am certainly not throwing in the towel on the war on drugs, but I am suggesting that new strategies should always be considered.
ReplyDeleteJay Landsman
Jacob,
ReplyDeleteGood job in examining all of the particular aspects of this issue. California while being at the forefront on some progressive issues luckily did not vote this in.
I agree with you analysis of the situation, and view it much the same way. While I do agree with Jay's comments regarding investigations conducted by police departments and the proliferation of the drug trade into our society, with having over 14 years of esperience investigating drug violators, making small and large cases that have resulted in convictions, and the forfeiture of assets; I wonder what our communities would look like if these dedicated departments and officers were not conducting investigations. While it is true that for every drug violator that is arrested another steps up to take their place, no enforcement action would create more violence than referenced in the above comment.
Unfortunately, we do not make the final decisions, and in this day and age of economic upheaval decisions are money driven;an article this morning in my town's newspaper reports that over $200,000 in excise tax as paid to the city from the sale of medical marijuana in local dispensaries. This $200k represents over tax on over $7,000,000 in sales for this year. With deep cuts in most state and local governments common place these days, that money is welcomed with open arms.
While don't drink or smoke I do not understand the objection to the legalization of marijuana for recreational use. After all is it not the same concept as alcohol? You say that you would not want to have a school bus driver that had been smoking pot to drive your kids but, I would think that would be the same for someone that is drunk.
ReplyDeleteWhat I do think is that this is a very tricky subject to decide which intoxicating drugs should be legal and which shouldn't. WE accept that alcohol is ok for adults even though it causes many of the same effects as marijuana. If beer was not so commercialized would we view the same way. I haven't done any research in this but I have the feeling an exponentially large amount of people die from alcohol related incidents every year than from marijuana related incidents.
What I do think is that this is a very tricky subject to decide which intoxicating drugs should be legal and which shouldn't. WE accept that alchole is ok for adults even though it causes many of the same effects as marajuna. If beer was not so commercilized would we view the same way. I haven't done any research in this but I have the feeling an exponetioaly large amount of people die from alcohol related incidents every year than from maraijuana.
This topic usually sparks a healthy debate. The original post and the comments prior to mine were all very insightful. Alcohol and tobacco are legal as is caffeine. Marijuana has been illegal for years and is still illegal for many reasons. Just like alcohol and tobacco people can argue, with great conviction, the pros and cons for Marijuana. Although the only people I hear speaking of the pros of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco are its users. Generally they refer to the feelings it gives them...
ReplyDeleteA few of the potential positives to the legalization of marijuana are related to money. We are talking about a multi billion dollar industry for a drug that is not truly legal anywhere in the world! Legalization would bring in tax revenue on all legal sales of the substance like it has done in the states that currently have it available for medical use. Our local, state and federal government spend billions each year to fight the war on pot. Then there are the billions of dollars to convict and house people for marijuana related offenses. Legalization would not end the need for police enforcement nor would it end the spend related to jail time for convictions. People still break the laws on alcohol and tobacco and sometimes have to go to jail. However we would see a decrease.
There is also the argument that THC has beneficial properties for people with serious illnesses. This cannot be said for alcohol and tobacco. Alcohol and tobacco kill far more people than marijuana. Marijuana is not good for people. It is not healthy, but neither are Alcohol and tobacco which, once again, are perfectly legal.
Now may not be the time to end the prohibition, but we may not be too far away.