AN EASY WAY TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM

In 2008, Michigan residents overwhelmingly voted to permit the use of
marijuana to help ease the pain of individuals suffering from certain
medical conditions.

Two years later there are still a lot of unanswered questions about
who can grow and sell it, and even who is eligible to use it. Many
doctors won't even prescribe it.

A business that opened in Mt. Pleasant earlier this year to dispense
marijuana to those who can use is legally is now being taken to court.

Officials in many local municipalities are discussing or have already
implemented ordinances to prohibit such businesses from locating in
their communities.

That could also be challenged in court.

The ambiguous way the law reads leaves a lot of room for different
interpretations.

I have a solution - just legalize the use of marijuana by anyone age
21 and over.

Why not?

What's the difference between getting drunk on alcohol or high on
pot? Both are potentially mind-altering drugs.

Cannabis is a naturally grown substance and, despite efforts of law
enforcement agencies, it's still easily attainable just about
everywhere for anyone of any age.

How many billions of dollars a year does the U.S. spend to fight the
illegal importation, sale and use of marijuana?

Couldn't that money be put to better use than tracking down growers,
pushers and potheads and putting them behind bars. Heck, it costs
about $90,000 per year to house one inmate in prison and about
$30,000 annually in a county jail alone.

How many police officers, federal agents and others are killed each
year attempting enforce the law or in drug deals "gone bad?"

Heck, instead of wasting all those dollars on enforcement the
government could be making money by allowing the legal use of marijuana.

Just think of the realm of possibilities it could provide. Growers,
manufacturers and those who sell it could all be regulated and taxed
just like any other business.

The same laws regarding the consumption of alcohol or smoking
cigarettes could be applied to marijuana. You couldn't use it in a
motor vehicle or any building that's accessible to the public. You
couldn't walk down the street toking on a joint just like you can't
with any adult beverage. If you drive while high you get arrested the
same as you do if you've had too much drink and get behind the wheel.

Maybe some would get offended seeing two people pass a joint
back-and-forth while sitting on a park bench. But is it any worse
than seeing them drinking beer or sharing a bottle of wine wrapped in
a brown bag?

I don't think the legalization of marijuana would create an
"epidemic" of new users, as some proclaim. People who want a little
weed for recreational use now can and do get it.

I also don't buy the theory that cannabis is a "gateway drug" and
leads to the use of more potent substances like cocaine or meth.

That's like saying those who drink beer will move on to wine, vodka,
rum or some other hard liquor because they have a higher alcohol content.

That's absurd. Everyone has there own preference for what they consume.

Before anyone says I'm advocating the legalization of marijuana
because I'm one of those potheads from the '70s, that's simply not true.

Sure, probably like many people, I smoked some weed back in my
college days, but to be honest I never really cared for it. All
getting "high" did for me was give me the proverbial munchies and
make me sleepy. Not my idea of a fun night out.

One thing I can say is I've seen many mean, nasty and combative
drunks in my time, but I don't ever recall seeing someone get like
that after toking on a doobie or two.

Now I'm sure there are a lot of people who won't agree with me on
this one, but personally there are just a lot more positive reasons
for legalizing marijuana than there are for continuing to waste
taxpayers' money fighting a crime that shouldn't be a crime at all.