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Volume CXXXIII, Number 2 |
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From a Canadian viewpoint, legalize the green, mon
MORGAN CONNELLY
CONTRIBUTOR
Marijuana, weed, grass, chiba, pot, dope, chrons, nug, herb, ghanja, mary-jane, reefer; call it what you will, it's a hot topic in today's political and social climate. While some countries, namely the Netherlands, have extremely liberal policies regarding the drug, while others have recently taken steps towards decriminalization. The United Kingdom and Switzerland have adopted policies of tolerance concerning the drug, and while it may not be "legalized" yet, law-enforcement agents do not seriously prosecute those who choose to use the drugs in personal amounts.
Paradoxically, the country we Bowdoin students call home has very stringent policies relating to marijuana. While the United States may be far from legalizing or even decriminalization marijuana, there is a strong case in this country for the government to enact such measures. By comparison, my native country of Canada has "seen the light," [or at least is in the process of] and is taking steps towards decriminalization. Why?
Well, for one, there has been strong lobbying from various marijuana activist groups that has put pressure on the Canadian government to loosen its laws in regards to the drug. But the question remains why should marijuana, a supposed "harmful" drug, be legalized?
First, as mentioned briefly above, we can look to the Netherlands exemplary model as a sign of encouragement. Over the summer, one of my best friends and I traveled around Europe and during the course of our journey, we inevitably made a visit to the lovely city of Amsterdam. I have never been to such an interesting, tolerant, and egalitarian place. Contrary to the pervasive, conservative belief that the drug situation there is out of control, by no means does it dominate societal behavior. Sure, people smoke weed, but it is not shoved in your face, and it has not led to a rampant increase in other drug use.
While marijuana is widely perceived as a gateway drug, "hard" drugs (generally characterized as any drug more harmful on the human body than marijuana like cocaine, heroin, pcp, crystal meth…) are less prevalent in the Netherlands than in the United States. For example, in 1999 the estimated dollar worth of shipments of cocaine into the United States was eight times that of Holland (Federal Drug Administration / Dutch Drug Statistics). Albeit, the United States has a much larger population than the Netherlands, but per capita use of the drug in the United States still outweighs use in Holland.
Secondly, if the United States were to legalize marijuana, the sale of the drug would be federally regulated and the income generated could be a large source of revenue for the government. Moreover, this would lead to a monumental decrease in street dealing. As a result, marijuana consumed by those who choose to use it would be reliable and safer.
In addition, marijuana is one of the few currently illegal narcotics not to be linked to any sort of harmful disease. While many speculate that there are permanent and harmful effects of marijuana, research tests have yet to link it to cancer or other definitive terminal illnesses. It is impossible to overdose on naturally-grown marijuana, and it has never caused death due to over-use.
Again, while many dispute its effect on driving and motor skills, Life magazine published results of a study done to show the relationship between drug use and driving (May 1969, Vol. 16, pp. 51-54). While alcohol was found to have direct effects on driving ability, the marijuana group of participants produced almost the exact same results as the control group.
To end, I would like to pose a question: does it make sense to you that the United States government spends more money every year on incriminating marijuana users than it does on all other drug users combined?
Would you not rather have your tax dollars be spent on more, dare I say, useful causes, like education or health care? Does it make sense that Mark Douglas, a forty-four year old man with a wife and two kids, is currently serving fifty years in a Texas state prison for possessing two grams of marijuana in 1991 (my friend and I were made aware of this sad fact while visiting the government-affiliated Marijuana and Hemp Museum in Amsterdam)?
I admit that marijuana is by no means good for you; it produces tar build-up
in your body and long-term use certainly causes memory loss and general
indolence. However, it is not nearly as harmful as some already legal
drugs (alcohol and cigarettes). Perhaps we Americans could learn a lesson
from our northern neighbours.
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