The Channels

Issue date: 11/4/09 Section: Opinion

The U.S. Government is reaching a high point with the issue of legalizing marijuana.

In the 13 states that currently allow the smoking of medical marijuana, businesses and dispensaries are flourishing. More and more Americans are obtaining their licenses and lighting up-whether it's a 19-year-old treating PMS or a 53-year-old alleviating the pains of terminal cancer.

Although the legitimacy of these business procedures and evaluation practices are questionable, the medical benefits for patients in use cannot be overlooked. California's Compassionate Use Act allowed for our state to provide treatment to those in need, and it's a good thing it does.

But "in need" has been expanded to any Joe Blow who's crafty enough to get his hands on a marijuana license. The system sits in the middle of a vast and smoky gray area.

Our government should take a stand-ban it all together, or fully legalize the leaf.

As of now, permits for marijuana are hypocritical and contradictory.

A local business, Mobile Evaluations, make house calls and prints out a recommendation on the spot. You can have them deliver the medication with out ever leaving the comfort of your home. Many feel like this is so ridiculous that they should team up and start delivering pizza and movies so people's Saturday nights can be planned out in one phone call.

Student Ricky Lozano explained that when he worked for a dispensary, he was allowed carry up to 10 pounds of medical marijuana. There is something flawed about a system that allows an 18-year-old to carry around bricks of marijuana, but won't let him buy alcohol.

Anything is better than this.

And coming from college students paying to live in Santa Barbara looking into one of the driest futures of employment, we say legalize it.

Let's regulate its distribution and drug content, tax it, and use the money to help our struggling economy.

Marijuana legalization would reduce the amount of criminals in our over-crowded prisons. This in turn would reduce taxes and help law enforcement focus on more serious crimes.

Turning cannabis into a cash crop would create an incredible tax opportunity for the country. Given the tax rates of cigarettes, marijuana could push billions back into the economy.

The drug's legalization would take the wealth and weapons out of the hands of drug lords on our borders. Cannabis could become the "plant of peace" on a whole new level.

Marijuana cannot only alleviate the pains and discomfort of medical patients all over the country, but if legalized, can help treat the health of our economy.

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools