By Ally Heier & Braden Wienel//
All wars are costly and the War on Drugs is no exception.
Let’s start at the beginning.
In the U.S., medical marijuana use was common between 1850 and 1937. Following the Mexican Revolution of 1910, the use of recreational marijuana increased. The Great Depression, combined with the public fear and suspicion of Mexican immigrants, led to marijuana being criminalized in 1937.
It wasn’t until the 1970s that the War on Drugs officially began when former president Richard Nixon declared drugs to be “public enemy number one.” The Drug Enforcement Administration was birthed in 1973, with a budget of roughly $70 million. In 2020, the DEA cost taxpayers more than $3 billion nationwide.
When marijuana is legalized, it not only creates jobs, but it also creates revenue for communities. Colorado alone has generated more than $40 million for public schools. Consider what this means for Maryland.
Legalizing marijuana allows agencies to focus on actual crimes, i.e., murder.
Let’s acknowledge the sheer racial disparity of weed-related sentencing of Black people and white people. According to studies by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Black people are over three times more likely to be arrested for the exact same offense as white people.
History has shown that prohibiting substances encourages the use and abuse of more potent materials, as folks want more bang for their buck. This leads to an increase in overdoses. No one has ever died of a marijuana overdose.
Some research shows that marijuana can negatively impact young people whose brains are still developing. However, legalizing marijuana results in a significant decrease in underage drinking, which is factually more damaging. Studies have demonstrated that even the consumption of sugar is more harmful than marijuana.
Despite contrary evidence, the myth of marijuana being a gateway drug is still common. The usage of harder substances is determined by one’s social and physiological factors, modern research suggests.
It’s clear that prohibiting marijuana is not only expensive but also detrimental to society. It’s about time Marylanders realize this.
/////
The legalization of recreational marijuana in the state of Maryland will be more of a detriment to society than a benefit.
One of the biggest problems facing our nation and Maryland is drug use. I agree that there is reason to regulate the sale and use of recreational marijuana to keep those using it safe. However, the better way to keep people safe is to ban it.
As we all learned in middle school, marijuana is a gateway drug. Yes, there are far worse and more dangerous drugs out there, but easy access to marijuana will just lead to easier access for harder drugs.
According to a 2020 CDC study, out of all 50 states, Maryland is sixth in drug overdose mortality. Three more of the top 10 drug mortality rates on the list come from neighboring states. West Virginia is first, Delaware is third and Pennsylvania is eighth.
My concern is that the legalization of marijuana will increase these numbers in Maryland and have a major impact across state lines.
I understand that even before weed was made legal, many people still sold it, bought it and used it. Using the legalization of marijuana as a solution seems to me that the government is giving up due to the effort of trying to fight it.
A better solution would be to further promote the consequences of using weed and to support rehab centers, as well as law enforcement, so that this issue is seen and handled less often.
Many people, including myself, have seen the negative effects of drugs on family members and friends.
For some, it could’ve been worse, but others have lost loved ones as a result of drug use.
While the medicinal use of marijuana puts our medical field at an advantage, smoking weed for fun could cause lasting damage to ourselves, our families and the world.
A world without recreational drug use would be a safer place. The legalization of recreational marijuana in Maryland will only add to the problem of drug use that our state and country faces today.
Be the first to comment