Pubdate: Thu, 20 Apr 2006 Source: Keystone, The (Kutztown U, PA Edu) Copyright: 2006 The Keystone Contact: http://keystoneonline.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/2894 Author: Matthew J. Rhein Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/decrim.htm (Decrim/Legalization) TAKE TWO AND PASS THE LAW Today is April 20. More notably, it's 4-20. While the observance of Earth Day falls on the 22nd, this Saturday, today marks the annual "holiday" celebrating a different plant-cannabis. However controversial marijuana is and has become, its legalization is something that has stemmed in me quite an interest. Last November the city of Denver, Colo., voted to legalize the possession of marijuana. Fantastic. The headline that ran in Rocky Mountain News following the vote was, "OK of pot issue gives new meaning to Mile High City." But don't be misled. Stoners won't unite and light up a joint in the Mile High City. Though the city voted to legalize the possession of small amounts, Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper assured the press that the city would still enforce the stricter state law that makes possession illegal. While the article confused me completely after a first reading, I developed a growing sense that the legislation was passed not to change laws, but to change attitudes. The measure passed in Denver with a 54 percent majority vote. So, more people than not agree with legal possession of pot. Moreover, the measure sparked positive sentiment in other major cities. Seattle and Oakland have laws that make possession a low priority for policy. Twelve states, including Colorado, decriminalized the possession of small amounts, but would still issue fines. "Bruce Mirken, spokesman for the Marijuana Policy Project in Washington, D.C. said Denver's vote will encourage other cities to legalize and regulate marijuana like alcohol or tobacco," according to a Nov. 3, 2005 USA Today article, "Denver votes to legalize marijuana possession." According to the article, "In Colorado having an ounce of marijuana or less is punishable by a $100 fine but no jail time." While Hickenlooper disagreed with the measure, he did admit that the Denver vote "does reflect a genuine shift in people's attitudes." Positive sentiment is budding elsewhere as well. Former police officers Peter Christ and Jack Cole founded the Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP) several years ago. According to Christ and Cole, LEAP is dedicated to changing the country's drug laws. An article in the Aug. 2005 Progressive stated that of the 2000 members "some believe in drug decriminalization, others in full-out legalization, but their collective mandate is to highlight the failure of the current drug policy [in the United States]." LEAP is made up of former cops, prison wardens, judges and mayors. LEAP member Bob Owens, a former police chief in Oxnard, Calif., said in the article, "The purpose of LEAP is to create more of an attitude change than to potentially change legislation." Having support from former law enforcement officials is surprising but reassuring. While pot users may agree with legalization for personal enjoyment, medical marijuana use has countless advantages. According to a July 2005 article in Texas Monthly, "In 1988 the Drug Enforcement Administration's chief law judge declared that 'marijuana, in its natural form, is one of the safest therapeutically active substances known to man' and ruled that it be made available to doctors, but the agency ignored him." The same article stated that several Texas Republicans supported medical marijuana because of the ample evidence that "smoking pot eases pain and reduces nausea associated with cancer, AIDS, multiple sclerosis and other illnesses." While street drugs have obvious dangers aside from use, their purity is always in question. Legalizing marijuana wouldn't make drugs safer, but make their use less taboo. When I turned 18 I could legally buy cigarettes. In a year, I can buy alcohol. But, no matter my age, possessing a less addictive and less dangerous drug will be illegal until legislators realize that the cons don't heavily outweigh the pros here. We shouldn't legalize pot so kids can get high and not paranoid. We shouldn't legalize pot to ensure that it's purer and safer to smoke. But when major cities and former law enforcement officials show support and current legislation and efforts are showing a changing attitude towards pot, why not consider it? If someone wants to get high, I doubt they'll let the dangers (be it physical or legal) stop them. Legalizing pot not only makes it easily accessible for medical use, but invites a more positive opinion about something that really isn't that bad. Matthew J. Rhein is a sophomore English/Professional Writing major and the Opinions Editor of The Keystone. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman