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CNN reporter Anderson Cooper has been hosting an in depth look at the debate of legalizing marijuana all week on his AC 360 program, "America's High-the case for and against pot". On Monday night they showcased some of the benefits of medical marijuana to combat the pain and side effects of cancer treatment and other medical conditions. In California where there are state run dispensaries for medical marijuana, they showed the many choices available to users. Melissa Etheridge was interviewed and spoke of how pot was fundamental in her recovery from breast cancer a few years ago. It was quite compelling.
On the video shown last night, (You can view the video below) Rob Kampia, a representative from the Marijuana Policy Project who support the legalization of marijuana and David Evans, a special adviser the the Drug Free America Foundation who are against the legalization of marijuana held a lively discussion. While they debated the pros and cons of medical marijuana, Mr. Evans argued that there are drugs available on the market (Marinol) that negate the need for medical marijuana. Those against medical marijuana are fearful that it will be just the first step to gaining outright legalization of pot.
Mr. Kampia agreed with that and gave the three primary reasons his organization (along with hundreds of other pro marijuana organizations) are in favor of legalizing marijuana:
- Prohibition does not work.
- They would rather see a regulated industry with standards and guidelines rather than leaving it up to drug dealers and cartels as it is today.
- With 40% of all arrests in this country related to marijuana, (over 870,000 users and growers) the police have much more important things to do.
Mr Evans, of course, disputed the statistics, claiming that most arrests involving marijuana were not the primary cause for the arrests and that marijuana was found after the arrest for other crimes. He went on to compare marijuana use with that of tobacco and alcohol in terms of social costs. That argument was disputed when Mr. Kampia pointed out
You could not compare marijuana to the other drugs because it is vastly safer, virtually impossible to overdose on and is not addictive.
Those against the legalization of marijuana choose to ignore the facts and statistics. No matter how many law enforcement officers, economists, scientists, etc. write papers and sign petitions they do not budge. It remains to be seen if they ever will. I urge anyone interested in the subject to stay tuned to the continuing story on CNN. Tonight they will explore whether the US can afford to make pot legal, or can they afford not to. Should be interesting.
To read more on the subject see They tax beer and cigarettes-is it time to tax and legalize pot?
To contact me: cheryl3539@yahoo.com Follow me on Twitter
Comments
I LOVE these stories because they drive home the point that all over the USA there are thousands and thousands of tons of pot being grown, transported, sold and smoked and there's NOTHING the cops can do about it, they don't even catch 5%. Pot should be legal. Mexico just legalized possession of small amounts of all drugs. Switzerland just legalized heroin. Portugal decriminalized all drugs in 2001 and their experience has been positive. Now if you are caught with a 10 day supply of your drug or less you face an administrative court, not a criminal court, but in practice they are just not arresting people. A group of 10,000 very serious policemen, prosecutors, attorneys and citizens have formed a group to legalize ALL drugs, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (leap.cc ) They see what happened when we legalized alcohol in 1932 as a good example of how drug legalization would work. This foolish war on drugs has lasted 37 years and cost us over a TRILLION dollars.
Excellent story!
I think they should legalize it cause its not a drug and its not even addictive and people are going to do it weather its legal or not.
This is crazy. 95% of politicians in the U.S. still view that supporting marijuana legalization is "sending the wrong message to our youth". What these legislators don't get is that marijuana will be there no matter how hard you try to make it not be there. It is easy for teenagers to get a hold of (even easier than getting a hold of alcohol). Legalization it would regulate it and control it better than keeping it illegal does.
I wish CNN went to talk to our legislators about this topic, not just the leading people for both sides.
It is funny to look at who funds the Drug Free America Foundation. [Du Pont, Proctor and Gamble Fund, Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation, Johnson & Johnson, Phillip Morris to list a few].
All these companies have lots to loose if and when marijuana is legalized.
I don't smoke or don't care to smoke, but people in America should have the right to use cannabis if they chose to responsible. If they chose not to use responsible, then pay the cons
to Marc: The legislators would just continue to mouth words without saying anything. They'll never admit that they are motivated by special interest groups.
no hope without dope
why you so stupid?
I don’t even smoke. But legalize it, tax it, and focus on REAL PROBLEMS like cocaine and meth.
Pot is not the issue. Prohibition and closed minds are the issue. The same people who say no, were probably drinking at last night at bars across the US… Hypocrites.
Also, how strange it is that every other commercial during a sports game is for beer, and how people at work talk about how they went to a party and got drunk and yet my friends that casually smoke can’t say they stayed home, smoked a little, and watched a movie.
Just treat it like alcohol.
I don’t get when people say they are worried about kids. If treated like alcohol, as the post says above, they won’t be able to get it. The “what about the children” argument makes no sense.
Finally, the US can make tons of money if they tax it.
To Sober: I share your sentiments. I'll never understand the double standard pot smokers are subjected to.
I don't smoke, but I think that it should be legalized. Like the second comment, there are SO many worse things to be focused on. And when there's kids sitting in jail for pot they're taking up spots for the people who actually deserve to be there. Plus the government would make money off of it, you know that's all they're here for.
It's funny that he argues about drugs such as marinol which is a THC based product are better than smoking pot. I'm sure that sounds good to the companies who produce and sell marinol. It seems as though this "Drug Free America" is ok with THC use as long as the drug companies are making money off it. It would be interesting to see the cost differences to the patient of purchasing marinol vs pot. Is anyone looking at the potential health differences of taking a natural product such as pot vs an artificially made drug? Or are we doing the same thing that we do with our food? Doesn't anyone get that natural products will always be better for us than anything we can produce in a lab? I love the argument about the FDA, as if their process has been perfect. How many drugs have gone on and off the market after being passed by the FDA and then later it was discovered to harm our health. Hell, if the FDA approved trans fat use in foods then how could they ever say no to pot.
To Brian: You make an excellent point. Unfortunately the power of the drug companies seem to have more of an effect on our politicians than the will of the people. I don't think this is what our founding fathers had in mind.
the videos dont work anymore but ive seen my fair share. Its funny that once people actually actively pursue finding the truth about pot, its so strongly stacked against prohibition its dumbfounding. Luckily now there is NO excuse for saying you didnt know any better. anyone reading this can easily research the topic thuroughly.
Open inquiry, thats the key to getting somewhere with this. facts are on our side!
Doesn't it send the wrong message to the youth, when you constantly tell them how free they are, but enforce a silly prohibition that they KNOW is a fraud, when you tell them it's as dangerous as other illicit drugs, but they only get sick after using the legal ones(booze)(coughsyrup), when you tell them it cause depression, but the drugs you give for depression has a disclaimer that it might make one suicidal....etc?
Perhaps the wrong message to send to anybody, whatever age group, is the message with fear, exaggerations, and lies used to keep prohibition going which only benefits organized criminals. We need to change the semantics. These people are not anti-drug, but are indeed pro-cartel.
Dave-you make excellent points. I just did an article about the rampant abuse of prescription pain medication and the pain clinics that are allowed to conduct their drug business and it's completely legal. This goes on while the rate of drug overdoses from prescription pain meds like ocycotin, etc. What a hypocracy we live in.
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