For as long as I can remember I have been an advocate for marijuana reform laws.† However, I never knew about a third option: decriminalization.
In November 2008, Massachusetts voted “yes” on question 2. This vote made Massachusetts the 12th state in the nation to decriminalize the possession of one ounce or less of marijuana. Of course I wasn’t back home for the celebration but I had enough text messages and Facebook posts to feel the joy from my friends who stayed in the Boston area for college.
The “smoke weed everyday” away messages and Bob Marley quotes all over the Internet became overwhelming ó and I still didn’t really understand what “decriminalization” meant or how it differed from “legalization.” All I knew was that people, besides pot-loving college students, had to have voted in favor for the decriminalization of marijuana. But why?† I did my research and began to understand the major benefits of decriminalization.
Last week in The Wooster Voice, Ramsey Kincannon ’12 argued that we should legalize marijuana in order to tax it for the enormous financial benefits.† Although this is true, there are still cost benefits to decriminalizing marijuana that do not involve trading one tax (law enforcement) for another (sales tax).† In 2008, a study by Harvard University revealed that by decriminalizing marijuana, taxpayers would save up to $30 million a year from law enforcement costs. That meant law enforcement officials spent that much arresting people with an ounce or less of marijuana in their possession annually.† By decriminalizing marijuana, there is no longer reason to arrest people for possession, saving the police’s time and tax payers’ money. In this situation, everyone wins.
Secondly, Kincannon argued that we should legalize marijuana so it can be regulated in order for the profit from the sales to be removed from the drug dealers who use it for violence and corruption. I disagree.† Wherever there is money, there is corruption; human beings will always be greedy.
If marijuana were legalized, what would stop major corporations like Phillip Morris and other big tobacco companies from taking over the marijuana industry? A new market would open if marijuana were legalized. Try to think of one good reason why these companies wouldn’t market spliffs to the American public. They could easily add their nicotine filled tobacco to some FDA approved marijuana all rolled nicely into a stylish and slim cigarette. Say goodbye to the ziplock baggies.† With successful advertising campaigns and mass media messages, the companies will, without a doubt, persuade an enormous amount of people to smoke marijuana.† If the public enjoys it, major profit ensues for these companies. Big tobacco makes major profit every year by selling a product that is not only deadly, but completely unnecessary and they still remain incredibly successful. Talk about corruption.
With decriminalization, marijuana is not being marketed or forced upon anyone because there is no major investment at stake, there are no stocks or major business partnerships, just people who have an interest in smoking.
I, like Kincannon, am not saying everyone should sit around and smoke all day, every day. At the same time, I don’t think a bong hit should result in court dates, 50 or more hours of community service, and a criminal record. I know far too many people who have been busted for smoking a little weed then reprimanded with harsh punishments that have affected their reputations, finances, and future. But even after all of that, they kept smoking. Although I believe that legalizing marijuana would not be a smart move for America, enforcing laws against marijuana possession is a lost cause.
Decriminalizing marijuana has worked for Canada, The Netherlands, Germany, Spain and Portugal, and it could work for America too. By decriminalizing marijuana American tax-payers will save money, less people will have criminal records, and the power of the marijuana industry will not be in the hands of big businesses and marketing giants.
I should have put this one in, too:
Massachusetts voter registration (deadline: October 13, BUT you have to request the form and get it mailed back in by October 13, so don’t delay!): http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/elestu/stuidx.htm
Other states: Google your state name and “voter registration” Do it TODAY. The deadline in some states is as early as October 3, just two days away!
“No major investment at stake” under decriminilization? Look at that again; the drug cartels have a FORTUNE at stake, and they kill people. Every. Single. Day. Just to protect that investment.
Under decriminilization, you get the worst of both worlds: Increased demand (You betcha! 🙂 ) AND an uncontrolled, unregulated, guns-to-settle-turf-disputes supply system.
PLUS if you grow your own, you can still lose your house, your kids, and your freedom (as in mandatory “production” sentencing laws).
The decriminilization movement is looking for an easy get-out-of-jail-free card, understandably so, because it’s a behavior that rightly should NOT be criminalized, but decriminalization falls far short of getting rid of the evils of prohibition. The recently-passed California infraction/decriminilization law is an attempt to undercut support for Proposition 19 and to KEEP the current illegal status on production, partially in order to keep prices high and protect the alcohol industry from the competition of a legal, grow-your-own marijuana option under Prop 19(note that the alcohol producers have POURED money into the anti-Prop-19 effort, including almost $200,000 to the current governor: youe can see this at the State of California campaign finance ethics site http://cal-access.ss.ca.gov/Campaign/Committees/Detail.aspx?id=1261406&session=2007&view=late1 ) (search for contributions with “beverage” anywhere in the data set)
I’ve probably rambled too much here; Grainne, you sound like an independent thinker that’s willing to put your mind to a problem and really think it through. Keep on thinking this one out, and write another article on this in a few days. You seem to have an excellent analytical mind; I look forward to seeing your thoughts!
California voter registration (deadline: October 18)
w w w . sos.ca.gov/elections/elections_vr.htm .
(just fill out the form and mail it in).
California request a ballot by mail:
w w w . sos.ca.gov/elections/elections_m.htm