Marijuana: Above the influence?

It just drives me nuts that the truth is nowhere to be found. On the prohibition side of the issue, marijuana is the great Satan. It's the worst possible thing ever. On my side, the legalization camp, It's great. It can do no harm.

The truth, as with most issues, lies somewhere in between.Now, before I spit it out, I must preface this by saying that I fully support legalization, but only on the most honest of terms. So without further a due, here we go:

The truth is, marijuana IS bad.At least it can be. I visited the Above the Influence website today. They make a number of dubious claims right on the front page.

• Causes panic attacks
• Causes heart attacks (are these people fucking crazy?)
• Depression
• schizophrenia
  
• addiction

Nobody is getting heart attacks or schizophrenia from Marijuana. In the interest of full disclosure, I can tell you from personal experience that it can aggravate panic attacks in those who have them. I'm sure when used in excess marijuana may also contribute to depression. As for addiction, anything from chocolate to tanning booths can be addictive. However, weed is not a physically addictive drug such as cocaine, heroin, or alcohol.

When used in excess by an irresponsible person, I firmly believe that marijuana can have an impact on personal relationships, productivity, and general happiness. But is this justification for prohibition? Alcohol tears families apart, tobacco causes cancer, and the fast food industry is contributing to a terrible obesity problem. But all of these vices are on the up and up and no one blinks an eye.

When used responsibly and in moderation, marijuana is relatively harmless. With all of the terrible byproducts of prohibition (gangs, black markets, cartels, etc.) The time and money would be much better spent on educating the youth in an honest and open way about being responsible. Give them the facts and let them make up their own minds.

Kids are not stupid, and telling them that pot will make their hearts explode will only make them ignore you. Although I am for legalization, I feel that educating kids about the risks of using marijuana is important. But if we lie to them, it will be all for naught.

As with any other vice, you have to take the good with the bad. Nobody is clamoring to outlaw beer or junk food, so let's regulate and tax this relatively safe vice and stop this pointless and expensive war for good.

Besides, a Big Mac always tastes better after a joint!

Till next time...

Legalize Marijuana California TV spot

Has anyone seen this air on television? Your thoughts, please...

Why is Marijuana legalization so important?

Of all the issues one faces in the modern world, why take on this one? Well, this issue is much bigger than just to smoke or not to smoke. It comes down to personal rights. Somewhere there is an invisible line where society ends and the individual begins, and laws like this one blur it beyond recognition.

English economist and philosopher, John Stuart Mill, discusses this line, it's blurring, and it's effect on the individual in his essay On Liberty.

"Over himself, over his own body and mind, the individual is sovereign"

This means: As long as what you do affects only you, and does no harm to another person, you are free to act as you see fit. This seemingly simple idea has been debated for ages. He goes on to discuss what he terms the Harm Principle.

"He cannot rightfully be compelled to do or forbear because it will be better for him to do so, because it will make him happier, because, in the opinion of others, to do so would be wise, or even right... The only part of the conduct of anyone, for which he is amenable to society, is that which concerns others. In the part which merely concerns himself, his independence is, of right, absolute"

Once again, do what you will and harm no other. So even though what the Government wants may even be correct, even if marijuana is the most terrible substance on earth, it isn't the job of a legislative body to tell us how to think or what to feel. Mandating personal safety and happiness can actually have deadly results, and make the world a much worse place than if they just left it alone. Look at the state of society. There are overcrowded jails in every state in the U.S., there is a war going on at the Mexican border with black market drug cartels, and more importantly there are sick people who need their medicine.

When it comes to marijuana, I understand what the government is trying to do (yeah, I said it).
I understand that not all of the prohibition pushers mean harm, they aren't ALL corrupt. I'm sure many of them mean well, but it's time to look at the result of their actions versus the results of legalization. From that point of view it's tough to refute the case for rational policy.

Many consider John Stuart Mill to be one of the fathers of libertarianism, and a hero of liberalism. In my next post, we will discuss a hero to conservatives, Ayn Rand, and how her philosophy can also justify legalization.

Till next time, please discuss!

FOX news VS. Marijuana activist

California bill, AB390, to legalize and tax marijuana

Facing a 26 million dollar budget deficit, the state of California is in dire financial straits.  Democratic state assemblyman Tom Ammanio thinks he is just the man to fix it.  He has introduced a bill to legalize marijuana in California. The bill  could bring the state much needed tax revenue, and some well deserved r&r.


California Assembly Bill 390

Also called the Marijuana Control, Regulation, and Education Act, the bill would place pot in the same class as alcohol. Sale would be limited to adults over the age of 21, and possesion limited to one ounce.
Grower's must obtain a state license, at a one time fee of $5,000, and a yearly renewal of $2,500. All pot grown and sold would then be taxed at $50 per ounce. While the fees may seem steep, it is a realtively small price to pay for legitamacy. It is estimated that the bill could net the state as much as $1 Billion dollars annually from grow liscences and tarrifs alone. According to The National Organizaiton for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), the state could save an additional $12-$18 billion in enforcement and prosecution.

Cash Crop

Weed is by far the state's largest cash crop. A report released by the California Board of Equalization asserts that the illicit  growth of cannabis is a nearly $14 billion a year industry. That's almost $9 billion more than vegetables or grapes.  With the state facing such a crisis, it's crazy to think they wouldn't want to capitalize on this.

"It is simply nonsensical that California's largest agricultural industry is completely unregulated and untaxed" -Aaron Smith, policy director of Marijuana Policy Project, California

 Judging from these figures, I'd say that enforcement has proven ineffective, and if the state is powerless to stop it, then they should at least reap the benefits.

But it's not over yet...

Don't spark 'em up yet! The bill is expected to be heard by the full assembly by this January. From there, it will require 400,000 signatures to be included in the November 2010 ballot. This is not a reason to lose hope. Local tv station KCRA conducted a poll showing an 81% majority in favor of legalization.

Times being what they are, it's harder and harder to justify the status quo.

What are your thoughts on the issue?

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