Legalize it?

Question

Is it time for America to legalize drugs?

Alcohol and cigarettes kill far more people than all of the illegal drugs combined, but they're legal.

Also, thanks to the war on drugs, we have the largest prison population in the world. There are only 10 million prisoners in the whole world, but 2 million of them are here in America (4% of the world's population but 20% of the world's prisoners) We lock up more people than China, North Korea, Cuba, Saudi Arabia and Iran combined - and most of our prisoners are locked up because they got caught selling drugs.

Why not do the smart thing - legalize drugs, restrict their sale to people over age 21 and tax and license the drug dealers? In other words, why not treat drugs the same way we treat liquor and tobacco?

Answer 1

The History of Cannabis Prohibition 1937-1962: Part One

"Just because an issue is not discussed or understood in the mainstream, does not mean it does not deserve to be. The illegal status of marijuana serves as a perfect example. While many may have strong feelings for or against marijuana prohibition, the fact remains very few understand why the plant is illegal today. Party platforms, as well as opinions of politicans do very little without a historical assurance on the facts. Whether you are for or against the legalization, at least know what occured to bring upon the prohibition.

We are all well aware of the current controversy surrounding the reform of cannabis laws in the United States, but how many among us realize the history behind these laws? Few of us have any knowledge on the foundation of the criminalizing of cannabis nationally, which took place in the years from 1937 to 1962. It is these years in which laws regulating cannabis first sprouted, laying down the illegal status of cannabis that still remains today.

This is truly a sad fact that so few Americans have knowledge on such an important era. If it were not for the laws that began in this period it is possible that the criminalizing of cannabis would never have occurred. In this paper I aim to focus on these critical years in cannabis related legislation to bring forth the motivation for what is the foundation for the plants current legal status.

To truly analyze the years in which cannabis first became illegal I believe that we must first briefly discuss the history of the plant as used in the United States. The plant, cannabis sativa, has played an important part in the history of the United States. Indeed by 1630 half of all winter clothing in the United States and almost all summer clothes were made from the hemp fiber of the male variety of the plant (Grinspoon 11). Hemp was one of the first major cash crops grown by early settlers of the United States. At this time the plant was used for everything from paper to birdseed.

The plant was so important to these early settlers that many legislative bodies greatly encouraged its growth; in 1762 Virginia penalties were imposed on persons who did not grow hemp on their land (Sloman 21). Besides industrial uses we can also see that the plant was an extremely important medicine for Americans. During the middle of the 19th century the United States Pharmacopoeia recognized the plant as an important medicine. At this same time the United States Dispensatory recommended cannabis for a great variety of disorders including depression, tetanus, gout, and cholera (Sloman 22).

Yet despite this great history of medicinal and industrial uses the smoking of cannabis with the intention of changing consciousness was seen as a problem, beginning in the late 1910s. This sudden change in mood came upon curiously as most at this time knew little of the plant or its effects on humans. Indeed during this early stage of hysteria few outside of Mexican immigrants and southern blacks smoked cannabis. From this first citing of the plant as a nuisance national hysteria would soon follow and from the period of 1937-1962 the federal government would take extremists actions through the Federal Bureau of Narcotics (FBN).

The first national legislation concerning cannabis sativa was passed in 1937. This key piece of legislation was dubbed the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937. The Marihuana Tax Act provided that any person wanting to use the plant for specific defined purposes register and pay a tax of $1 per ounce, much more than the actual price of the plant at that time, and that persons wishing to use the plant for undefined purposes, such as smoking, register and pay a $100 per ounce tax (Grinspoon 21).

Although this legislation was bolstered as a means for raising revenue and not one to officially make cannabis illegal it had the effect of doing so. By charging such a large tax for persons who wanted to smoke the plant, the legislation effectively forced individuals to buy cannabis through underground sources and thus not register. Upon doing so the person who did not register and pay the tax would put himself or herself in a much deeper dilemma than a $100 tax. This is because the penalty for unregistered transactions was a fine up to $2000, prison for up to 5 years, and risk of penalties for tax evasion (Grinspoon 21).

Thus we see that from the beginning of criminalizing cannabis strict penalties were imposed. This act also effectively stopped the use of cannabis as a medicine and greatly reduced the use of hemp. This is because by forcing physicians to register and pay a $1 an ounce tax on all transactions physicians began to inevitably prescribe other medicines in its place, as there would be less hassle associated with them.

The strict penalties under the Marihuana Tax Act were imposed despite there being little knowledge on cannabis. This particular piece of legislation is marked by a distinct taste of authoritarianism by the FBN whom completely controlled the legislative hearings. At these hearings the FBN drowned Congress in their propaganda, claiming that cannabis was directly related to murder, sexual excess, insanity, among other ills.".........

Answer 2

I am not for legalizing drugs, but I admit that it makes no sense to have marijuana illegal and alcohol legal. The effects on the person, family and society are the same. I will also admit in my life time I have per taken in both. It has been decades since I have smoked, way before I was a parent. My only issue with smoking is the damage I have seen it do to individuals. I have old high school friends who's life's never matured past the Hey, Dude days of our youth. The work, party, work party. They are well into adulthood, and do not own homes, have families, or retirement. They are the stereotypical drugers.

Answer 3

First thing you pointed out alcohol and cigarettes kill far more people than all of the illegal drugs combined hitting a little bit on the fact that alcohol and cigarettes ARE DRUGS.
Most people in America (I have no clue about other countries) our on one form of drug or another. Legally or illegally.
People who claim to be non drug people are taking one kind of drug or another themselves....

