DECRIMINALIZING MARIJUANA WOULD HELP US

Prisoners charged with possession should face alternate punishment
that doesn't charge taxpayers

According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, 12.4 percent of federal
inmates are serving for marijuana related charges. For the
conservatives who are so ardent about supporting Joe-taxpayer but at
the same time want to crack down on marijuana users, it seems a bit
hypocritical. Luckily, not a lot of voters go that far in the thinking
process when casting their ballot.

They've been programmed to think taxes, marijuana, gay marriage and
France are all evil. It isn't just conservatives who should take a
closer look at the issue, however. According to the latest Gallup poll
concerning how many Americans support marijuana legalization in 2005,
60 percent of Americans were in favor of continued illegalization. 77
percent of conservatives and 60 percent of moderates are against
legalization while 36 percent of moderates and 54 percent of liberals
in favor of legalization. Keep in mind, though, this is not
decriminalization, but legalization.

Marijuana has been branded with a stigma we have yet to shake.
Compared with the legal drugs available over the counter, it would
boggle an outsiders mind as to why alcohol is readily available while
marijuana can come with jail time, yet the U.S. is spending $42
billion a year to crack down on this plant. Think of all the good you
could do with that much money as far as funding education, cancer
research or lowering taxes.

I think the biggest mistake people on this side of the argument make
is pushing for marijuana to be legal, which scares the other side off
before even hearing their points.

There needs to be a collected, sincere political movement first for a
decriminalization of the drugs, something with actual plans for
dealing with the offenders in a way that doesn't cost Americans more
money.

Instead of prison service, I would have no problem seeing marijuana
users punished in a way that suits the crime. Why not have them plant
trees? These adopt-a-highway programs are nice for local groups
wanting to get some free publicity and feel good about themselves, but
how about making marijuana users clean up the litter on the side of
the roads. The roads would be cleaner, because people like their weed,
and they could clean it more often. If taxpayers are going to pay for
these "criminals" anyway, they might as well see something good come
out of it. Community service seems like a logical way to deal with
marijuana users.

These are just a few points about how to deal with the war on
marijuana. If you are serious about getting some change or want to
know more, then you should really educate yourself on the issues.

All it takes is a couple Google searches and you'll pick up official
government statistics and tax-spending and organizational Web sites
for marijuana reform like NORML. Remember, you don't have to be a
marijuana user to see the damage it does to your wallet.