this was for school, honest
Once upon a time, our beautiful planet earth was blessed with a very special plant. This plant had been used for thousands of years for many different things, such as clothes, food, rope, and much, much more. It even made sick people feel better and healthy people feel happy! This plant was so important to early America, that some colonies even required farmers to grow it! However, as the years passed, some unfortunate men in some high up positions began to think that this special plant wasn’t so great after all. You see, at that time America was unhappy that so many Mexicans, who liked the special plant, were coming into the country. They wanted to take the plant away so the Mexicans would go away. Also, farmers were getting angry that their own crops weren’t as successful as the special plant, and wanted to diminish their competition. These men, lead by the enlightened Harry Anslinger, began telling stories that the plant led to “murder, insanity, and death”, especially when put in the hands of African Americans. At first these stories were hard to believe. Everybody knew that the plant only created peace…and happiness. But of course, with the help of certain unbiased, right-minded, journalists, they were eventually able to spread enough terrifying stories to convince enough people (don’t worry about the facts, they would come later). Finally the forces of good overcame evil and the devilish plant was forever banned in our glorious, god-blessed nation.
Although that story might seem a bit ridiculous, it should seem that way. That abbreviated story is no other than the age-old tale of how marijuana became illegal in America. Shocking, right? Since the passage of the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937, there have been numerous laws passed and cases decided regarding marijuana’s legal status in America. For instance, in the Supreme Court case Timothy Leary v. United States, the Marijuana Tax Act was declared unconstitutional because it violated the Fifth Amendment’s protection against self-incrimination. For a brief moment in 1969, marijuana was legal. However, Congress immediately moved to discredit the court decision by passing the Controlled Substance Act in 1970, which placed marijuana in the same category as dangerous drugs such as heroin and ecstasy. Although marijuana is still 100% illegal under federal law, many states have begun to take the first step towards true justice.
My current event article discusses how Democratic Governor and presidential hopeful Bill Richardson is about to sign a bill to make New Mexico the 12th state to legalize medical marijuana. He admits that even though it is risky, it is the right thing to do. This law would allow the state health department to provide marijuana to patients, easing their pain and suffering. Even though the federal government assertively declared that marijuana is an illegal substance with no medical value, many states and politicians are begging to differ. I could not agree with them more.
Marijuana can be used to treat glaucoma, relieve pain and nausea, and stimulate the appetite of AIDS patients. It is physically impossible to die from a marijuana overdose. There is not one recorded case of death. Time and money is wasted persecuting those who use marijuana. If the drug was legalized, the government could regulate it, making it much safer. The government could tax marijuana, just as it does cigarettes and alcohol, and put that revenue to good use (preferably not towards the War in Iraq). And where is the scientific proof that marijuana is indeed dangerous, and leads to murder, insanity, and death?
I have to admit that this is one issue that is constantly in the back of my mind, nagging me and leaving me frustrated, with a mild headache. Those reasons for legalization mentioned above are all very compelling and logical, yet so many years have passed and still nothing has been done. The laws are so twisted and perverted; it would be almost impossible for the government to accept any logical reasons at this point. Honestly, whether it is legal or not, people are still going to grow and smoke marijuana, and no laws are going to prevent that. Yet just the fact, the nuisance of the law, the knowledge that the wise, all-knowing government has the power and authority to put you in JAIL for doing something as harmless as getting high, will continue to haunt our country. The law is nothing other than a mockery of our justice system. It is the ultimate flaw. Okay, alcohol and cigarettes are legal. They have been PROVEN to lead to thousands of deaths, violence, and addiction. WHY ARE THEY LEGAL? They are legal for the sole reason that our country is based on white, Christian ideals, and Jesus enjoyed a drink every now and then. Is racism, selfishness, and intolerance the way our country should be lead? And, more importantly, where does the government obtain the right to tell somebody what they have to do with their life, let alone their body?
I am very passionate about this issue, so much so that I had to take a break after writing that last paragraph. If it were up to me, I would change the laws in a heartbeat. Yet stepping back and truly looking at the situation, I do see a dim light of hope slipping through the cracks of our hypocritical failure of a government. And that hope can be found in the states. As mentioned before, states have begun to enact laws decriminalizing marijuana. Bill Richardson is about to legalize marijuana for medicinal use in New Mexico. I might be hesitant to admit it, but perhaps the system has potential to work after all.
Unit Three discusses how the values and principles of the Constitution shaped American institutions and practices. The lesson that explains how power is divided between the federal and state governments is especially relevant to my article. America is a federal system, and although the national government has supremacy, the states still have a large say. This explains why certain states have decriminalized marijuana, even though it is still nationally illegal. This is also not the first time states have taken a progressive stance on issues still untouched by the government. For instance, states across the country have enacted strict laws aimed at improving energy efficiency, even though the Bush Administration has still refused to accept the reality and act. States came first in giving women and eighteen year olds the right to vote, ensuring rights for African Americans, and awarding gay couples the equal protection they deserve. The founders were wise to ensure an extra check on the government by establishing a federal system. Unfortunately, I can only hope that future administrations (this administration is out of the picture) will possess similar wisdom and move to legalize marijuana...again. And then, possibly, there will be no countries, nothing to kill or die for, no religion too, and all the people…will be living life in peace.