California, which became the first state to legalize medicinal marijuana 14 years ago, is voting in November on legalizing marijuana use for the general public. The official proposition would help plug the $20 billion gap in the state’s budget. According to CNNMoney.com, the legalization of marijuana is estimated to bring more than a billion dollars in state revenue.
If the proposed law passes, it is going to be a revolution, and would challenge federal laws prohibiting marijuana completely.
When marijuana was legalized for medical uses in 1996, physicians in California acquired the right to prescribe marijuana to patients. Since then, caregivers in California have started possessing and cultivating marijuana.
Contrary to the prior legislation, the new proposal is not going to restrict the use of marijuana to medicine. Marijuana would be treated and taxed similarly to alcohol. The proposed laws will restrict the use of marijuana to people 21 years and older. According to CNNMoney.com, the law will also restrict the amount of marijuana a person may carry for personal use to one ounce, and the amount to grow in a residence to 25 square feet.
The supporters of this new reform are greatly misguided. The legalization of marijuana only means the start of a revolutionary movement to go against the federal government.
Another movement may begin later to lower the marijuana smoking age. (A large movement to lower the legal drinking age is likely to arise, too.) The safety of the public would be endangered by marijuana use because, according to harvard.edu, marijuana impairs judgment, perception and memory, as well as thinking and learning. In addition, marijuana is known for causing long-term mental and respiratory disorders.
It seems the leaders behind the movement are influenced by European Dutch ideologies. The chief promoter of the petition to legalize pot, Richard Lee, is also the founder of Oaksterdam University in Oakland, Calif. Oaksterdam, a combination of Amsterdam and Oakland, is America’s first cannabis college, which provides training on growing, harvesting, use and preparation of marijuana.
According to Amsterdam.info, it is noteworthy that soft, minimally addictive drug use is legal in Amsterdam and the Netherlands. On the other hand, heroin and cocaine are still illegal in the Netherlands because they are considered hard drugs, or addictive drugs. The Dutch permit the use of marijuana in their country because they want to concentrate their efforts on stopping the use of more dangerous hard drugs (and not because they want to ruin their own health).
The people petitioning the reform in California may be only guided (or misguided) by a desire to make marijuana available to everyone as a recreational substance. They are advertising its economic benefits but, in reality, all the taxes from the sales of marijuana are going to be spent on health and law enforcement to regulate the use of the substance.
Because it is a public safety issue, legalizing marijuana use should be opposed in any state.
I agree with John Lovell, a member of the California Narcotic Officers’ Association (a law enforcement professionals association) said, “Why on earth would we want to add yet another mind-altering substance to the array of legal substances that compromise a person’s five senses when we know they are going to make bad decisions?”
While much discussion is going on between political figures and household members about marijuana use, one thing is clear: Smoking marijuana is harmful. The harmful effects of illicit drugs have undergone extensive scientific research in the past era. Most research recommends against marijuana use for recreational purposes.
Cigarette smokers might acknowledge the harmful effects of tobacco, but they still continue their habits. In the same way, marijuana smokers might know the harmful effects of marijuana but still choose to smoke it.
Just because someone chooses to do something does not mean that everyone should have to deal with it. Do not legalize marijuana.
Abdallah Abu Ghazaleh is a freshman majoring in electrical engineering. He can be contacted at [email protected].