Marijuana has become the center of attention in the mainstream media as activists and enthusiasts demand drug law reforms and changes from their state governments. Every since Colorado and Washington legalized marijuana this year there has been a domino effect through the nation in support of the medicinal plant. Our society has scrutinized the legalization and use of marijuana for years due to government sponsored experiments done in the 50s and 60s proclaiming marijuana to be harmful to users. Since Colorado legalized marijuana, overall profits have been sky rocketing in the business and tourists are traveling from all across the world to get their hands on this new product. So far marijuana and marijuana-based products have produced over $25 million for the state and experts claim that number may climb to $60 or $70 million by the end of 2015. The taxes gained from marijuana sales is used to make schools, support welfare and build hospitals. The revenue has done miracles for the state and although it is very early in the process, many states are now considering reforming restrictions on drug law enforcement. Recently marijuana activists smoked the herb in front of the New Jersey state house to show their support of marijuana law reform. According to WFMZ 69 News cannabis activists, over 250 of them, gathered outside the state house and smoked pot in order to provoke change towards marijuana laws.
The craziest part about the event unfolding? State troopers were called in to monitor the situation but, apparently, there had been no arrests made and the officers simply stood by in order to stop anything from escalating physically. Yes, you read that correctly - no arrests were made by the officers - that is a huge win for activists everywhere in support of marijuana decriminalization and legalization in our society.
For years our country has had the "War on Drugs" in order to protect citizens from being exposed to crazy meth dealers or coke-heads that may lurk in the shadows at night. But the unfortunate reality is that these strict laws are actually further harming the problem of actual drug addiction and use in our country. If marijuana laws were to be less strict and reformed, at least to make the harmless leaf decriminalized, then we would see a drastic change in drug use among teenagers and other U.S. citizens in the country. We spend billions of dollars trying to keep drugs off of our streets but it's having an opposite effect - we are actually making our country more prone to violent acts. Remember prohibition of alcohol in from 1920-1933? How did that turn out? Alcoholism increased and violence among citizens also went up. Why? Because when a society purposely bans a drug, that drug goes underground, getting into the hands of organized crime and creating more violence. Why not legalize marijuana and do away with the cartel? The cartel's main purpose is to produce and sell drugs, including marijuana. Well if we produce and sell marijuana legally and actually control its use in our country, wouldn't the cartel and other infamous gangs be out of luck?
It is clear that what we are doing is not working - change is crucial to making our nation a better place. It's time for our lawmakers to at least play around with the idea of decriminalizing marijuana so non-violent offenders in possession of the drug aren't sentenced to five or ten years in prison for something as ridiculous as marijuana. It's not necessary for such foolery in our country. It's time to grow up and look at the facts of what the possibilities that may lie ahead have in store for our nation, not ignore what's going on and claim the "War on Drugs" is the right direction to force the United States.
The craziest part about the event unfolding? State troopers were called in to monitor the situation but, apparently, there had been no arrests made and the officers simply stood by in order to stop anything from escalating physically. Yes, you read that correctly - no arrests were made by the officers - that is a huge win for activists everywhere in support of marijuana decriminalization and legalization in our society.
For years our country has had the "War on Drugs" in order to protect citizens from being exposed to crazy meth dealers or coke-heads that may lurk in the shadows at night. But the unfortunate reality is that these strict laws are actually further harming the problem of actual drug addiction and use in our country. If marijuana laws were to be less strict and reformed, at least to make the harmless leaf decriminalized, then we would see a drastic change in drug use among teenagers and other U.S. citizens in the country. We spend billions of dollars trying to keep drugs off of our streets but it's having an opposite effect - we are actually making our country more prone to violent acts. Remember prohibition of alcohol in from 1920-1933? How did that turn out? Alcoholism increased and violence among citizens also went up. Why? Because when a society purposely bans a drug, that drug goes underground, getting into the hands of organized crime and creating more violence. Why not legalize marijuana and do away with the cartel? The cartel's main purpose is to produce and sell drugs, including marijuana. Well if we produce and sell marijuana legally and actually control its use in our country, wouldn't the cartel and other infamous gangs be out of luck?
It is clear that what we are doing is not working - change is crucial to making our nation a better place. It's time for our lawmakers to at least play around with the idea of decriminalizing marijuana so non-violent offenders in possession of the drug aren't sentenced to five or ten years in prison for something as ridiculous as marijuana. It's not necessary for such foolery in our country. It's time to grow up and look at the facts of what the possibilities that may lie ahead have in store for our nation, not ignore what's going on and claim the "War on Drugs" is the right direction to force the United States.