Just For Starters

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                 According to Gore Vidal "The war on drugs has nothing to do with drugs.  It is part of an all-out war on the American people by a government interested only in control."  This is a powerful quote pulled from Gore Vidal's book The Decline and Fall of the American Empire.  It gives us insight into what not only the "war on drugs" is all about, but about how much control the government has when it comes to matters of self.

                 It has become apparent to me after several years that we are much closer now to the decriminalization of marijuana than ever before.  As studies emerge from many legitimate sources about the medical properties of this illegal drug it has already been legalized for medical use in 17 states and in our nation’s capital as well.  Though there are several states still to go for the advancement of medical marijuana, some states have added a legalization initiative on their fall 2012 ballot.  In a recent Rasmussen Report it was found that 56% of the American people favored legalizing and regulating marijuana much in the same way that alcohol and tobacco are regulated now.  (To view the summary of this report and the questions that were asked of the people, click here.)  That is a number which is up from 12% in 1970.

                With the United States in its current financial crisis it seems like it would be the best time to capitalize on something as useful and profitable as the legalization of marijuana.  All that needs to happen now is the mass education of the other 44% who can’t seem to see the legitimacy of marijuana’s legalization.  In legalizing marijuana I believe that we would be able to create more jobs as the manufacturing of the plant would be needed.  However, not only am I looking at the profitability of marijuana on a recreational scale like cigarettes or alcohol, but there is also the industrial outlook of using the hemp that is produced from these plants as well. 

                Amazingly enough there seem to be more reasons to consider the legalization of this drug now than ever before.  Time magazine reported in 2009 about how the legalization of all illegal drugs actually benefitted the people of Portugal.  Based on this report done by the Cato Institute, the evidence seems to point in the direction that legalization of illegal substances is actually a good thing.

                               

Some interesting things to consider:

·         Health Benefits

·         Amount of Money Spent on Marijuana Related Crimes vs the Amount of Money to be Made by Legalization

According to Gore Vidal "The war on drugs has nothing to do with drugs.  It is part of an all-out war on the American people by a government interested only in control."  

Vidal, Gore. The Decline and Fall of the American Empire. Berkeley, CA: Odonian, 1992.

"56% Favor Legalizing, Regulating Marijuana - Rasmussen Reportsâ„¢." 56% Favor Legalizing, Regulating Marijuana. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Aug. 2012. <http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/lifestyle/general_lifestyle/may_2012/56_favor_legalizing_regulating_marijuana>.

Szalavitz, Maia. "Drugs in Portugal: Did Decriminalization Work?" Time. Time, 26 Apr. 2009. Web. 11 Aug. 2012. <http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0%2C8599%2C1893946%2C00.html>.