FREE THE WEED: LEGALIZE MARIJUANA

This November, Maine voters will decide if they want to become the
fifth state to allow legal dispensaries for patients prescribed
medical marijuana. The amount of diseases that qualify for the use of
medical marijuana would increase as well.

According to a recent article in the Kennebec Journal, there is no
organized opposition to Question 5. Only two state officials have
offered a negative stance on the referendum question.

It seems that with issues like gay marriage and TABOR II on the
ballot, no one cares about a medical marijuana law. The public's back
is turned because of the economy. Everyone is too worried about paying
their bills, being able to retire or even just being able to heat
their home this winter. They don't have time to be bothered with where
a glaucoma patient will fill their marijuana prescription.

So with attitudes changing, why stop with legislation affecting
medical marijuana users? Let's go for gusto -- I am talking about
legalizing marijuana.

The stigma associated with marijuana use has far from faded in our
society; yet even pre-occupation could be a step in the right
direction. It seems conservative parents are more concerned their son
might start experimenting with men rather than experimenting with
drugs. This year, during its 40th anniversary, Woodstock was revered
as a cultural pinnacle, while forty years ago it was looked down on by
adults as a muddy, drug-ridden orgy in the woods.

Even though voters seem to be relaxed about medical marijuana
legislation, it is no doubt that people would still be up in arms
about the legalization of marijuana for recreational use. Marijuana is
still seen as a drug that is abused -- not used responsibly. In
reality, countless citizens use marijuana maturely every day.

It's not just high school burnouts and college kids that smoke.
Recreational marijuana users are scholars and professors, fathers and
sons, mothers and daughters, business leaders and presidents. Making
these people purchase drugs illegally adds unnecessary danger to one
of the most harmless illegal substances.

Legal distribution will create safe environments for patients to
purchase marijuana. But why should only the safety of medical users be
guaranteed? Forcing recreational marijuana users to buy on the black
market puts innocent citizens in harms way -- not to mention makes them
lawbreakers.

All citizens, regardless of their reason for using the drug, should be
able to purchase it safely. Creating a secure method for patients to
acquire the drug is a step in the right direction, but this privilege
should not be reserved strictly for medical users.

Likening marijuana use to alcohol is an argument countless advocates
have made because it makes so much sense. To make one form of
mind-numbing social stimulant not only legal but an integral part of
culture while another is completely banned is hypocrisy in every sense
of the word.

It is unlikely that alcohol and marijuana will ever achieve the same
status, but the idea is just so tantalizing. Imagine walking safely
into a store full of marijuana guaranteed to be safe, fairly priced
and high quality.

Some like-minded individuals are working to put this dream in motion.
According to the state of Maine's Web site, a citizen initiative
petition titled "An Act to Repeal the Prohibition on Cannabis, Hemp
and Marijuana" is currently approved for circulation for the 2010
ballot. It is doubtful they will gather enough signatures, but if
Maine's voters remain as preoccupied as they have been, perhaps the
outlook isn't so grim for law-abiding citizens who just happen to get
high.