WEIGHING THE PROS AND CONS OF PROPOSITION 19

This past Tuesday was a big day for Americans nationwide. For many it
was a decisive year in which the direction the country would be
decided during a time of uncertainty. However, for many Californians
it was something a lot more important than just the petty squabbles
between Republicans and Democrats, it was all out war. On one side
stood firm resistance against the legalization of marijuana and on the
on the other stood (actually sat in circles singing Kumbaya)
bong-toting hippies. After earlier predictions that Proposition 19,
the bill to legal marijuana for recreational use, would be passed in
California, it met an unexpected 54% opposed and 46% approval on
Tuesday. While we don't recommend the use of any drug to people, there
is definitely more to the story than just black and white.

Legalization of marijuana has the ability to provide an economic boom
for the ailing state of California. It is estimated by Fox Business
that California's pot-crop is worth about $14 Billion, towering over
the $2 Billion value of the state's wine grapes. While there are many
stigmas and conflicting viewpoints on marijuana, it would make fiscal
sense.

It isn't popularly known, but when America was first settled, the
government actually encouraged the production of marijuana starting
with the Virginia Assembly of 1619 actually requiring every farmer to
grow hemp. It continued to be a staple in the economy until the early
20th century brought the demonization and hysteria of cannabis through
propaganda such as Reefer Madness. However, in World War 2, when
resources were scarce, the U.S. Department of Agriculture launched its
Hemp for Victory program. After marijuana had come in to save the day,
it was outlawed shortly after with the Narcotics Control Act of 1956
(PBS Online).

Comparatively, the multi-billion dollar tobacco industry has been a
cornerstone of America's economy since we smoked (pun definitely
intended) those Lobsterbacks in the Revolutionary War. Tobacco and
marijuana are somewhat similar; however marijuana is currently illegal
unlike tobacco. What's the reasoning behind this when marijuana is
virtually harmless in comparison? According to www.drugwarfacts.org,
there are NO recorded annual deaths due to marijuana use; meanwhile
tobacco kills 435,000 (18.1% of annual US deaths) and alcohol causes
85,000 deaths. So you're going to let the deaths of more than half a
million people slide to keep tobacco and alcohol legal, but marijuana
is so ridiculous that one hit of a joint could land you in jail for
years? That reasoning sounds a little Half-Baked if you ask us.

In a 2007 PBS interview with Eric Schlosser, journalist and author of
Fast Food Nation, he states that "about one out of every six federal
inmates is in federal prison for marijuana. That's a very large
number. There are more people now in federal prison for marijuana
offenses than for violent offenses. Under the laws of fifteen states,
you can get a life sentence for a nonviolent marijuana offense. And
the average sentence for a convicted murder in this country is about
six years. In the state of California, the average prison sentence for
a convicted killer is about 3.3 years."

The harmful and medicinal effects of marijuana consumption are still
passionately debated. Today it is no longer seen by many to be
physically addictive, but psychologically. Also, another main concern
is its status as a "gateway drug," however there have recently been
studies to refute this theory, like one from the Journal of School
Health which finds that tobacco use is a stronger indicator of hard
drug use than pot. There are a multitude of various studies and
theories that support or resist marijuana legalization, but marijuana
continues to be classified as a Class 1 drug under the Controlled
Substances Act. Its buddies in Class 1 include PCP, LSD and heroine,
sharing the Class 1 criteria of no known medical value, high levels of
abuse and addiction. Some addicts may consider heroine to "be better
than sex," but potheads don't seem to be blowing out veins or acting
like junkies for a THC fix.

Although you are all probably thinking that we had to smoke the
devil's lettuce to have written this, but we do not (if you don't
believe us, bring in a cup and we'll fill it up for you). Public
opinion is starting to shift and the California bill is producing
serious political considerations. We think that it's a just a matter
of time until recreational legality, but in the mean time we believe
that no one should have the authority to deny or criticize a terminal
cancer patient the right to smoke a little marijuana to ease the pain.