Analysis Post

Legalizing marijuana is a topic with many few shades of gray because people in America are not only pro-legalization or pro-drug enforcement but can view legalization in a couple ways. The two main avenues that this argument walks is first whether it should be decriminalized and if it is decriminalized then should it be legalized in America. Legalization makes Americans who consider it question many aspects of their life like religion, morals, and family while considering the bigger picture of government, freedoms and medicine.

As history has shown, the American government has approached legalization of marijuana first by considering decriminalizing it. In 1972, The National Commission on Marijuana and Drug Abuse acknowledged that there could be problems with continued use of marijuana, but insisted that decriminalization was the best option. Oregon decriminalized marijuana in 1973. In 1977, President Jimmy Carter stated that," Congress should immediately move towards decriminalization."Even as recent as 2005, the city of Denver has decriminalized up to and ounce of marijuana for personal use. The evidence that decriminalization is possible is all publicized and well documented.

Even though decriminalization has been brought to light, most in favor want to take a step forward towards legalization. People in favor or legalization of marijuana cite many positives that could stem from it. If marijuana was taxed and regulated like alcohol, it would produce savings and tax revenues between 10 and $14 billion. The money spent by police enforcement could be allocated to more serious crimes. Also, since 90% of marijuana related arrests are of users, you could save more money by not having to house users in prisons. Prohibition of marijuana does not lead to deterrence of its use which is an argument that is highly publicized by the DPNA. Thus if money spent on deterrence from enforcement or education was reallocated towards other areas of police or governing, the government would be using its money more efficiently.

Marijuana legalization would also make it easier to obtain marijuana for those who use it medicinally. Marijuana has been said by the American Medical Marijuana Association as well as the American Medical Association that its medicinal purposes are undeniable particularly for muscular disorders and glaucoma. Right now, medical marijuana is hindered by federal laws that conflict with state laws as in California which allow for the use of medical marijuana.

Those in favor of legalization often state that prohibition is limiting their rights as Americans to freedom of expression. America was founded on the freedoms that Americans enjoy and by prohibiting an action that more than 10 million Americans practice, the government is destroying those ideals. Also, they see marijuana in a similar situation that alcohol was in the earlier 1900s when prohibition limited the rights to alcohol. Marijuana is a less addictive drug and less harmful than alcohol and yet it is still legalized and marijuana is not.

When the other side of legalization, a pro-drug enforcement and anti-legalization stance, is presented, religion, morality, and the future of Americans are the issues that are questioned. Those not in favor of legalization cite that their faith leads them to stray from marijuana which has negative connotation associated with it as well as being likened to the devil. Also, many religions are against intoxication of any kind which comes with marijuana. They also support the studies that show marijuana as a gateway drug which is related to the future of children in America. Many studies say that children ages 12-17 are incredibly likely to try other drugs that are considered more dangerous like cocaine and heroine.
Another argument that is associated with legalization is the morality of marijuana. The message America would be sending children by allowing the sale of a substance that was once banned shows large contradiction. There is a huge negative stigma associated with marijuana and government propaganda like by presidents and congress has made marijuana a low point on the scale of morality. Legalizing marijuana is an anti-establishment type of movement and Americans are slow to change.

When summing up pro legalization and anti legalization sides, other questions, doubts, and thoughts come to mind. For instance, when arguing a religious backing for either side, should religion affect drug policies made by the federal government? This seems to be a conflict of the church and state division which is one of the major issues that was addressed when America was founded. Another idea that could cause friction is whose set of morals should the government stand by. Since the country is generally divided down the middle politically and are affected regionally by externalities like money, religion, and ethnicity, who is to say what morals should be a standard for America. The thought by most pro legalization supporters is that if legalized, at least people are given a chance to choose whether they embrace marijuana instead of the current situation where there is no chance to accept marijuana because of the laws against it.

Legalization of marijuana is a hotbed topic among Americans today. Whether America leans towards pro-legalization or anti-legalization, a consensus will never be drawn on issues related to morality, religion, medicinal use, or crime deterrence.