Murray1

Briar Murray

Professor Hendrex

MWF 11:30

25 April 2017

Our generations prohibition

The twenty first amendment was passed and ratified in 1933, ending the prohibition of

alcohol. The public outcry for this was immense and we see the same outcry for cannabis.

Cannabis has been prohibited and criminalized since the marijuana tax act of 1937 which

effectively banned its use and sales. However, this act would be found unconstitutional and

replaced by the controlled substance act of 1970 that would make cannabis a schedule one

narcotic essentially making it even worse to for consumers to be caught with. This all happening

because president Nixon decided it should be there and refused to remove it. The average

American in 2017 wants this prohibition to end, cannabis to be decriminalized, open for medical

treatments, and recreational sale and use.

Why is decriminalization not only the right thing to do, but also the smart thing? It would

result in clearing up the overpopulated prison system, saving nonviolent criminals from

becoming violent, and saving many lives and time that would normally be lost in our prison

system. The U.S. prison system is filled to capacity in most facilities. Over 50 percent of

inmates currently in federal prison are there for drug offenses, according to an infographic

recently released by the Federal Bureau of Prisons. That percentage has risen fairly consistently

over decades, all the way from 16 percent in 1970. Of that 50 percent 27.6 percent of drug

offenders were locked up for crimes related to marijuana (Kathleen Miles). Going of these
 Murray2

statistics nearly a quarter of the inmates currently serving time would be set free clearing up an

infrastructure that has been crumbling since the 1970s. These inmates would then no longer be

forced to endure the harsh gang filled prisons that have been turning them into violent men.

Prison is inherently dangerous and all inmates must become hard to survive. The only way of

survival is to become the monsters that surround them essentially turning an average joe into a

cold distant facade of the men they once were. Decriminalization would give the lives back to

many men and women that have had their rights stripped from them over a harmless plant.

Though it cannot give back the countless lives that have been lost to this needless war. Prime

example United States V. Richard, Sherry, and Justin Flor where the family has been incarcerated

on trumped up charges of growing the plant and sadly even after losing everything they owned

the Father a 68-year-old man passed while in federal custody. Though decriminalization is the

first step the ultimate goal is for it to be medically and recreational available.

Cannabis has been used medicinally since the time of pharaohs. Well before the U.S.

banned it under the name of marijuana. Cannabis was used in tinctures and many other remedies

across our nation. Since the spread of legalization, a lot of research has been put into the effects

cannabis has on the human body. Cannabis has the power to help many different ailments such as

seizure, stroke, impotence and even cancer. People of all ages can safely get the help they

desperately need and are not getting elsewhere. With such impressive healing power, there is no

question as to why big pharmacy hates it. One plant could take over for tons of pills with better

results. This would end our nations dependency on big pharmacy and their pills with laundry lists

of side effects. Cannabis gives a safe alternative to the dangerous and wildly under researched

medicine that is currently poisoning the masses taking them. This would also alleviate another

problem of patients becoming addicted to over the counter prescriptions, because cannabis is
 Murray3

nonaddictive. Although ending dependency on big pharmacy is important, ending the suffering

of adults and children within our nation is top priority. In a recent court case a mother was

arrested on misdemeanor charges for supplying cannabis oil to her son who suffers with a

traumatic brain injury (Jennifer brooks). while it looks that this case will be dismissed it shows

as the example of ignorance many in our nations judicial system still have. They want to put a

loving mother behind bars for trying to help her child live a happy life and that is flat out wrong.

Medicinal use is the most important goal, but legalization for recreational use has valid case to

make as well.

Cannabis has long been the iconic cult classic among partiers, but serves a greater purpose

within recreational use. Making it legal for recreational use would increase national revenue,

increase tourism and make a healthier happier community. It is no secret our nation is in massive

crippling debt, but how could cannabis help? Well a lot it turns out as Colorado earned an

estimated 53 million in tax revenue after just one year of full legalization. If cannabis was fully

legal in all states, the nation would make on average 2.6 billion per year in tax revenue. This

money could go to help many issues our nation faces such as the failing infrastructure of our

education system. Making it recreationally available also increases tourism as many Americans

would be eased with stress of traveling and taking their cannabis along with them. Colorado has

capitalized on this market and set up bong and breakfasts, which are places where tourist can

come stay and enjoy cannabis in a safe and guided experience. These types of companies offer

economic growth and create many jobs within their communities. Recreational legalization has

the potential to create a healthier and much happier community. It creates jobs for people that

were once seen as common criminals. It promotes healthier living by lowering stress and anxiety
 Murray4

levels. Cannabis is known for making consumers happy, hungry, and with the right strain a little

sleepy. All of which help promote a healthier body and mind.

While cannabis has long been seen as the silent killer or the lazy mans drug. It is swiftly

coming to light that it has been given these titles as a way for law makers to fund the war on

drugs a war in which they started. Nixon needed a drug he could market as evil to get the

American people to blindly follow his ignorant and shameful campaign. The American people

have awoken though and ignorance shut down by the spread of information and more people

know the truth about cannabis. It has the potential to cure the world and they want it

decriminalized, medically available, and open for recreational use. I urge all to look past the

policies and see what is right not what is current law, because as we grow as a nation so should

our government and our laws.

 Murray5

Works cited

Brooks, Jennifer. "Minnesota Mom Heads Back to Court on Charges of Giving Son Medical

Marijuana." Star Tribune. N.p., 16 Dec. 2014. Web. 27 Apr. 2017.

Libreman, Lex. "United States v. Richard Flor, Sherry Flor, and Justin Flor (2011-present, Miles

City, MT)." WEED WARS: United States v. Marijuana. N.p., 3 Feb. 2013. Web. 27 Apr. 2017.

Miles, Kathleen. "Just How Much The War On Drugs Impacts Our Overcrowded Prisons, In One

Chart." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 10 Mar. 2014. Web. 27 Apr. 2017.