21 Mar 2005 Web Papers Marijuana Community example essay topic

... , prosperous individuals who, despite their love for marijuana, contribute to their communities (Illicit Drug Use 1). Too Strict? According to former President Jimmy Carter, "Penalties against drug use should not be more damaging to an individual than the use of the drug itself. Nowhere is this more clear than in the laws against the possession of marijuana in private for personal use' (Carter). Although being scientifically proven to be relatively harmless, 734,000 individuals are arrested each year for marijuana-related crimes, outnumbering all violent crimes combined-including rape and murder. About 88% of these individuals are only charged with minor possession infractions.

And depending on the severity of the offense, a marijuana crime can be punishable by life imprisonment. (NORML Personal Use Introduction 1). Federal law mandates that possession of a single marijuana cigarette can be punishable by a $10,000 fine and up to a year in prison; this punishment is equal to that of possessing small amounts of crack cocaine or heroin (Morgan and Zimmer 42). Additionally, some states have instated a mandatory six-month driver's license suspension for possession of any amount of marijuana. A marijuana conviction can lead to the revocation of student loans and public housing, and the state can force parents to surrender custody of children. Forfeiture of assets can also be a product of a marijuana crime; in fact, eighty percent of people whose assets are seized by the government as a result of a marijuana crime are never formally charged with a crime at all.

The government reasons that, although the person was innocent, the property was guilty (Rosenthal and Kubby 19-20). For a drug that has been found to be less harmful than many over the counter medications, the punishments for its usage seem disproportionately harsh. Deterring Usage? Do harsh, oppressive marijuana laws actually deter marijuana usage?

Statistics would seem to indicate otherwise. In 1937, when the United States government initially criminalized marijuana, there were an estimated 55,000 people who had smoked marijuana. However, in 1997, estimates reported that anywhere from 30-65 million Americans had used marijuana (Rosenthal & Kubby, 26). Population increase could be a reason for an increase in users, but the population only increased from 128,824,829 in 1937 to 267,743,595 in 1997. Despite the fact that the US population increased by 107.8%, the number of marijuana users increased by 54,445.5% (Infoplease. com). Additionally, only 5.1% of adults in 1965 had ever tried marijuana; in 2002, that number had increased to 53.8%.

In terms of consumption, cannabis is the most widely used drug worldwide, and the United States accounts for nearly 25% of the world's marijuana users (Isralowitz 82-83). Clearly, if America's drug policies were truly effective and necessary, then the widespread usage of marijuana would not be as prevalent as it is today. Economic Strain? With so many arrests, the legal fees associated with enforcing these stringent marijuana laws pile up. The estimated cost to taxpayers in order to enforce marijuana prohibition amounts to approximately $10 billion per year (Aldritch and Mikuriya 75). To arrest, prosecute, and imprison a single drug dealer, the cost can be as high as $450,000 (Rosenthal and Kubby 43).

Nearly 60,000 individuals are in prison for marijuana-related crimes; the incarceration of these convicts alone costs taxpayers $1.2 billion per year. Even decriminalization would ease the economic strain; between 1976 and 1985, personal possession of less than an ounce of marijuana in California was decriminalized, and the state saved nearly $1 billion in that time span. Since 1991 the number of marijuana related arrests has doubled; more arrests amount to increasingly drastic economic expenditures to punish these "criminals" (NORML Talking Points 1). And since 82% of individuals convicted are working people and students, the loss alone from salaries amounts to a loss of $1.1 billion in total productivity (Rosenthal and Kubby 45).

All of this money could be going to education, preserving national landmarks and forests, improving the environment, or fixing our degrading highway system; yet, the money goes to punishing marijuana offenders, many of which have never consciously committed a crime other than a marijuana-related one. Despite the overwhelming evidence that marijuana is not as harmful as previously though to be, it is still illegal, and inflexible marijuana laws are still enforced everywhere in the country and dramatically siphon U.S. funds. Truly, if the American government was listening to the opinions of the people, they would hear the cries of millions of concerned Americans who simply want their Constitutionally established "pursuit of happiness". But until the calls of these citizens are heard, understood, and listened to without bias, the democratic experiment is failing, and America's people are not truly free". 2. Illicit Drug Use National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, 2000".

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Information Please: 1997". Infoplease. com. 20 Mar. 2005 web". Marijuana - Marijuana Addiction - Marijuana Abuse Treatment - Drug Dependency". 2001. Narconon California.

21 Mar. 2005". Marijuana Use and Its Effects". Schaffer Library of Drug Policy. 20 Mar. 2005". NORML Home - Personal Use - Marijuana Decriminalization Talking Points" Marijuana Law Reform - NORML. 25 Aug. 2003.

National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. 22 Mar. 2005 web ID = 3381 ". NORML Home / Personal Use / Introduction". Marijuana Law Reform - NORML. 13 Jul. 2003.22 Mar. 2005 web ID = 5442 ". Prevalence of Obesity Among U.S. Adults".

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 25 June 2004. 22 Mar. 2005". The Official Site of the Alliance for Eating Disorders Awareness". 1 May 2001. Alliance for Eating Disorders Awareness.

21 Mar. 2005. Aldritch, M. and T. Mikuriya. "Savings in California marijuana law enforcements costs attributable to the Moscone Act of 1976". Journal of Psychoactive Drugs Jan. -Mar. 1988: 20.

Booth, Martin. Cannabis. New York: St. Martin's Press, 2003. Carter, Jimmy: Message to Congress, August 2, 1977. Hosmer, Marc and Rebecca Oestreich. "The Marijuana Community at St. Olaf College".

St. Olaf College. St. Olaf College. 21 Mar. 2005 web papers / marijuana community. html. Isralowitz, Richard.

Drug Use. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, Inc., 2004. McGregor, Tom. "Your Food Addiction is Great for Business". Health Recipes. com. 20 Mar. 2005.

O'Brien, Terry and Ray Daughter. Prime for Life! On Campus Talking About Alcohol. Lexington, KY: Prevention Research Institute. Inc, 1999.

Rosenthal, Ed and Steve Kubby. Why Marijuana Should Be Legal. New York: Thunder's Mouth Press, 1996. Zimmer, Lynn and John P. Morgan. Marijuana Myths, Marijuana Facts: A Review of the Scientific Evidence.

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