The Grass is Always Greener on the Other Side: Marijuana

The Grass is always greener on the other side.
Right now the United States is spending over 50 Billion dollars on the war on drugs including over 3 billion just to incarcerate drug offenders. The black market for narcotics in America is over 28 million people. The UN estimates illegal drugs are 8 percent of international trade compared to automobiles only 5. 3 percent. The first prohibition had no scientific evidence. Paper companies wanted marijuana illegal because of plant hemp which can be used for rope papers clothing ect. US is the only industrialized nation not growing hemp.
Marijuana was first outlawed in Utah after first Mormons disproved as they do alcohol, cigarettes and coffee and tea. Other states joined relating marijuana use to the life of jazz musicians. In Harry Anslinger ‘s(the 1st commissioner of federal Bureau of Narcotics 1938) testimony to congress he stated, “most marijuana smokers are Negros, Hipics, Filipinos and entertainers, “ “their satanic music jazz and swing result from marijuana usage,” “this marijuana causes white women to seek sexual relations with Negros, entertainers and any others. ” marijuana is far safer than many foods we commonly consume … in its natural form it is one of the safest therapeutically active substances known to man” – Judge Francis L. Young – DEA Administrative Law Judge (Sept. 1988)The argument that marijuana has become stronger current day and now is unsafe was crushed by the Federal Potency Monitoring Project at the University of Mississippi. Their research shows that in 1985 THC content was 2.

84% for commercial grade marijuana and 7. 17% for sensamean which is a higher concentration female plant. In 2001, commercial grade was at 4. 72% and sensamean 9. 3. Not much of a difference. US high school seniors 46.
1 % vs 16-19 yr old Netherlands 28. 4% Prof Jeffrey Miron – visiting prof of economics at Harvard 1 crime reduction – vilance underground cannot use legal system to resolve disputes and resort to violence instead 2 reduce gun demand 3 fewer HIV infection – dirty needles exchange needles legal world noneed to inject and buy seringes legally 4 enhanced respect for te law people disregard the law for they have no repect for these drug laws 5 shrink the defficite save money from arresting and jailing people andadd tax 10’s of billions of dollarsTHC slowed tumors in lung breast and virus induced leukemia in mice in a study in the 70’s. Medical use hinges on the ability to research marijuana but the government does not allow bla bla . Dr. Lyle Craker – Prof of Plant soil , Insect Sciences at U Mass – Trying to get permission so he can grow to study for medical purposes to give to doctors – gov wont let um Marijuana is not a “gateway” drug that predicts or eventually leads to substance abuse, suggests a 12-year University of Pittsburgh study.Moreover, the study’s findings call into question the long-held belief that has shaped prevention efforts and governmental policy for six decades and caused many a parent to panic upon discovering a bag of pot in their child’s bedroom.