Make Marijuana Legal

Guest Column: The Drug Policy Alliance's Founder On Why Marijuana Should Never Have Been Made Illegal In The First Place

(CBS)  This column was written by Ethan Nadelmann, founder executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance

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Marijuana should never have been made illegal in the first place.

Ask why it was made illegal - by many state governments and eventually the federal government during the first four decades of the past century - and the answer cannot be found in expert medical testimony or any objective assessment of the costs and benefits of prohibiting marijuana.

In many western states, it was simply a matter of prejudice against Mexican-Americans and Mexican migrants, with whom marijuana was popularly associated. Rancid tabloid journalism also played a role, as did Reefer Madness-like propaganda and legislative testimony.

We know the result. Marijuana became dramatically more popular after its prohibition than it ever was before. Over one hundred million Americans have tried it, including the three most recent occupants of the Oval Office. Billions, perhaps tens of billions, of dollars are spent and earned illegally on it each year. Marijuana is routinely described as the first, second or third most lucrative agricultural crop in many states. And taxpayers are obliged to spend billions of their own dollars each year in support of futile efforts to enforce an unenforceable prohibition.

Clearly marijuana prohibition is unique among American criminal laws. No other law is both enforced so widely and harshly yet deemed unnecessary by such a substantial portion of the populace. Police made roughly 800,000 arrests last year for possession of marijuana, typically tiny amounts. That’s almost the same number as are arrested each year for cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, Ecstasy and all other drugs. Meanwhile recent polls show that over 40% of Americans think that marijuana should be taxed and regulated like alcohol; and it’s closer to 50% among Democrats, independents, adults under age 30, and voters in a growing number of western states.

This is an issue on which politicians can be counted on to follow, not lead, public opinion. But some at last are saying publicly that legalizing marijuana needs to be on the table. For California Governor Schwarzenegger, it’s the prospect of new tax revenue and costs savings when the state’s budget deficit has never been larger. For Arizona Attorney General Terry Goodard and the City Council of El Paso, Texas, it’s the realization that legalizing marijuana would help reduce the violence and profits of Mexican drug gangs.

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Common Sense Says, "No Thanks!"

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Others point to the fact that marijuana prohibition is a remarkable failure in the eyes and ways of young people. Over eighty percent of high school seniors say that marijuana is easy to obtain - and even easier to buy than alcohol. It’s hard to see how making marijuana legal for adults would make it any more available to young people than it is already.

Is marijuana addictive? Yes, it can be, in that some people use it to excess, in ways that are problematic for themselves and those around them, and find it hard to stop. But marijuana may well be the least addictive and least damaging of all commonly used psychoactive drugs. Most people who smoke marijuana never become dependent. Withdrawal symptoms pale beside those of other drugs. No one has ever died from a marijuana overdose, which cannot be said of most other drugs. Marijuana is not associated with violent behavior and only minimally with reckless sexual behavior. And even heavy marijuana smokers smoke only a fraction of what cigarette addicts smoke. Lung cancers involving people who smoke marijuana but not tobacco are virtually nil.

It’s no surprise that the Drug Enforcement Administration’s own administrative law judge, Francis Young, came to the conclusion in 1988 that “marijuana may well be the safest psychoactive substance commonly used in human history."

But when all is said and done, the principal, and most principled, argument in favor of ending marijuana prohibition is this: whether or not I or anyone else consume marijuana should be none of the government’s business-so long as I’m not behind the wheel of a car or otherwise putting others at risk. It’s time to get the government off my property and out of both my pockets and my body when it comes to marijuana. Enough is enough.

[kauffmanscotty]

people who don't think marijuana should be legalized are ignorant. If they looked at the history at why it became illegal in the first place they would realize that it was based on racism and yellow journalism. The truth is making marijuana legal would definitely help the economy and it would provide a larger variety of resources. Not only would it make the government money it would save them tons of money that is wasted trying to enforce a law that over 50% of the population doesn't agree with. Basically anyone who still thinks marijuana should be illegal, stop being so ignorant.

[garthorama]

Please make Marijuana legal. So then I can acutally smoke in peace without a conscious thought that i am considered a criminal, based off a law that was orignaly ammended through lies.

