Marijuana: A Realistic Approach

Marijuana: From Reefer Madness to Fast Times at Ridgemont High, it is imbedded in our culture and has come to mean different things to different people. However most treatment of Marijuana, Hemp or just plain THC seems at least loosely entrenched in myth and emotion.

Probably the most notable and oft sited myth stems from the notion that Marijuana is particularly and unreasonably harmful to one's health and to society in general. By comparison to alcohol (black marketing aside) the harm Pot causes to society, the physical body or state of mind is minimal.

Reefer even holds real medicinal value. This is not a myth revealed by a grassroots movement to pervasively bring about legalization through some backdoor. Marijuana truly IS useful in treating side-effects associated with certain cancer or tumor treatments. It holds value as a pain killer. As a non-physically addictive psychotropic it can be used as a treatment for depression or anxiety disorders. It reduces symptoms of conditions such as Glaucoma. In fact, evidence exists that Pot smokers tend not to get cancers of ANY kind.

http://www.alternet.org/drugs/142271/smoking_marijuana_does_not_cause_lung_cancer/


One common myth-based argument against it's legalization is the consideration of Marijuana as a 'gateway' drug that leads to other MORE harmful behaviors. While there is truth that Pot can lead to other behaviors, I postulate that it's only a 'gateway' drug BECAUSE it's illegal. Once one crosses the line into illicit drug activity, the barriers to cocaine, meth, LSD and heroin break down. If MJ were off the list of illicit drugs, the gateway effect would largely subside. The 'gateway drug' myth is hardly a legitimate argument for keeping Weed illegal.

On the other hand, advocates often perpetuate the myth that legalization of Marijuana will alleviate society of all ills associated with the substance. I think hasty legalization would bring with it a certain set of societal ills some old and some new. I think we are far from prepared for the consequences of all out legalization.

Perhaps the greatest burden to our society brought on by Marijuana stems from black market sales and all obvious associated pitfalls therein. One hurdle to overcome before legalization can realistically occur is the handling of Pot as a free-market competition and tax issue. Marijuana is very easy to grow. It would be relatively easy for a Weed farmer to grow enough Pot to supply the entire neighborhood whereas a brewer of beer would have to set up quite an operation to supply the congregation and compete with major marketers of good beer. By comparison to sharing one's latest crop of tomatoes and peppers from the garden for a pittance at the Gardner's Market, one could make a decent living growing only Weed in a small room or back yard lending allure to black market tax evasion made easier by society-wide acceptance of use.

Legit entrepreneurs would have to face regulations and liabilities similar to those faced by distillers of alcoholic beverages but bootleggers might undermine the finer points of free-market treatment for THC with little effort. If growing Weed is legalized without complicated regulation, the market remains underground and this is a bad thing.

Perhaps regulation could involve offering grow permits for a fee per plant, per year. To reduce the enticement for bootlegging, stiff penalties for growing without a permit and for black market sales are in order.

Regardless, with legalization the ATF becomes the ATMF or some such acronym inclusive of THC representation and none of it will happen until the challenges associated with sobriety measurement are met. It's difficult now to chemically detect how much time has passed since THC ingestion by an individual though technology is getting better. This has relevance to DUI enforcement and workplace management.

In conclusion, my experience has been that realism lacks from the perspectives of each side of the Marijuana legalization movement. Once the true value associated with this plant is realized and once the true pitfalls associated with a Libertarian-style free-for-all on the substance are acknowledged, Prohibition of THC and Hemp as marketable products might find its end.