Whether it’s living in painful discomfort, getting arrested or losing civil rights–millions of people are affected by marijuana prohibition. (Note: I’m shortening decriminalization/legalization to “D/L”) Using some “Marijuana Data”  and taking a look at “Marijuana Use By The Numbers” we’re going to take a look at two demographics; youth and adults, and their respective pro and con arguments towards D/L. In most regards to marijuana arrest accounting for over half of the drug arrest in the nation and marijuana readily available to for teenagers without regulation, we delve into the deep with the second installment of Howijuana: Marijuana’s past…present…our future.

Marijuana is widely used by teens in our society. While marijuana’s effects are pleasing and aiding to adults some of those effects could be potentially detrimental to children and teens. This is more so true about tobacco which is legal, but that’s a discussion for another time. So what’s the problem?  Some studies indicate that teens who use marijuana are more likely to drop out of school and experience job instability. It has also been reported that teens using marijuana are introduced to harsher drugs…which some will use. Whether the idea is that marijuana use is bad for teens or that marijuana is a “gateway” to harsher drugs, on both sides of the fence it causes curiosity and a search for alternatives. Teens are introduced to harsher drugs because they get them from the black market. The guy with the marijuana may just have some cocaine and MDMA in his pocket. Teens especially have an urge to be liked…accepted and may partake of harsher drugs to seem cool or see what the fuss is about, after all not everything they heard about marijuana was true and not all of it was false.

But what’s said about D/L? Those like Mitch Earleywine, PhD and Karen O’Keefe, JD attest to the following.

Sep. 2005 - Mitch Earleywine, PhD
Karen O’Keefe, JD

 

Unfortunately not everyone agrees with the words above, some believe that legalization…or decriminalization for the matter…especially for medical purposes will send a message that it is harmless to youth and because it is a medicine they will be more inclined to prefer its use. I, having been a youth once and somewhat still, strongly disagree but those in favor say things like…

 

If drugs become more available, acceptable and cheap, they will draw in greater numbers of vulnerable youth. And because of marketing tactics of drug promoters and the major decline in drug use in the 1990s (due in great part to antidrug, education and awareness campaigns), there is a growing perception among young people today that drugs are harmless. A decade ago, for example, 79 percent of 12th graders thought regular marijuana use was harmful; only 58 percent do so today.

Because peer pressure is such a factor in inducing kids to experiment with drugs, the way kids perceive the risks of drug use is critical. Legalizing smoked marijuana, giving it the government’s stamp of approval, sends the message to kids that drug use is not only harmless, but normal. This is precisely the opposite message we should be conveying.”

2004 – Drug Free America Foundation

In 2010 there were 853,839 persons arrested for marijuana violations. This is the second highest arrest record as reported by the FBI. Out of that total 45.8% or 750,591 were arrested for marijuana possession. D/L would not only reduce arrest and their infringement on officer time but it will also allow persons who rightfully belong in our workforce to remain there. We should try and help this demographic, the productive stoner. Help them to avoid losing their jobs due to simple possession arrest or being prevented from even starting because pre employment test. We cannot continue to place non0violent marijuana smokers behind bars and to the back of the unemployment line when they would be better placed in our society making and spending money. There are over 21 million marijuana smokers in the US, aprox. 9.5 million are parents whom consume cannabis at least once a month. With a national average from $54.00-$72.10/day to incarcerate a person in a typical state.

The pro says that legalization will allow adults to purchase marijuana responsibly and in a regulated manner. Helping them avoid the pains and pitfalls of the black market and a bias towards marijuana use. Many of the cons question the productivity rate in light of decrminalization and legalization. As of now I have spent two days and the past half an hour looking for pro and con quotes for legalization on adults. I have found none suitable, so I’ll try and make both sides of the argument from word of mouth and a few opinions from friends.

In terms of arrest and jail time, I would say there is no con to legalization. Law enforcement would be allowed to focus on worse crimes and less so on those involving all who smoke illegally (if only legalized for medical purposes). With marijuana arrest accounting for 46% of all drug prosecution, from the corner to the courthouse this will save states oodles (yes, oddles) of money in terms of processing and prosecution. As far as productivity goes, it’s a little different. Of course there will be those who indulge too much, as with everything. But many argue that allowing marijuana to be smoked freely by adults would be the end all be all of a productive society. Claiming smokers would be broke, experience job instability and be a henderance on society. Some even comparing smoking marijuana for medical or recreational purposes is equivalent to drinking to get drunk.

Be wisely navigating arrest and imprisonment, we allow officers to protect society from real criminals. We create an envirnonment of unity and pride through jobs and regulation of a currently upsetting black market.  We can even make the drug more scarce and less attractive to teens by decriminalization and legalization. Some argue that the question is not to have decriminalization and legalization, but to have defederalization. This would allow states to create their own laws in regards to marijauana. This article was for pros and cons, but I can tell ya…when you’re pouring and not drinking the cup is always half full. The number of users are in the millions and thousands got caught. More stealth? No, better laws.

P.S. I’ve been reading this book, The Quotable Stoner, and it’s given me many different point of views on many different subjects involving marijuana. I’ll finish the article off with one of my favorite yet. Found in Chapter 7: Rebelling against the man. You can follow “The Quotable Stoner” link and grab your copy on amazon.

  Much love and smoke responsibly.