[alexjamesb]

"In many western states, it was simply a matter of prejudice against Mexican-Americans and Mexican migrants, with whom marijuana was popularly associated. Rancid tabloid journalism also played a role, as did Reefer Madness-like propaganda and legislative testimony."

********! It's companies involved in the pharmaceutical industry who know their drugs would stop selling if people stopped their migraines by smoking pot! Don't pin it on the Mexicans!

[mjganja]

please let say legal, is not big deal

[scottdavene]

Marijuana prohibition has been a total failure and is perhaps this country's greatest mistake. Not only has it created criminals out of nearly a third of the country's populace, it costs our society billions of dollars every year, creates a strain on our prison system, and has little or no effect on marijuana use in the US. In some cases, prosecuting marijuana use has turned non-violent, middle class kids into violent and unpredictable, career criminals. Once a person has a criminal conviction on their record, they are far less likely to find a good job and become a useful member of society. Other countries with more liberal drug laws have much lower rates of drug addiction among their people. I invite you to my web-page devoted to raising awareness on the assault on our civil liberties: http://freethegods.blogspot.com/

[MrBag]

It's been medically proven that marijuana does cause irreparable harm to the body and the thinking processes. The only allowable use should be for medical purposes because then it can be controlled.

[kansas1946]

Here is a lobby group for legalization that you can support if you agree that illegal marijuana is causing way more damage to our society that legal marijuana ever could.
DRCnet

[kansas1946]

Marijuana should never have been made illegal in the first place.

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Amen. America would certainly be a better place if that were true.

[oulbluaiz]

Oh and they might recommend not operating heavy machinery on marijuana. But don't they recommend against that with a lot of prescribed medications?

[oulbluaiz]

In an attempt to treat my depression, my doctor prescribed me some medication. Did you know that Wellbutrin, when the two daily doses are taken less than six hours apart, can cause the user to experience seizures? This is a legal prescription drug. If marijuana were to become a legal prescription drug, I'm pretty sure the only warnings on the label would include: May cause weight gain and joy.
I'm game for those side effects.
It's also been the best treatment I've found for anxiety. Screw Lexapro.

[OregonJames]

I fully support the legalization of marijuana and the industrial use of hemp for it fiber and its oil. Prohibition has never worked, and untold millions grow and smoke it today. Invest the billions of dollars wasted in the pot war in places where it will truly serve society.

[snowball77]

honestabe8 -- I am just parodying a common point of view on drugs. I am trying to make a political statement.

[Murmur90]

There is absolutely no reason for marijuana to be illegal. The US government has yet to come up with a legitimate one. There are studies that have shown that marijuana does not kill brain cells, may actually increase driving ability, does not cause a-motivational syndrome, is not a gateway drug and so much more. And for those of you who think that marijuana is a gateway drug no matter what anyone says then how about this: "If someone tries marijuana and moves on to harder substances then that person was never looking for marijuana to begin with" -Teller. Alcohol and cigarettes are so much more dangerous than marijuana is that it is unbelievable. A marijuana user is "harming" no one other themselves and they should be allowed to smoke it as they please. So many people now a days lose their jobs, get kicked out of college, and/or arrested and now their lives are completely ruined because of indulging in some harmless boredom relief. The prohibition of marijuana is immoral, unjust, and must be stopped.

[snowball77]

If more parents took matters into their own hands things would change. I for one will go after any kids that introduce and the dealer that sells my grandson or granddaughter a deadly drug. I think the war on drugs has gone on too long. Law enforcement coddles the user. I don't mind my grandchildren smoking alittle pot as I did that growing up. But I will go armed with the intent of settling the score if anyone gives my grandchildren deadly drugs. I will let the courts decide if my actions are justified.

[jscarson64]

LET YOUR VOICE HEARD CALL THIS NUMBER 973-409-3274. GET OUR RIGHTS BACK ONE VIOICE AT A TIME. DON'T DELAY. BE AN AMERICAN...VOTE!!!!!!!

[jscarson64]

CIVIL LIBERTIES, how many get taken away. You sell alcohol across a counter,across a bar, in public venues. NOT TO MENTION CIGERETTES! THEN you tell us we can't HAVE THE RIGHT to buy and enjoy a product that is about as natural as it gets. STOP being such a political hyerpacrit!!! Clear out the courts and jails (unless the big money from the pot smokers) is paying the bills. I was taught that jails were for REAL CRIMINALS. Hey lets try something, LETS LET THE PEOPLE VOTE ON WHAT WE WANT, ALL THE TIME !
Aren't the real people tired of having some money influenced stuffed suit, VOICE YOUR OPINION. It's time to make changes to the way things are done in government,in more ways than you can immagine. LEGALIZE FREEDOM...VOTE, GET YOUR LIFE BACK!!!
COME ON BE AN AMERICAN, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO ANY AND EVERYTHING THAT YOU WANT TOO DO, AS LONG AS YOU ARE NOT PUTTING OTHER LIVES IN DANGER. IS'NT THAT WHY OUR ELDERS CAME TO THIS COUNTRY. We talk TAXES another time. BE AN AMERICAN, USE YOUR VOICE,LEGALIZE FREEDOM,VOTE!!!!!!!!
REMEMBER IT'S 4:20 SOMEWHERE!

[snowball77]

If you made possession any drug that causes death --a death penalty offense complete with public execution, things would change. We would protect our children and ourselves on the roads. This would include drunk drivers and FAS moms. Why stop there? If found in possession a deadly drug you would have three days before your public hanging or firing squad. If people want to alter their consciousness let them take antidepressants which are proven effective and non-lethal. Why wait for an addict to overdose and cause hell within our society. I for one would find a certain thrill with watching a drunk driver on their first offense be hanged in the town square. This is the Saudi model. Things would differently change in the US. Cannabis would be excluded since it doesn't cause death but the list would include, heroin, meth, speed, crack, or anything that can cause death. I would say things would change in a matter of months in the US.

[snowball77]

Finally, the fascist sadistic US state is tittering on the brink of a soviet style bankruptcy. I would assume the failed fascist state will be replaced by another more nationalistic fascist state if history is any indiction. it almost happen this last September and now markets seemed to be paused before going down again as businesses fail and unemployment rises. Legalizing pot seems like a funny side show. The fascist state allows FAS and alcoholism and doesn't blink an eye. Marijuana is a mild substance. Its criminalization only serves the obscenely rich and the police state who profit from it.

[snowball77]

Pot will never be legalized. The US is a fascist state protecting the wealth of a few citizens --if you can call them that. What is done about any problems in the US like Education or Jobs or the Border or healthcare. A few people need their money protected. It will never change. There is no sense to US policy. There is the illusion of democracy but that is all it is. People make a big show but nothing is ever done about the problems. The fascist state also supports the police state. They need each other to protect the wealth of a few people who make obscene amounts of money both legally and illegally. Drugs are needed to placate the masses. There is a huge stream of antidepressants that people **** off coming from major cities in the US into the rivers. That is part of the drug problem too. When they find a pill that lets people vent their frustration with the lack of democracy that will be illegal too. Obama just plays to the illusion. Nothing is getting done, there are no changes to the status quo. Granting the people the right to use marijuana makes too much sense for the police state that has a racket to protect. It would change the status quo perhaps and this threatens the fascist state and the obscenely wealthy that it protects.

[cougarwoman]

Jemes c2002. There is another aspect to succeeding in this america, succeeding in america can mean different things to different people. I had amazing experiences around people that made their own things and had get togethers to trade or sell their things and made their living that way. Then I saw a decline when bush took office of that grou0p of people, he made a public announcement that trade had to be taxed. I haven't been able to spend time finding people whom are nature lovers and believe in trade and not being of the corporate system. Some people can't be happy in the corporate system because the vibe is too selfish. So sometimes people don't succeed for different reasons and it isn't total reality to say it is because they are losers. WE live in an imperfect world that has become unbalanced with nature. Being a loving person is a success above being financially well off but not loving nature and destroying it. There is no black or white there is many mixes of grey in all people because our system affects us, our upbringing, and our unique beings combined. Freedom to enjoy medicinal herbs makes sense and will create more peace and it will take continued helping each other to understand balance with all nature and herbs and nutrition. Picture a man with a gun and a cage standingover a mind altering herb threatening to destroy your life if you partake. It is a sad reality that people have ignorantly allowed happen to us.