On Jan. 11, Sensible Washington filed a ballot initiative to remove all criminal penalties for the adult use, possession and cultivation of marijuana in Washington state. This initiative is known as I-1068 and has since been approved for signature gathering and it needs 241,153 valid voter signatures by July 2.
That’s right Washingtonians, it is up to us to finally accomplish what many have worked so hard for. The time has come to legalize.
Many people have thought marijuana to be a dangerous drug, when in reality marijuana is much safer than other legal substances and FDA approved prescription drugs.
Marijuana has many benefits for patients with certain medical conditions. Washington state is currently one of 14 states who have legalized marijuana for medicinal purposes, allowing patients with conditions such as cachexia, cancer, HIV, AIDS, epilepsy, glaucoma, intractable pain and multiple sclerosis to possess 24 ounces of usable marijuana, and cultivate up to 15 plants.
And yet, I have heard numerous cases where a medical marijuana patient has lost a job or has been incarcerated for the use of marijuana.
It’s absolutely ridiculous to think that someone is denied or penalized for a plant, of all things, that is so beneficial and a safer alternative to some FDA approved drugs.
This redefinition of marijuana as a drug needs to change immediately, no longer should it be considered a gateway drug.
If passed, I-1068 will remove state, civil and criminal penalties for adults 18 and over to possess, cultivate, transport, use or sell marijuana.
However, kids 18 and under will still be subjected to current marijuana restrictions and penalties. These restrictions should be the only enforced marijuana law; because I do believe that younger children and teens do not need to be smoking marijuana.
The idea that everyone who smokes marijuana is a bad person, or they are going nowhere with their lives is a commonly made assumption. This is beyond false.
Take a look around any high traffic location like our own campus for example, I would estimate around half of our students and perhaps even some of our teachers have or currently smoke marijuana.
Would you say that half of our campus population is going nowhere with their lives? Marijuana users are not bad people, some people choose to enjoy a glass of scotch after a long day, others choose to smoke a bowl or roll a joint. To each their own, yes?
Legalizing marijuana is the right choice in our current economic crisis. When legalized, all police efforts and funds used towards the upkeep of marijuana prohibition will be put towards things we all can benefit from.
The number of people using marijuana is not decreasing as the number of people charged with marijuana-related offenses increases.
Imagine how, as a community, we could benefit from redirecting those funds towards things our state actually needs. We could redirect the money towards fixing roads, building schools, libraries and parks.
When Washington passed I-692 to legalize medicinal marijuana, it passed with only 59 percent of votes. This fact alone should be enough to encourage everyone you know to get the word out that marijuana prohibition has not benefited our state in any way, and has only ruined the lives of many honest, hard working citizens.
The time has come to legalize!
Be the first to comment on this article!