Legalizing all drugs has been tried. Look at Coke. It is reported they took out the cocaine in it, though caffeine is very addictive, but I personally feel that the uproar back in the 1980's when they came out with that alternative to classic coke, had been created for a reason.

Diet pills, shoot these are nothing more then legalized speed. Those energy drinks,pills come on I bet if they broke these down I bet there is something in them.

I watched a documentary on drugs in America (I believe it was on the history channel) Maybe it was just on cocaine. It was very eye opening!

The government has to protect the American citizens from themselves. People are weak. It would be nice to legalize this stuff, all of it. But what kind of whiplash would this bring?

Very hard subject...though it seams so easy! Control, control, control how would the government control us?

BTW - for the person who is talking about cannabis, it has been legalized for some people. Next step is for everyone....

Answer 4

Sure, for the most part drugs like marijuana and cocaine were legal in the U.S. in the early 1900s. It was thought to be unconstitutional because the government couldn't tell the people what they could or could not put into their own bodies. Unlike murderer, rape, and violent crime the only victim is you. Yes, you could argue that these drugs can cause another person to harm another. But, what about alcohol. How many men get drunk and beat up their wives? How many do drunk drivers kill? We could not outlaw it, but we did manage to punish those who broke the law and were under the influence of alcohol. There are stiffer penalties. Besides, people still get their hands on illegal drugs anyway. Why not just legalize it just like it was before.

Answer 5

This has been an ongoing question. Pot used to be legal. Extasy was first manufactured by the government to be used as a truth serum. We all know that legalizing drugs would save millions. I also believe that it would make alot of money too. The problem is the political back lash. No one is going to take on this fight. You must remember that alcohol was illegal for awhile. I assume once there is no war to consume all the governments efforts, this may be addresed.

Answer 6

Nice. While you're at it, we should legalize murder, rape, robbery, speeding, littering, jaywalking, etc. Because we're losing too many lives fighting these things too. If we just legalize all crime and drugs to boot, we should be living in utopia!! Do you think that legalizing drugs is not going to cost any more lives than we are losing fighting it? We legalized alcohol so now we don't lose any lives fighting it. Not much of a consolation to those who have lost loved ones due to a drunk driver. And you suggest we add high drivers to the fray? Just because something is difficult (war on drugs) doesn't mean that you just give up and stop fighting it. Especially when the true cost is too high.

Answer 7

Because then, that money would be taxed, and they don't want that!

Plus, I wouldn't be able to get a nickel bag! JK

It's how they make their side money

THEY? = The same lawmakers who have made it illegal would rather kill us off with cigarettes, than get us high with weed. I agree with you, but i don't think all drugs should be legalized. I don't think drug dealer should be jailed either, they should have to do community service at rehabilitation facilities so they can see, first hand, the effects of hardcore drugs!

Answer 8

Here is a funny idea to think about --- what about legalizing drugs and then having the government mass produce them...

I do not believe that legalizing is condoning? Does the government condone smoking cigarretts or watching porn for that matter?-- no it doesnt. but it is still legal for those who want to do it.

If we legalize drugs and then mass manufacture them--- the US would put every drug dealer out of business and they would eventually die becuase of overdosing.

I do not condone drugs but i think it is time that we do something about getting rid of the problem.... instead of making many more problems that I have to pay for.... (jails, more police)..

Just an idea of capitalism thriving in all forms.

Answer 9

We can't legalize some drugs, like crystal meth. They are far too dangerous to have in the population. Yes we could regulate and tax them, but just "trying" these drugs puts people on a bad path very, very quickly, out of their control.

I vote we either legalize or decriminalize more common drugs like marijuana or cocaine, and - more importantly - take a "treatment" approach to drug abusers and offenders, rather than "punishment". This would leave the prisons for the big dealers and mobsters, while low-end users and distributers - the kind of people who get a little for their friends - can be rehabilitated and put back into productive society.

Answer 10

Agreed. I watched an interesting special on A&E about the hisory of drugs. LSD, pot and ecstacy weren't made illegal until the "Hippie Generation" became simultaneously linked with drug use and government protest. Although many hippies did not use drugs, and many drug users did not protest the government - the correlation between the two had been drawn, and Nixon started the War on Drugs. This ended all research for valuable medical uses.

I think people should ba allowed to do to their bodies as they please. But if you commit a crime while on drugs, you should be held accountable, and punishments should be strict. If you become addicted and need rehab, the government should not provide it free of cost.

Answer 11

"Alcohol and cigarettes kill far more people than all of the illegal drugs combined, but they're legal. "


Because way more people use cigarettes than drugs. If drugs were widely used it would make cigarettes look like lollipops.



"Also, thanks to the war on drugs, we have the largest prison population in the world. There are only 10 million prisoners in the whole world, but 2 million of them are here in America (4% of the world's population but 20% of the world's prisoners)"

Most countries don't even have organized strong central government, like we have that keep control of criminals. Most countries can't even enforce their laws. Note that we are the second most populated nation. North Korea, Cuba, Saudi Arabia and Iran population combined don't add up to more than 200 million people.


"Why not do the smart thing - legalize drugs, restrict their sale to people over age 21 and tax and license the drug dealers? In other words, why not treat drugs the same way we treat liquor and tobacco?"

If we legalize drugs like heroin, the AIDS epidemic will EXPLODE!
What if young children are playing at a park and accidently poke themselves?
We will have more crack babies and more mentally and phisaclly deformed babies. Cigarettes don't cause significant damage to most babies while still in the womb.