Marijuana is a mind altering drug, and not unlike its wet counterpart alcohol, it has the ability to unite or divide those discussing its place in American society.
According to federal surveys, more than 70 million Americans over the age of 18 have smoked marijuana. Its effects are described as an altered perception that causes feelings of well-being, relaxation and reduced stress. It has also been attributed to an increased appreciation of humor, food and music.
Its low toxicity is responsible for the well-known fact that marijuana has never directly caused a death. It was even reported by the Washington Post in 2006 that marijuana smoking, even in extreme cases, does not lead to lung cancer, while cigarettes cause 440,000 deaths a year.
So why is marijuana illegal in the first place? In a 2002 Zogby International poll, American's ranked marijuana as far less dangerous than alcohol and cigarettes, yet those things can be bought by a legal patron at most gas stations.
Marijuana's illegality is a matter of business history. In 1937, the marijuana tax was passed with help from anti-hemp newspaper mogul William Randolph Hearst. The ferocious and corrupt Hearst had significant financial interest in the timber industry, and when it was found that hemp - cannabis grown for non-drug use - could be made into a stronger paper, he fought for a ban on cannabis plants completely by printing frivolous newspaper stories warning of marijuana's dangers. The bill passed, due in large part to his financial support and, as they say, the rest is history.
In 2003, when the National Office of Drug Control Policy reported the government was spending $29 billion annually to prosecute and incarcerate marijuana users, the negative public response to the report sparked the largest interest in the pro-weed cause ever. In 2006, a Time/CNN poll stated 72 percent of Americans supported marijuana decriminalization, which reduces marijuana-use penalties to fines alone. Decriminalization has been implemented in 13 states, including Nebraska, and could reach 20 by 2010.
Could this increased interest in decriminalization ultimately lead to legal weed? It's hard to say, but as the decriminalization movement gains steam, so does the legalization movement. With a modern legalization policy, the government could monitor who was buying this drug and at what age, just as they have done with alcohol and tobacco for years. Not only would it keep drug dealers from selling weed to kids, it would send a dagger into the stomach of the black market drug industry.
In 2006, marijuana was named America's most valuable cash crop, with an estimated production value exceeding $35 billion annually, which exceeds corn and wheat production combined. By making marijuana a legal commodity, the government could keep drug dealers from banking off the drug's mass appeal.
So what would happen if marijuana was legal? During the prohibition of the 1920s, people who wanted to drink continued to do so. The same can be said of marijuana prohibition. If weed were legalized, stoners would still get high, and non-users would still have the right to choose if marijuana was right for them or not.
In 2005, Harvard professor and economist Jeffrey Alan Miron issued a report that stated that marijuana should be legal and the crop should face taxes much like those seen with tobacco or alcohol. If realized, he predicted the United States would earn an estimated $6.2 billion annually. This extra tax revenue could be a real economic boom.
The ultimate gains the United States could see from legalized weed are far-reaching, but it's a hard case to sell to those opposed to it. Many people have the stigma that weed ruins lives, when it can be said alcohol has ruined millions of more lives, yet it's still legal. It also can be said that more than 3 million violent crimes are committed by drunken people every year and alcohol causes a rise in domestic and sexual abuse in American families.
Can the same be said of weed? If somebody's husband or father smoked a joint before returning home for the night, would he want to beat his wife, high as a kite? The effects of marijuana have been said to block anger - especially physical anger.
Maybe if marijuana were legal, our murder and domestic abuse rates would drop, or our economy wouldn't be in trouble. Maybe our jails wouldn't be full of people whose lives are ruined because they got caught with weed and more people would take time to sit back and realize that the good things in our world outweigh the bad.
Maybe everything would be different.
matthavelka@dailynebraskan.com
Legalizing weed may benefit society, economy
Published: Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Updated: Sunday, December 14, 2008
 "Photo: N/A")
Media Credit: Dan Buhrdorf
57 comments
Your name
I'm all up for Marijuana to be controlled. In the Middle East they grow cash crops of drugs such as marijuana, and some of it goes to terrorism. Weed isn't controlled in the U.S. at all, the only way we can get rid of drug dealers for good is to either get rid of poverty or make weed legal. I'm not a user, I respect that in america you can have a choice. No I don't think anyone should drive under the influence, or be intoxicated at work. I think if people wanna get messed up on a Sat. night they will. By legalizing it we could get rid of some gang activity, smuggling, drug lords from making profits. The only real counter attack would be that weed is a gateway drug. We should all have the freedom to choose, no matter what the choice is
Mike S
I love this article. I think the only way for marijuana to be legalized is for the pro-legalization supporters to focus on the economic issues. I think a lot of powerful people will finally start listening once they figure out they can pad their wallet with the profits, and it can positively affect the national economy.
Danny
Its good to see good articles like this coming out of the DN. IM sick of a lot of trash they put in there. Great story.
Dan
I want to know why my comments never, ever, ever get posted. What's wrong with them? All I said was legalizing weed is just a poor choice. I guess people at the DN don't want to promote two sides to the story when the opposing side uses an intelligent argument. Thanks a lot DN, you're an amazing paper.
Russ
Logging-in as "Dreadvenom" and suggesting that those with dissenting opinions "deserve to go to mental institutions" is the surest way to get your ideas marginalized. Address the material and those who disagree with you in a thoughtful manner if you want to sit at the big kids' table.
Sam
How trashy.
Curtis
Really nice, succinct article. I couldn't agree more. I think you're spot-on regarding the original reasons for weed-o-phobia in the U.S., except you didn't mention Hearst's good buddy, drug czar Harry Anslinger. Today, there a lot of reasons why marijuana remains illicit in our country. One reason is that the issue is still too divisive to become a mainstream political platform; a lot of people would support legalization, but not as many as wouldn't. I feel like that balance of power will change in the coming decades.Another issue is still, of course, the various lobbies. Nowadays I would say it's particularly drug companies who stand to lose if a cheap plant interfered with sales of antidepressants, anxiolytics, et cetera. There are other players, I'm sure. In terms of society, there are a lot of people who (quite mistakenly) feel that marijuana is a juvenile fixation--that, somehow unlike alcohol, weed is not for 'grown-ups.' I get quite a laugh out of this attitude, and it's very common, unfortunately. Marijuana, like any other substance, is subject to user-end error, but that's no reason for it to be illegal, particularly when products like alcohol and numerous other psychotropics are not, and when marijuana has been shown to be just about the least dangerous of all of them. Great article.
dillon
Great argument
Amanda
I think you have really strong points. The government should legalize it.
Dreadvenom
Hey Nevhusker, just to let ya know, everything he stated in this article is 100% true. There are in fact ZERO recorded deaths due to marijuana. And yea I smoke it, and guess what, my life aint anywhere near ruined. I have no health problems nor do I show any signs of getting any. No1 has died from weed and no1 ever will because ITS HARMLESS. You and others like you are in the dark because you just don't listen. People like you deserve to go to mental institutions. No lie ya punk.
grizz
why drink and drive when you can smoke and fly?
Nevhusker
Matt,I assume from your article that you are trying to become a STAND UP COMIC. Maybe you can get a 4 appearance deal with Jay Leno on the TONIGHT SHOW!No matter whether you are a user or a loser your article is total BS!
alex
i agree, Brett has a good point, lets not stop our talking here
Brett
Very nice. If marijuana, tobacco, and alcohol went up for approval by the FDA today, weed would be the only one deemed acceptable for consumption.
BLACout
Im gonna go out on a limb here and say genius
BLACout
Your either a genius or a stoner, either way im on your side
dan shattil
This could be the best cure for the economy.
