PROHIBITION IN THE 21ST CENTURY

In everything we consume, there is the possibility of it either harming or
helping our bodies.

Caffeine is known to be addictive, yet soft drinks are very tasty and
therefore are consumed frequently. Cigarettes contain tar that coats the
lungs and causes respiratory problems, but the tobacco is grown by farmers
and helps them put food on the tables of their families.

Even alcohol, as deadly as it can be, has the redeeming qualities of
lowering stress and helping to prevent heart attacks.

All of these things are dangerous, yet legal.

So why do we keep marijuana, another dangerous yet potentially helpful
drug, illegal?

California is one of eight states that have legalized the use of marijuana
for medicinal purposes.

By doing so, cancer patients have been able to seek relief from pain and
regain their appetites.

Also, patients with glaucoma and those with AIDS can use marijuana to
alleviate pain and discomfort. These eight states may have legalized
marijuana for this purpose, but they are not the only states with cancer
patients.

True, there are other pain relievers and appetite builders, but they can
cause side effects much worse than the pain the patients are going through.
Alcohol can cause many health problems, yet it is still legal to buy and
consume at age 21. Cigarettes and other tobacco products cause problems for
users, as well as those experiencing second-hand smoke.

We are taught from early on in our lives that tobacco products have no real
value to the user except for stress management. Marijuana, though it has
the potential to cause health problems, is seldom related to these
problems. Rather, it is known as a victimless crime drug, one that if it
does cause problems, they are only to the user. It is true that countless
lives are taken every day because of the category of drugs (by which I mean
illegal) that marijuana has been placed in. But the drug does not take
these lives; they are taken by the actions against those using it. Because
buying and selling marijuana is illegal, dealings with the authorities
often result in huge fights, leaving many dead. If marijuana were legal
these types of fatalities would not occur, because people could get the
drug from legal sources.

Authorities could regulate the marijuana, ensuring that it was not cut with
any other drugs that could be harmful to users.

These other drugs, such as cocaine and heroin, are the ones that have
health-related problems.

These highly addictive drugs are deadly even if used in minuscule amounts.

If used responsibly, marijuana just gives a buzz much like alcohol.

Having marijuana legalized for medicinal purposes was a great step, but not
good enough.

There are people out there that enjoy the recreational use of the drug just
as they do smoking or consuming alcoholic beverages.

Denying them the pleasures of marijuana is comparable to the Prohibition of
alcohol in the 1920s. Jails were filled, and many arrests were made because
an activity people were going to do regardless of legality was made illegal
for a short period of time. When the Prohibition act was first enacted, the
crime rate went through the roof ... but immediately fell again after it
was amended.

The valuable time and lives of our law enforcement are taken up by
needlessly arresting marijuana users and battling the drug war when there
are alternative ways to dealing with more harmful drugs. The argument is
made that marijuana is a "gateway drug" that leads to use of other more
deadly and dangerous drugs, therefore it should stay illegal for that reason.

But what if it was legalized?

Then people could use marijuana recreationally, drug dealers would be taken
out of the picture and the pressure to use the more harmful drugs would be
gone. Marijuana would no longer be a gateway drug. I still believe that
there are drugs out there that should be illegal, but marijuana is not on
that list. If used sensibly and rationally, marijuana can serve the same
purpose as soft drinks, alcohol and tobacco products.

As with these substances, it is up to the user to be responsible while
under the influence of marijuana and to conduct themselves appropriately.

Heather is often under the influence of caffeine to help her through the
day. E-mail her at (mailto:hrcutchi@unity.ncsu.edu)
hrcutchi@unity.ncsu.edu to let her know what you are influenced by.