making the case for cannabis
I was out with friends recently who are a bit older than me and I couldn’t resist asking them to share their opinion on legalizing marijuana. One of them works in the medical field, and I was particularly interested in her answer. Not surprisingly, they told me that they thought it should be legalized. Raising her drink, my friend gave me the same answer that I hear from most people when I ask them the same question: “Well, if alcohol is legal, I can’t understand why pot can’t be legalized, too.”
Right on.
And the question that I have to ask is who the heck is against legalizing dope? Because unless they’re fronting, I’ve talked to a lot of people over the years, representing a lot of different demographics and economic situations, and they all support legalizing marijuana. So where’s the disconnect?
When it comes time to vote, it’s clear, less than fifty percent of American voters support legalizing marijuana. Now. I know and you know, that no matter how much everyone talks a good game about this candidate and that candidate, rocking the vote and the rest of it, that when it comes time to go to the polls, historically, the only people that really make a showing are over 50. So that may be part of why the numbers are skewed. Yet, from everything I read, and everyone I talk to, the over-50 crowd doesn’t seem to have a problem with decriminalization. Just the opposite, in fact.
In recent years, more and more states have accepted medical use of marijuana. Pot reformists hoped this would quickly snowball, and open the door to decriminalization for personal use. Not so much. Only a dozen states have decriminalized dope, and even those laws provide limited protection for smokers. Twelve states have also accepted marijuana for medical use. But they’re not the same twelve states. A disconnect? Maybe. We’re led to believe that the same people who can see the benefits of medical marijuana just can’t abide the legalization of limited personal use of the drug. Yet time and time again, surveys show, Americans on the whole support legalizing marijuana for personal use. More disconnects, perhaps.
Or maybe it’s for a far simpler reason: the American public at large supports decriminalization, but politicians remain ambivalent about legalizing dope. And if special interests, lobbyists and politicians don’t get on board with backing cannabis reform laws, it just won’t happen. Local law enforcement, even where statewide reform laws have been passed, continue to battle soft decriminalization and to resist capitulating in various cities, towns and counties. That makes it difficult, if not impossible, to keep moving forward with reformist efforts.
Another kvetch that I often hear from soft supporters is that if marijuana was legalized, it would help take it out of kids’ hands. Right now, it’s pretty easy for anyone to buy dope. Legalizing it, and setting age restrictions, might just help make it less accessible to children. That’s a strong argument, but so far it hasn’t seemed to impact voters’ decisions.
And the chance of addiction, overdose, or permanent physical damage caused by withdrawals from dope is miniscule when compared to alcohol. My friend in the medical field reiterated that to me, rather emphatically. But when it comes to really talking about legalization, a lot of people worry that decriminalizing marijuana means opening the door to greater dangers than we already face- legally, by drinking alcohol. Yet regulation could make it easier for law enforcement to test inebriated drivers- and to help make the roads a lot safer for everyone.
I’m not getting into hemp laws today. Except to say, that’s an even slower-moving system filled with pratfalls and counterproductive laws and regulations.
A humble blogger makes an even more humble suggestion to readers: if you don’t have a problem with legalizing dope, speak up. Step up at the voter’s booth, and show the courage of your convictions by letting politicians know how you feel. And learn more about smoking the vote and where the candidates stand on medical marijuana access at NORML, the nonprofit that’s been supporting marijuana reform laws for over 30 years.
Because nothing will ever change if you don’t make it happen.
Right on.
And the question that I have to ask is who the heck is against legalizing dope? Because unless they’re fronting, I’ve talked to a lot of people over the years, representing a lot of different demographics and economic situations, and they all support legalizing marijuana. So where’s the disconnect?
When it comes time to vote, it’s clear, less than fifty percent of American voters support legalizing marijuana. Now. I know and you know, that no matter how much everyone talks a good game about this candidate and that candidate, rocking the vote and the rest of it, that when it comes time to go to the polls, historically, the only people that really make a showing are over 50. So that may be part of why the numbers are skewed. Yet, from everything I read, and everyone I talk to, the over-50 crowd doesn’t seem to have a problem with decriminalization. Just the opposite, in fact.
In recent years, more and more states have accepted medical use of marijuana. Pot reformists hoped this would quickly snowball, and open the door to decriminalization for personal use. Not so much. Only a dozen states have decriminalized dope, and even those laws provide limited protection for smokers. Twelve states have also accepted marijuana for medical use. But they’re not the same twelve states. A disconnect? Maybe. We’re led to believe that the same people who can see the benefits of medical marijuana just can’t abide the legalization of limited personal use of the drug. Yet time and time again, surveys show, Americans on the whole support legalizing marijuana for personal use. More disconnects, perhaps.
Or maybe it’s for a far simpler reason: the American public at large supports decriminalization, but politicians remain ambivalent about legalizing dope. And if special interests, lobbyists and politicians don’t get on board with backing cannabis reform laws, it just won’t happen. Local law enforcement, even where statewide reform laws have been passed, continue to battle soft decriminalization and to resist capitulating in various cities, towns and counties. That makes it difficult, if not impossible, to keep moving forward with reformist efforts.
Another kvetch that I often hear from soft supporters is that if marijuana was legalized, it would help take it out of kids’ hands. Right now, it’s pretty easy for anyone to buy dope. Legalizing it, and setting age restrictions, might just help make it less accessible to children. That’s a strong argument, but so far it hasn’t seemed to impact voters’ decisions.
And the chance of addiction, overdose, or permanent physical damage caused by withdrawals from dope is miniscule when compared to alcohol. My friend in the medical field reiterated that to me, rather emphatically. But when it comes to really talking about legalization, a lot of people worry that decriminalizing marijuana means opening the door to greater dangers than we already face- legally, by drinking alcohol. Yet regulation could make it easier for law enforcement to test inebriated drivers- and to help make the roads a lot safer for everyone.
I’m not getting into hemp laws today. Except to say, that’s an even slower-moving system filled with pratfalls and counterproductive laws and regulations.
A humble blogger makes an even more humble suggestion to readers: if you don’t have a problem with legalizing dope, speak up. Step up at the voter’s booth, and show the courage of your convictions by letting politicians know how you feel. And learn more about smoking the vote and where the candidates stand on medical marijuana access at NORML, the nonprofit that’s been supporting marijuana reform laws for over 30 years.
Because nothing will ever change if you don’t make it happen.
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