Pubdate: Thu, 02 May 2013
Source: Chattanooga Times Free Press (TN)
Copyright: 2013 Chattanooga Publishing Company, Inc.
Contact:  http://www.timesfreepress.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/992
Page: B7

Right Side Round Table

SHOULD MARIJUANA BE LEGALIZED? THE HAMILTON COUNTY GRAND JURY THINKS SO

In years past, the Hamilton County grand jury's recommendation that
the "state legislature should consider legalizing the possession of a
small amount of marijuana, which is not packaged for resale" would
have set off a firestorm. Now, however, the suggestion has fostered a
reasonable discussion.

Clearly, the American public is ready to reconsider marijuana laws, as
evidenced by a March poll conducted by the Pew Research Center that
found a majority of Americans favor legalizing the use of marijuana.
Locally, as the grand jury clearly understands, there is a practical
rationale for decriminalizing small amounts of marijuana even for
those of us who do not use weed: It would save taxpayers lots of money.

Local courts in Hamilton County dealt with 1,800 drug-possession
charges in 2012, and that number is expected to rise this year. A
large portion of those cases are for small-scale marijuana possession.
Each one of those cases, and any resulting probation or jail time, is
a burden on taxpayers.

Since marijuana usage is a victimless crime with few related safety or
health concerns, government's ban on marijuana appears unreasonable
and arbitrary - more of a witch hunt than rational policymaking.
Claims that marijuana is less harmful than alcohol are supported by a
number of studies. In fact, some research indicates that caffeine
consumption might pose more health threats than marijuana use. The ban
is also totally futile, as the abundance of marijuana - and marijuana
users - in our area proves.

Decriminalizing marijuana would save tax dollars, create new tax
revenue streams, reduce overcrowding in jails, return safe, productive
citizens to society, and free up police and courts to focus on more
pressing needs.

Ultimately, however, the Tennessee General Assembly should legalize
marijuana because self-ownership is fundamental to a free society. It
should not be the role of government to tell responsible adults what
they can and cannot put in their own bodies, particularly when that
action does not violate the rights of others.
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