Decriminalization Of Marijuana

"Penalties against possession of a drug should not be more damaging to an individual then the use of the drug itself" (R.1)

Marijuana which was farmed by George Washington and Thomas Jefferson and used as paper for the drafting of the Declaration of Independence by Benjamin Franklin, has obviously been in America since the dawn of its existence. Wayne Rasmussen states in readings: "Some colonies even made hemp cultivation compulsory and called its production necessary for the Ð''wealth and protection of the country.'" (R.2) Beginning as nothing more then another "herb" America quickly turned onto itself into a billion dollar "war on drugs" to stop the sale and growth of Marijuana and other illicit and harmful drugs. Harmful? Prestigious groups such as the American Public Health Association, the Federation of American Scientists, and the British Medical Association, as well as New England Journal of Medicine editor Jerome Kassirer, publicly endorse the medicinal use of marijuana. Moreover, in 1988, the Drug Enforcement Administration's own chief administrative law Judge, Francis L. Young, declared that marijuana was "one of the safest therapeutically active substances known to man." (R.3) It is obvious that it would be irresponsible and wrong for the government to not evaluate its current drug policies specifically, their marijuana policy.

While marijuana was not actually outlawed until the "Marijuana Tax Act" of 1937, it was a part of the country and society since before the arrival of colonists. Close to the depression immigrants such as Jamaicans and Mexicans introduced the weed as a recreational drug much like Alcohol or Tobacco. Many Americans revolted against the drug and the alien populations` customs. In fear of the drug poisoning society much like the many drugs in Europe had done.

In 1937 the federal government created the Marijuana Tax Act, making the sale and possession of the plant illegal. During this period no research was ever made to conduct any harmful effects that the plant would possess. America developed three strategies to fight marijuana. Silence and Denial was implemented, banning discussion about the drug in all public schools. The Motion Picture Association of America also stopped the images of narcotic use from being shown on film. When it became obvious that this approach was ineffective another strategy was developed. An objective of fear was implemented and was intended to scare people either using or thinking of trying marijuana to cease and desist. Medical journals and newspapers published stories that conveyed marijuana as a drug causing society to act in inhumane crimes. For example, Reefer Madness a film made in 1936 was portrayed as a documentary presenting Marijuana as "demon weed" the film showed several scenes of High School kids smoking pot and quickly going insane, playing over dramatic jazz music, committing crimes and so forth.

Penalties for marijuana use have in-time fluctuated with the society's view of the danger. Throughout the years, society first viewed Marijuana as extremely harmful and dangerous. In time Marijuana was seen as less of an issue, which caused penalties to become less as harsh on offenders. In the past, possession of Marijuana would result in a 10 year minimum prison sentence while the sale to a minor would result in mandatory death penalty.

However, as time went on, penalties decreased as usage increased. The legalization of marijuana would also reduce the risk of it becoming a "gateway drug."