MARIJUANA LEGALIZATION REQUIRES SOCIAL CONSCIENCE

I frequently visit the Collegiate Times website and sometimes answer
the poll questions in the right-hand margin when they spark my
curiosity. I recently answered the question of whether states should
be allowed to legalize medical marijuana without federal legislation.
In the minority on the issue, I answered no while 71.9 percent of
students answered yes at the time of my polling.

My first response was yes because I strongly believe in states' rights.

Then I hesitated because of the repercussions that would result from
drug laws differing so dramatically from state to state.

A lot of people use the example of Prohibition, which is irrelevant
to the discussion of legalizing marijuana, especially in the context
of medical marijuana, but an analogy between consistent drinking ages
can be drawn. For the same reasons that the U.S. government has used
coercive measures to encourage states to put in place a drinking age
of 21, the issue of medical marijuana must also be addressed at a
federal level.

While other scenarios may evolve, such as federally legalizing
medical marijuana with state discretion to allow it within their
borders, the issue of it being a state decision is void. There are
federal laws about marijuana use, production and distribution, which
make it a federal issue from the start.

If states were to legalize medical marijuana, the only result would
be the federal government arresting people on federal charges as
opposed to local charges. In addition, due to the liberal use of the
commerce clause in the Constitution, the federal government has
jurisdiction over drug laws based on the fact that drugs are
transported, can affect travel on roads, in the air and elsewhere,
and are sold.

Lastly, I am hesitant to take the students' responses seriously
because I have found that many people vote on such an issue based on
what they would like for themselves. Young people often see the
legalization of medical marijuana as a step toward full legalization
and therefore the ability to legally do drugs.

A distinction needs to be made between what one believes should be in
law and what they believe should be legal based on how it can benefit
them without consideration for legitimate legal arguments, public
safety or any concern central to law. Just as there is a separation
of church and state, there also needs to be a distinction between
personal wants and what the government has a responsibility to
regulate and protect.

Jenna Lewis

junior, politcal science