LEGALIZING MARIJUANA

Legalizing Marijuana

Legalizing Marijuana

Introduction

There are two parts to the legalization argument. The first component is moral; the second component is its consequentialist or utilitarian component. The moral component argues that prohibition is unjust and discriminatory; a policy that unfairly and tragically persecutes innocent parties. The consequentialist component argues that, as measured by any conceivable, widely agreed-on, concrete standard, criminalization does more harm than good. (Inciardi, 1999)

Fierce debate about legalizing marijuana, which had been going on for nearly a century, usually boils down to one single question: Is the cannabis from other drugs? Is it less of harm, or marijuana, in fact, no better than heroin or some synthetic abominations, causing instant and permanent addictive? Ironically, people who have ever smoked "grass", and not switched to other drugs, say that tobacco and alcohol harm is much greater. And it harms not only themselves but others. This is confirmed by statistics.

About 90% of so-called domestic crimes are associated with immoderate consumption of alcohol. And although, of course, it all depends on the person, too many people tend to become brutalized by the immoderate consumption of alcohol. Alcoholic drinks have quite legally. Understanding your own bestiality and self-abasement leads only to a desire to humiliate, insult or beat someone else, so to speak, to put it on a par with them. Marijuana as has been proven, not only does not contribute to violent behavior, and even vice versa, relaxes, soothes and makes people more peaceful. In addition, cannabis does not contain nicotine. Although damage from smoke inhalation - the same as in the case of cigarettes.

Discussion

A huge debate has been unleashed in the United States called 'Proposition 19', pending a referendum that sought, through a referendum, the legalization of marijuana in the State of California. If approved the measure, California residents have the right to cultivate, possess, consume and sell marijuana. (Inciardi, 2003)

The debate is not entirely new: from the 90's began discussions about the possibility of legalizing the production and consumption of cannabis, resulting in the legalization of marijuana for medicinal purposes and with big restrictions in 1996. However, the current proposal seeks to equate marijuana with snuff and alcohol, allowing it to move with confidence into the market in this state.

This proposal has been a tremendous mobilization. Even has received $ 4.2 million in voluntary donations so they can take the steps and carry out the process. Finally is the vote of Californians who will decide the fate of this drug and its legalization, but surveys have shown a strong possibility that the proposal is rejected by most voters. However, this project has put on the table the discussion on the production and consumption of such drugs.

Several Latin American governments, especially those who run the major producers or sellers of marijuana (Mexico, Colombia, Central American countries) have expressed great concern about this measure. They claim that this would be an enormous political and legal contradiction; the United States has always led the fight against drugs and has little consistency legalizing ...