MARIJUANA, YA' DIG?

Last week's Heads vs. Feds Hot Topic debate has encouraged us at The
All State to examine the matter of marijuana legalization. This is in
part because 400 people attended the debate.

Most of the past Hot Topic debates have had significantly smaller
attendance. It really says something about where everyone's priorities
lie. The main reason we're examining the issue, however, is that it
can have profound effects on all of us.

We've weighed pros, and we've weighed the cons. The issue has been
discussed by many for long periods beneath the glow of a black light
while listening to Pink Floyd. As a result, we've come to some
rudimentary conclusions.

First, legalizing marijuana would reduce the crime rate and
consequently free up room in the prison system.

Second, if marijuana has medical value, it is permissible for medical
use but not necessarily recreational use. Third, the drug is less
scrutinized than other drugs (e.g., heroine, cocaine, meth, etc.) and
more widespread. From this, the argument springs forth that it is not
financially efficient to prosecute against marijuana related crimes.

With that stated, let's examine these conclusions in more
depth.

The first conclusion seems like a benefit of marijuana legalization,
but is it? The answer has much to do with whether or not you prefer
something that's practical or logical.

Legalization would essentially lessen the burden on law enforcement
and prison administrators, and therefore, it would be very practical.

The logic, however, is ill conceived.

Reduced crime is accomplished when people stop breaking the law, not
when people do away with the law. Legalizing marijuana to reduce crime
is like legalizing statutory rape to reduce crime.

Granted, the two aren't exactly the same although the principle behind
it is. Decriminalizing marijuana possession and/or usage does not
remove the fact that it's a societal problem.

Bottom line, when using reduced crime as an argument, it really
depends on which out-weighs the other - logic or practicality.

Moving on, lets look at marijuana in medical terms.

Eleven states have already legalized medical marijuana use, and
recently the New Mexico Legislature approved a bill that will make it
the 12th state to do so, according to The Associated Press. So there
seems to be some consensus among the people of these states about
using marijuana for medicinal purposes. However, there are many people
who aren't a part of this consensus and argue that marijuana should
not be used medically.

Regardless of the conclusion to that argument, we think that either
way, marijuana used recreationally would cause more health problems
that it would prevent especially if it's shipped out by the carton
like Marlboros.

Lastly, dispositions towards marijuana usage are becoming more lax.
The drug has become so widespread and rampant that marijuana-related
crime is almost trivial and its prosecution isn't very economical. Is
the decriminalization of marijuana justified because it would improve
financial efficiency and eliminate the burden of such a trivial issue?

Last year, CNN reported that Wal-Mart would stop prosecuting
shoplifters who stole merchandise under $25. A large factor in this
decision was because it was financially wasteful to prosecute people
who stole merchandise of such small value.

It's really a sad situation.

Even though shoplifting is immoral and should be prohibited,
maintaining that prohibition became too difficult and therefore was
revoked.

This situation parallels that of marijuana legalization. The push for
it comes from the progressed difficulty to maintain its
prohibition.

Ultimately, the deciding factor in this debate is the majority rule.
Though the majority does not yet approve of marijuana legalization,
advocacy for legalization has by no means diminished. And at the rate
we're going, not before long, the majority may be saying, "Let's get
baked."