The Legalization of Marijuana from the Non-Smoker's Perspective
- Submitted by: loftyvixen
- Views: 966
- Category: Politics: Crime and Drugs
- Date Submitted: 07/24/2011 09:38 PM
- Pages: 10
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I think that it is fair to say that I am a very, very zealous supporter of the legalization of marijuana. I preach about it to my friends, my family, and anyone else who will listen. I collect signatures for official petitions that will be sent to representatives who might hold the power to do something about it. I exercise my rights as a constituent regularly, calling congressional offices often, and recruiting other people who agree with legalization to do so as well. My enthusiasm on the subject is apparent to anyone that I speak to about it, and for some reason my keen interest in the issue almost always draws people to the same conclusion. I must smoke marijuana myself. When I inform them that, in fact, I do not smoke, they raise their brows in dubious expression, and I find myself having to explain that just because I don’t smoke herb myself doesn’t mean that legalization wouldn’t benefit me in some way.
The fact that most people would assume that only “potheads” would want marijuana legalized both medically and recreationally is due to a massive misunderstanding of the plants and its effects. That they would be so wrongly impressed about cannabis is to be expected though, since for almost 75 years there has been a prohibition on its use that was justified by the “facts” and “studies” that began with Henry Anslinger’s successful crusade against the substance. Even though study after study has proven over and over again that the majority of his claims about the evil effects of marijuana are unsubstantiated, unreliable, and just plain untrue, these myths are deeply ingrained in the minds of many Americans, particularly the older generations (who, it should be noted, also happen to be the most active voting population). Technology has made leaps and bounds in studies of pot, many of which deem it relatively harmless, and some who even deem it beneficial. But even as far back as 1944, studies pointed to the irregularities between Anslinger’s claims and the...
The fact that most people would assume that only “potheads” would want marijuana legalized both medically and recreationally is due to a massive misunderstanding of the plants and its effects. That they would be so wrongly impressed about cannabis is to be expected though, since for almost 75 years there has been a prohibition on its use that was justified by the “facts” and “studies” that began with Henry Anslinger’s successful crusade against the substance. Even though study after study has proven over and over again that the majority of his claims about the evil effects of marijuana are unsubstantiated, unreliable, and just plain untrue, these myths are deeply ingrained in the minds of many Americans, particularly the older generations (who, it should be noted, also happen to be the most active voting population). Technology has made leaps and bounds in studies of pot, many of which deem it relatively harmless, and some who even deem it beneficial. But even as far back as 1944, studies pointed to the irregularities between Anslinger’s claims and the...