Texas should just swallow their pride and legalize
marijuana, or at least legalize medical marijuana first. Texas is one of the
top states that have very strict laws against marijuana. According to the Texas
Marijuana Policy Project, 61% of state voters support the removal of criminal penalties
for possession of one ounce of marijuana. The current Texas law states that an
individual can have a jail sentence up to a year and fined up to $2,000. I think
that some of these laws against marijuana are a bit extreme. There are other drugs that cause way more damage than marijuana. For example, Smoking cigarettes
causes severe damages to the body and brain function. Science Daily Research
reported a study conducted by the University of Alabama that stated marijuana
do not have long term loss of lung function like cigarettes. Cigarettes are
more deadly compared to marijuana. If Texas legislation can legalizes cigarettes knowing
the negative health effects and still make a profit, then they might as well
legalize marijuana and do the same.Just like alcohol, marijuana
has similar effects on the body. Instead of sending people to jail for small
possession of marijuana, Texas should legalize marijuana for adults 21 and over, and tax and regulate marijuana just like they do alcohol.
Colorado and Washington are the first states that completely legalized marijuana, and currently 22 states have legalized medical marijuana. If Texas doesn’t want to completely legalize marijuana, they should at least start by legalizing medical marijuana for terminally ill patients. Statistics have shown that some families are moving from Texas to states that allow medical marijuana in order to make sure their sick family member gets all the treatment necessary to survive. Currently, Texas legislation is making small attempts in this issue of marijuana. Governor Rick Perry and prominent candidate Wendy Davis both support decriminalizing small amounts of marijuana and legalizing medical marijuana for seriously ill patients. Texas should definitely consider legalizing marijuana; I believe it will benefit both the government and the citizens.
Colorado and Washington are the first states that completely legalized marijuana, and currently 22 states have legalized medical marijuana. If Texas doesn’t want to completely legalize marijuana, they should at least start by legalizing medical marijuana for terminally ill patients. Statistics have shown that some families are moving from Texas to states that allow medical marijuana in order to make sure their sick family member gets all the treatment necessary to survive. Currently, Texas legislation is making small attempts in this issue of marijuana. Governor Rick Perry and prominent candidate Wendy Davis both support decriminalizing small amounts of marijuana and legalizing medical marijuana for seriously ill patients. Texas should definitely consider legalizing marijuana; I believe it will benefit both the government and the citizens.
1 comment:
On Thursday July 24th, Ivy Nwogu posted an article on her Who Runs Texas blog entitled Legalize Marijuana Already. In her article Ms. Nwogu argues that the State of Texas should legalize marijuana or at least decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana for adults 21 and older. To defend her position, Ms. Nwogu cites a statistic stating that a majority of Texas voters support the decriminalization of small amounts of marijuana. She also points out the fact that cigarettes are legal yet they have very negative health consequences when compared to marijuana. Furthermore, Ms. Nwogu argues that the State of Texas could save money by not sending people to jail for the possession of small amounts of marijuana, and, if marijuana were to become legal, the state could create a new source of revenue by taxing marijuana. Finally, she states that Texas could begin by legalizing medical marijuana for the terminally ill.
Ms. Nwogu makes a very good case for legalizing marijuana, and I could not agree with her more. The hypocrisy of marijuana being illegal while alcohol and cigarettes remain legal should be recognized and addressed. Much of Ms. Nwogu’s arguments for marijuana legalization are taken from a medical perspective which is understandable considering her public health occupation. However, in addition to all of Ms. Nwogu’s arguments, another compelling reason exists for marijuana legalization. If marijuana were to become legal in all 50 states, the illegal smuggling and sale of marijuana which is controlled in no small part by the violent Mexican drug cartels would disappear. Anything that can be done to reduce the power of the cartels should be done.
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