Topic Overview: Legalization/Decentralization of Marijuana Legalization and decentralization of marijuana has been a very controversial issue in the U.
S throughout the years. Presently, policy in the United States toward marijuana smoking has evolved more towards the point of decontaminating the procession of marijuana in small amounts with fines rather than incarceration.However, legalization is still highly controversial within state legislatures even though public opinion has increased in recent years. Starting in the 20th century is really when the process toward decontaminating marijuana takes place. Beginning in the sass to sass an anti-marijuana movement led by the Federal Bureau of Narcotics (FIN) takes way, through negative propaganda such as "killer weed" and characterizing marijuana as "public enemy #1" (Leviathan).More so, a short clip called "Refer Madness" that displayed marijuana to cause violence and other faulty premises was a major source of propaganda that created much paranoia and negative stigma during this time, in which convinced the public that marijuana was destroying our youth".
One could say that all propaganda and the paranoia that followed contributed greatly towards decentralization efforts. Specifically, with the 1937 marijuana tax act, government began to regulate the use through a tax that was virtually impossible to pay (Leviathan's).Following that came several efforts in sass and the ass as well, to increase efforts for decentralization. The Bog's act is one example in which increased penalties for drug offenses were established to decentralized marijuana and other drugs (Leviathan's).
This act led to mandatory ententes and fines for first time offenders. However, not until the sass do we see a specific decentralization process in the United States. Through detailed studies looking at the psychoactive characteristics of marijuana many legislatures began to reassess much of the myths in recent years (Leviathan).By the sass many legislatures began a "liberalized" stance on the possession of marijuana, more so the comprehensive Drug Douse Prevention Ana control Act paved ten way; casuals several states such as California, New York, Colorado, Minnesota, and North Carolina o adopt a decentralized approach toward marijuana (Leviathan). In which the procession of marijuana would result in punishment of a small fine rather than imprisonment.
This was a big step by legislatures to move pass much of the false hysteria that existed years before.The process of legalization for marijuana has recently gained an increase of support from 25% in the go's and ass to almost 45% currently, according to a poll conducted by BBC news. More so, "The legalization charge is being led by young people: Support ranked highest among 18-29-year-old exponents, 64 percent of whom think pot should be legal. Politically, liberal Democrats overwhelmingly think marijuana should be legal, at 73 percent.
" This recent public opinion poll by BBC News Broadcast is very important to predicting how this may potentially cause an increase in legalization efforts by other states to follow.Since recently, On November 6, 2012, Colorado and Washington became the first states to legalize the sale and possession of cannabis for recreational use since the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937. In which, they passed Colorado Amendment 64 and Washington Initiative 502 (GO{NINE). Each regulated marijuana in a way similar to alcohol, allowing possession of up to an ounce for adults ages 21 and older, as well as commercial cultivation and sales, subject to regulation and taxes.
It remains to be seen how the conflicts of these laws with federal law will be resolved.Rather than just for medicinal use that was previously established by 18 states, that only allowed use for patients prescribed by a doctor. The Legalization of marijuana can possibly free up police sources to focus on more serious offenses as well as to free up some orison space. Since about 60,000 individuals are behind bars for marijuana offenses costing taxpayers 1. 2 billion dollars per year and marijuana makes up almost more than half of the drug offenses in prisons (GO{NINE).Therefore, if legalization efforts continue to take place much of the incarceration rates will go down as well as economic cost for funding prisons.
Throughout the ages legalization and decentralization have been two distinct concepts causing much controversy in the U. S. Really taking way in the early 20th century by the FIN leading several negative Arizona movements, however Progress away from the false myths of the early 20th century eventually led to many efforts for decentralization and later on few movements for medical use and even complete legalization.
