"This Week: Marijuana Legalization"

Implications of New Bill Governing Marijuana Leniency

The argument in the new bill passed by the D.C council is not if legalization is effective, but whether if decriminalization will work. This bill could possibly lessen the crime rate of D.C. and the amount of people illegally abusing marijuana. If people are able to freely use marijuana, a lot of networks will benefit positively.

In addition, the decriminalization of marijuana will help make marijuana a new market. This new market will cultivate new job opportunities for many people. The opening of a new job market will not only create jobs, but could possibly lower taxes. Educational programs to teach teens about how to carefully utilize marijuana could also be created.

Against Marijuana Legalization

One of the biggest arguments against marijuana is that it is a gateway drug. Another threat of marijuana use is that more people are becoming less aware of what to look for. People are more likely to fall victim to consuming laced marijuana as a result of being unknowledgeable to its contents or being tricked by drug producers. 

Pro-Marijuana Legalization

"Marijuana is the third most popular recreational drug in America," according to Norml, a lobbying organization working to legalizing marijuana. With over 14 million Americans recorded to be consuming marijuana illegally, its use in modern day society is inevitable.

Over 20 million Americans have been arrested for the use marijuana, which proposes the question: "Is marijuana prohibition working?"

"Norml believes that the time has come to amend criminal prohibition and replace it with a system of legalization, taxation, regulation, and education," according to the nonprofit organization.

Many people believe that smoking marijuana should be a matter of protecting their rights to freedom of expression. Many believe what they are doing is completely legal and recreational. This proposes another question," If people are dead-set on the legalization of marijuana, why don't people push for more radical laws against the use of tobacco or alcohol consumption?"

Source: http://norml.org/

Capital Council Votes to Lessen Laws Surrounding Marijuana

Marijuana continues to be a prominent topic in today's society. We are torn between two groups: people who believe it should be legalized and people who believe it should not be a feature in today's society. Regardless of the differing views on both sides of the political spectrum, people will continue to do what as they wish.

A Washington D.C council voted to ease marijuana laws on Tuesday, according to CNN journalist, Dan Merica. The council voted almost unanimously for lessening marijuana related drug laws. Areas voted upon at the council meeting were lessening the penalty for those caught consuming marijuana and to decriminalize people found with small quantities of marijuana in their possession. 

"The approved legislation moves the possession of an ounce or less or marijuana from a criminal offense – which came with six months in jail or a $1,000 fine – to a civil offense that comes with a fine of $25," said Merica." 

The new legislation also lessens the public consumption of marijuana to a misdemeanor offense. This bill significantly lows the penalty of pot smoking in public from a $1,000 fine or six months in jail to $500 fine or 60 days in jail. 

In addition, public utilization of marijuana would also be parallel to that of alcohol consumption. 

The members who passed the bill believe that this will be a positive step in the right direction for members of the African American community who are recorded to be charged with the highest rate of arrests as a result of marijuana use in the D.C. area. 

"The bill’s advocates have pointed to a 2013 study by the Washington Lawyers’ Committee that found “nearly nine out of 10 of arrests for possession [of marijuana] involved African American arrestees.” The study argues that African Americans make up far less than 90% of marijuana consumption in D.C and therefore the district’s laws encourage “racial disparities that raise important questions of public policy and civil rights concerns.”

While policymakers believe this will be a solution to much social disparities, others believe it promotes additional American freedoms. 

Source: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2014/03/04/d-c-council-votes-to-ease-marijuana-laws/