Marijuana became illegal in 1937, and has remained a controversy ever since. According to the DEA’s website, “Most drug crimes aren’t committed by people trying to pay for drugs; they’re committed by people on drugs.” They also claim that when “Holland” legalized marijuana there was an increase in heroin usage. Also, when Alaska decriminalized marijuana in the 1970s, the state’s teen usage doubled leading to re-criminalization in the 1990s.
The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, (NORML) on their website lists four talking points for pro-legalization. These are, decriminalizing marijuana frees up police resources so they may spend more time on more serious crime, far more harm is caused by prohibition than by actual usage of marijuana, decriminalization does not lead to increase in use and that prohibition does not deter marijuana usage.
In my opinion marijuana should be decriminalized. The United States has more citizens imprisoned than communist China, 60,000 of which are there for marijuana offenses. By making marijuana illegal our government has created crime. When someone smokes pot in the comfort and privacy of their own home, who are they harming? No one. Drunk people are far more dangerous and annoying then stoned people. Marijuana should be legalized not only for medicinal and industrial usage but also for recreational use.
Nancy Grace disapproves of Paris Hilton Smoking Pot:
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