Pubdate: Fri, 19 Jun 2015 Source: Dayton Daily News (OH) Copyright: 2015 Dayton Daily News Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/7JXk4H3l Website: http://www.daytondailynews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/120 Author: Steven A. Joyce, Community Contributor Note: Steven A. Joyce, a resident of Middletown since 1949, is retired from AT&T. LEGALIZING MARIJUANA OFFERS BENEFITS TO SOCIETY The recent trend to legalize marijuana (aka "pot," "weed," and maybe other names with which I, as a non-user, am unfamiliar) has aroused much furor. Even some in law enforcement and medicine now question the wisdom of continuing policies that seem only to have exacerbated a problem arising mainly from propaganda-induced hysteria (e.g., "Reefer Madness" and its progeny). So, let's sort out the main issues. Addiction: Marijuana is described as an addictive drug, despite that most users exhibit no clear signs of dependence. Many puff a joint now and then, but have been known to put it aside for months at a time. Still, some individuals are unusually susceptible to addiction; as with those prone to alcoholism, even minimal exposure triggers dependence. But we now treat alcoholism as a health issue, not a crime. We don't punish mere consumption of alcohol, but only dangerous behavior resulting therefrom. Why should we treat marijuana differently? Doing so hasn't solved problems, but rather has created them, by overflowing prisons and burdening many otherwise harmless and productive people with criminal records. (Users' money supports crime? Easy fix:Legalize pot!) Gateway drug:It's "a known fact" that marijuana use leads to use of more dangerous drugs - except that this "fact" isn't borne out in reality. Granted, many hard-drug users first experiment with marijuana; but to conclude that one causes the other is fallacious. Closer scrutiny reveals why: Most marijuana users are content with their substance of choice, and never "graduate" to truly dangerous drugs. The bogus cause-effect claim is thus refuted. But consider the law itself, based on the claim that marijuana is dangerously addictive, when it's arguably less so than legal tobacco and alcohol. For nearly a century, children have been warned of marijuana's supposed horrors; yet, motivated by curiosity, rebelliousness or peer pressure, many have tried it anyway. Finding first-hand that marijuana isn't nearly as dangerous as claimed, kids lose any credence and respect they might have had for authorities making that claim. Problems with legalization: Would marijuana legalization introduce any bad effects, such as reckless indulgence and crime-ridden neighborhoods? Probably no more than what we have already. Repeal of alcohol prohibition was followed by a transient surge in use, but this subsided as the novelty faded. And obviously, legalizing marijuana would drastically reduce its contribution to criminality. Safeguards: Legal or not, marijuana is an intoxicant. It shouldn't be used before or while driving, operating machinery, using weapons or making important decisions. Production and distribution should be regulated, and facilities fenced. Retail outlets should be zoned and restricted as are liquor stores, with sales taxed to recover government expenses. Bootlegging should remain illegal. The main hurdle, I think, will be getting our dysfunctional federal government to legalize nationally, so that banks' facilitation of the business is no longer hobbled by fear of violating federal law and regulation. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom