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.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom