Let's talk pot, shall we?
Prohibition is a dirty word in 21st century America, as it should be! Those in American society who look down their noses at people who drink are seen as infantile or immature or simply no fun. The neo-puritanical view of smoking (cigarettes or cigars) is treated similarly, though it has become increasingly acceptable to push smokers to the fringes of American society.
But today those kids who will be filing legal briefs in 15 years on how smoking in front of a building should be illegal are toking up and flooding CampusFood with orders. Prohibition still exists today in the form of marijuana criminalization (and the criminalization other illegal drugs, for that matter). That we as a society laugh at the silliness of a constitutional amendment banning alcohol yet are unbothered by marijuana prohibition is just another sign of how twisted American political life is today. At least our forefathers cared enough about the Constitution to amend it.
There are a few simple reasons to legalize pot, and no better day than an arbitrary and ridiculous holiday to discuss them. Here they are:
1. Prohibition of marijuana has not lowered drug use. After 75 years of criminalization more people use pot then ever and cannibis is the largest cash crop in America.
2. Marijuana prohibition funnels millions to criminals around the world. Because growing is illegal in America, smuggling is an incredibly lucrative practice. And with smuggling comes violence and police corruption. Instead of pot money going to businessmen or honest growers, far too often it goes to criminals.
3. Marijuana has been shown to be significantly less addictive to many legal substances and not one fatality hs ever, in human history, been attributed to a marijuana overdose. Fairness under law would require lawmakers to be honest with the American people. If not for business interests in alcohol and tobacco, wouldn't they be treated similarly?
4. About 750,000 people are arrested for marijuana possession every year. These crimes, which are wholly victimless and trivial, clog up an already stretched justice system and take valuable manhours from police forces which could be used to stop, i don't know. crimes that have actual victims. As murders and rapes rise in our cities, we're locking up people for smoking reefer, a practice our greatest founding father and the namesake of our school did regularly.
5. Most importantly, it is an issue of liberty. If the government has the right to bar harmless substances from entering my own body at my own choosing, we are allowing the government to control something they have no right controlling. Not to say marijuana has no averse effects, it surely does. But so does ice cream or Cinnabon or, hell, democracy.
So toke up, GW! You might accidentally lighten up and have fun. Maybe you'll discover the greatness of American Beauty. 4/20 may be a dumb novelty, but the best way to get rid of it is to legalize pot.
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19 comments:
For all the arguments towards marijuana legalisation, can we ignore that such a change in our culture would bring us one step closer to the graveyard of western civ, Western Europe? Land of nihilistic, childless, bisexual potheads?
The idea that legalizing marijuana would make all of our problems go away is nonsense upon stilts. Were you high when you wrote this, Ford?
The best thing about marijuana: it usually calms down/distracts the sort of people who would otherwise spend their time ranting about how Western Europe as a "land of nihilistic, childless, bisexual potheads."
Ah, maybe I'll give it a try then.
Ranting? In one and a half sentence?
"in one and a half sentence?"
- you sir speakth as you are from the 18th century of our Lord.
athwartxpomo,
If your fear is a degradation of society, only look to the ills of marijuana prohibition. Violence from smugglers is surely harmful to culture, as is an interventionist state. I wish for a virtuous society, but what is virtue if it is only attained through coercive measures?
anon1,
Whether I was high when writing should matter little. Dock Ellis threw a no-hitter on LSD, don't forget. But it is not "nonsense upon stilts" to suggest that drug smuggling would become drastically less lucrative and would probably disappear of growing pot was legal. It's a simple economic/legal fact. Tell me why I'm wrong, then we'll talk.
Dear GW media outlets and interested parties,
I would just like to make it known to you the following news which I believe to be of a time sensitive nature that the public should know about.
Brand Kroeger is currently serving on the Student Court, despite the fact that the Student Court expressly forbids individuals who are currently in another office in the SA or elected/appointed officers in the any GW student organization from serving in this position. The following is the excerpt from the SA Constitution that contains this provision:
Article III, Section 5, Subsection B reads as follows:
Students serving as judges on the Student Court shall be those registered for academic credit at The George Washington University. They shall not be on academic or disciplinary probation or suspension. They shall not be elected or appointed officers of the Student Association or any student organization.
A full copy of the SA Constitution can be found online at: http://sites.google.com/site/sastudentcourt/sa-constitution
It seems obvious that Mr. Kroeger, currently Chairman of the College Republicans, is in violation of this requirement. As a result, Kroeger needs to either resign from the Student Court or from his position as Chairman of the College Republicans as it is illegal for him to remain in both positions. In lieu of a resignation, it is the constitutional duty of the SA Senate to impeach him before his term expires at the end of the current term. This is obviously a time sensistive issue. It will also be incumbent upon the Student Senate to render judgement on the constitutionality of any rulings the Student Court has made this year, as they might well be invalidated by nature of the fact that Mr. Kroeger's sitting on the court during them was illegal. Since some of the decisions of the Court this year were controversial and surrounded issues such as student elections, this is a concern that is very important.
I hope you find this information useful.
Sincerely,
GW Student
Trivia for Pat Ford:
The only state to reject the repeal of the 18th amendment?
Everyone gets a mulligan, Logan.
GW student why are you trying to bring down Brand? He's done at this point, you're running a bit late
I think its hilarious that no one gives a hoot that Brand is currently serving illegally as a judge on the student court and all of his opinions on that court are also illegal. The court is currently in the middle of a hearing/case and he should have to resign. The constitution bars him from serving on the court but yet everyone is willing to see him vote on another case.
Constitutions are meant to bent.
Brand Kroeger cannot break the law.
Brand Kroeger IS the law.
Was Brand high?
'Cause I'm having trouble seeing any relevance here...
GW Student
Brand leaves office in like a week. If you knew this before, how come you didn't come forward earlier? Secondly, the constitution was amended in 2005 to strike that provision about officers. In the past 2 years, 6 judges have been officers of another student org while serving on the court and in instances where there has been a case concerning a student org they are supposed to recuse themselves, and there hasn't been a case like that get
Article III, Section V, Subsection B:
Students serving as judges on the Student Court shall be those registered for academic credit at The George Washington University. They shall not be on academic or disciplinary probation or suspension. They shall not be elected or appointed officers of the Student Association or any student organization.
Right...that is the outdated copy.
An amendment to the constitution requires a student referendum. I'm pretty sure there wasn't a student referendum on this.
Your argument is pretty desperate. I have the correct copy of the constitution. Deal with it.
You're probably Wiley or someone else who just wants to rattle cages. Guess what, you'll never get elected that way. If you KNEW this before, how come you didn't bring it up this year huh? Was it cause Brand didn't vote the way you wanted on court cases. Boo frickity hoo
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