Let's Be Blunt (About Marijuana De-Criminalization)
The pro-marijuana tide exists.
And, generally, I am quite an immersive writer, which is comparative to method acting. Ways to identify and really understand the motives have been as intense as Jack Nicholson staying in a psychiatric ward to really understand his role in the Oscar-winning One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.
For this essay, though, I didn’t go that route and I didn’t smoke pot. But, that doesn’t mean I am against reefer or as my sexagenarian parents call it, “the dope.” In fact, I am more of the laissez-faire, “live and let live” mentality.
If you want to smoke weed on your time, I think you should be able to. I also think that being caught with a small amount of marijuana should not be subject to jail time, probation or egregious fines. Save all that for violent offenders.
With bigger fish to fry, I think all states that have not taken a stand on marijuana should take their cue from House Bill 63 by Rep. Joe Moody, D-El Paso. The legislation gives a chance to first-time, low-level offenders. The legislation would replace criminal penalties with a civil fine of $250 for people caught with an ounce or less of marijuana.
After being caught three times though, "Vaya con Dios," as the saying goes. (Go with God.)
The approach, called “relaxed” by the Texas Tribune, would allow counties and the state to shift their focus from minor infractions to other urgent matters.
Marijuana has been illegal but has been used in the states for decades and H.B. 63 is a good idea. Let's be blunt: marijuana decriminalization means more resources for the real bad guys.
To further this argument, consider the five different people below:
If caught with marijuana in a state where marijuana is not legalized, should they all be treated the same way? No.
While all five of these people (this is not an exhaustive list) are human and have a propensity toward marijuana usage, two scenarios exhibit criminal intent since marijuana is still considered “illicit”. Change that, and many things will change, but I digress.
Washington. Oregon. California. Nevada – these are four states where recreational marijuana is legal. In all, 10 states have legalized recreational marijuana.
Continuing the roll call: Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, Florida, and Missouri – these are five of the 33 states where medical marijuana is legalized.
In a country with 50 states, that is quite a percentage and they can’t all be wrong!
But, it’s not all positive for the green stuff. The competing narrative still exists. The National Institute on Drug Abuse repeatedly cites marijuana as the most commonly used illicit substance. Illicit is quite a strong word to use since it means forbidden by law, rules or custom.
That’s quite a jarring bit of competing narratives about a plant! This quick example showcases how this is quite a divisive topic and provides proof of a true disconnect between the ruler and the ruled.
These competing narratives, the result of differing cultural norms, can be good or toxic for the communities and conversation. And, while it is good that the shifts towards decriminalization are happening, they are not happening fast enough. To be blunt, let's decriminalize first-time low-level offenses with Mary Jane. Let's shift community resources to more urgent matters.
And, generally, I am quite an immersive writer, which is comparative to method acting. Ways to identify and really understand the motives have been as intense as Jack Nicholson staying in a psychiatric ward to really understand his role in the Oscar-winning One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.
For this essay, though, I didn’t go that route and I didn’t smoke pot. But, that doesn’t mean I am against reefer or as my sexagenarian parents call it, “the dope.” In fact, I am more of the laissez-faire, “live and let live” mentality.
If you want to smoke weed on your time, I think you should be able to. I also think that being caught with a small amount of marijuana should not be subject to jail time, probation or egregious fines. Save all that for violent offenders.
With bigger fish to fry, I think all states that have not taken a stand on marijuana should take their cue from House Bill 63 by Rep. Joe Moody, D-El Paso. The legislation gives a chance to first-time, low-level offenders. The legislation would replace criminal penalties with a civil fine of $250 for people caught with an ounce or less of marijuana.
After being caught three times though, "Vaya con Dios," as the saying goes. (Go with God.)
The approach, called “relaxed” by the Texas Tribune, would allow counties and the state to shift their focus from minor infractions to other urgent matters.
Marijuana has been illegal but has been used in the states for decades and H.B. 63 is a good idea. Let's be blunt: marijuana decriminalization means more resources for the real bad guys.
To further this argument, consider the five different people below:
1. drug abuser;
2. drug smuggler;
3. drug seller;
4. recreational user;
5. medicinal marijuana user.
If caught with marijuana in a state where marijuana is not legalized, should they all be treated the same way? No.
While all five of these people (this is not an exhaustive list) are human and have a propensity toward marijuana usage, two scenarios exhibit criminal intent since marijuana is still considered “illicit”. Change that, and many things will change, but I digress.
Washington. Oregon. California. Nevada – these are four states where recreational marijuana is legal. In all, 10 states have legalized recreational marijuana.
Continuing the roll call: Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, Florida, and Missouri – these are five of the 33 states where medical marijuana is legalized.
In a country with 50 states, that is quite a percentage and they can’t all be wrong!
But, it’s not all positive for the green stuff. The competing narrative still exists. The National Institute on Drug Abuse repeatedly cites marijuana as the most commonly used illicit substance. Illicit is quite a strong word to use since it means forbidden by law, rules or custom.
That’s quite a jarring bit of competing narratives about a plant! This quick example showcases how this is quite a divisive topic and provides proof of a true disconnect between the ruler and the ruled.
These competing narratives, the result of differing cultural norms, can be good or toxic for the communities and conversation. And, while it is good that the shifts towards decriminalization are happening, they are not happening fast enough. To be blunt, let's decriminalize first-time low-level offenses with Mary Jane. Let's shift community resources to more urgent matters.
Comments
You made an argument supporting the de-criminalization of possessing small amounts of marijuana (an ounce or less) that I found very compelling. You gave an example of five different kinds of marijuana users and described how you didn’t think they should all be treated the same way were they to be caught and charged with possession. The five included a drug abuser, drug smuggler, drug seller, recreational user and a medicinal marijuana user. The author argued that by removing the illegality of possessing marijuana, it would free up community resources like police officers to focus on more serious issues.
I have to agree that I don’t think possessing small amounts of marijuana should be against the law. Marijuana is a plant that has been shown to have medicinal benefits, for example reducing anxiety, and if it were to become more legalized there are a large number of people that could benefit. Either current users who are currently using the substance or new users who would be willing to use it once it was legalized. Given the increasing rates of depression and anxiety that we’re seeing in our populations today, I think that there is a demand for things to help relieve it. A natural substance like marijuana would be one I that I think would be a big market, were it to be made more readily available as a treatment option. And as the author pointed out, removing the criminalization from possessing small amounts of marijuana would open up government resources to focus on more pressing matters.