Should Marijuana Be Legal? This is a topic of concern amongst people in recent years. Marijuana has been illegal since the early 1900s. However, scientists have discovered that marijuana has potential benefits for people suffering from deadly diseases such as AIDS, multiple sclerosis, and cancer. These diseases are difficult to endure, especially without aid that helps alleviate pain and misery. Prohibiting marijuana has only worsened the situation by increasing its price, illegal usage, and the money spent on trying to stop its use.
Abraham Lincoln once said two quotes about prohibition: Prohibition goes beyond the bounds of reason in that it attempts to control a man’s appetite by legislation and makes crimes out of things that are not crimes,” and “A prohibition law strikes a blow at the very principles upon which our government was founded.” I believe that he is right for stating that we have rights and they should not be taken for granted. He may not have been thinking of marijuana when he made his speech, but it involves prohibition, meaning prohibition in general and of any kind. The first crop of American hemp was grown in 1611 (Grinspoon 11). However, the modern practice of smoking marijuana was not introduced until the 1920s.
This was a time of drug intolerance. America was in the stages of the prohibition of alcohol campaign. Marijuana was introduced and smoked by early immigrants. In the 1930s, it was a common belief that immigrants were inhumane and violent, so these attitudes were associated with and blamed on marijuana. By 1931, all but two states had anti-marijuana legislation. By 1937, all states had prohibited marijuana use and made it illegal to have anything to do with this drug.
No research was ever conducted on marijuana or its effects. People simply believed assumptions made about marijuana, such as it provoking violent crime and causing insanity. Strategies for fighting marijuana included silence and exaggeration. People believed that by not telling their children about marijuana, they would not become curious and experiment with it. In the 1930s, schools were prohibited from discussing marijuana.
The Motion Picture Association of America banned all films that showed narcotics from 1934 to 1956 (Musto 46). This approach did not work, so people quickly moved onto the next step: exaggeration. The purpose of exaggerating was to scare possible users from trying marijuana. The American Journal of Medicine once wrote, Marijuana users will suddenly turn with murderous violence upon whoever is nearest to them” (Musto 44).
One modern cause of prohibition was the belief that if the marijuana policy was relaxed, then more people would use marijuana. In 1984, nationwide usage was at 26.3%. In the eleven states that decriminalized it, it was 27.3%. In 1988, nationwide use was 15%.
The statistics show that the use of marijuana would be the same whether it is prohibited or allowed, with a usage rate of 4% in eleven states and 16.1% overall. Holland provides an example of the effects of legalizing marijuana, as they experienced a 40% reduction in marijuana users since legalizing it in 1976. In 1979, the usage rate in Holland was 8.3%.
Two percent of the population of 18-25 year olds had tried marijuana at least once, and 30% were users. Those numbers are now down to 50% and 13%. However, the point is that after 30 years, the drug is still being attained. If the purpose of prohibiting marijuana is to eliminate its use, then prohibition has failed. Prohibition has accomplished some things, one of which is making criminal drug dealers richer.
The risks of trafficking marijuana have increased, thus enabling these people to raise the price of weed, which increases their profits. Additionally, marijuana has caused taxpayers tremendous amounts of money on police, court costs, and jails. Lastly, it has torn apart families with members who use marijuana. Did you know that 58% of marijuana felons have no relevant prior criminal history, and 91% were not considered organizers or leaders?
