Why Does the Debate Over Marijuana Continue?

Why does the debate concerning the use of marijuana, medical or recreational, continue to be one of the most controversial subjects in the news? With one argument focusing on the premise that marijuana use leads to using drugs that are more dangerous, the United States government through the FDA and the court system, continue to arrest and imprison hundreds of citizens every day. Why, when several states have already decriminalized the use of marijuana for medical purposes, does the United States federal government continue to make this a major crime?

The "War on Drugs" was lost years ago (and probably before it ever started) and studies and surveys prove that is true. In fact, recent studies have shown that marijuana use is again on the rise, even among teens, after a so-called decline in the past ten years. Was there actually a decline or did the users tend to not answer questions truthfully or get smarter over not being caught with the drug? Other, more dangerous drugs are currently easily available in cheaper and purer forms and there has been little progress in stopping the importation or delivery of these drugs on the streets of our nation.

Two years ago in 2008, estimates stated that 25 million citizens use marijuana and that the number had not changed significantly over the preceding five years. Yet, approximately 225,000 people are arrested, and then convicted for simple possession and use of marijuana. Other drugs account for the arrest of almost one million people in the United States each year with approximately 500,000 of them being incarcerated, mostly for the crime of using drugs.

Public opinion polls continue to show that United States citizens are more likely to agree with decriminalizing marijuana, even if only for medical purposes, than at any time since criminalization in the 1930's. Then again, history proves that the criminalization of marijuana, accomplished under not quite so legal terms, is something most officials do not want to admit happened in the first place and specifically for reasons that were untrue, bigoted, and promoted by many.

With 14 states that have made medical marijuana use legal (Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington). Two other states passed laws that allow medical marijuana use as a legal defense (Maryland) and prescribed by a physician (Arizona, but not amended); the trend is certainly headed toward legalization overall regarding the use of the drug.

As the situation now stands, marijuana, already considered the number one crop in many states, is here to stay. The federal government would be well off to decriminalize the drug and make it available to those who want to use it. Taxing and regulation, as is done with tobacco and alcohol, would provide money towards balancing the national debt and federal deficit, clear needed space in prisons for "real criminals", and allow the FDA to continue to pursue those who are dealing in drugs like heroin, cocaine, and other drugs that have been actually proven dangerous to American citizens.

Perhaps the only reason marijuana legalization has so far not occurred is that the United States government is still piqued about not thinking of the money that could have been accrued beginning long ago with the start of a mostly phony "war on drugs". Now, they cannot resist punishing those who have acquired the taste for recreational cannabis or have found a truly necessary medical reason for using marijuana.

Sources:
14 Legal Medical Marijuana States, Medical Marijuana, ProCon.org
Marijuana Arrests in the United States (2007), Jon Gettman, Ph.D., The Bulletin of Cannabis Reform, www.drugscience.org, November 5, 2009
Legislators aim to snuff out penalties for pot use, CNN, July 30, 2008