Back in 1936, the film Reefer Madness was propaganda disguised as a cautionary tale for teenagers to avoid marijuana, lest they become suicidal, homicidal, rapists, and generally insane. Over the years, marijuana has slowly, in fits and spurts, become more mainstream. In fact, many are pushing for legalization, and some think they are mad.
Advocates of legalizing marijuana for both medical and recreational use are being criticized for encouraging the legalization of yet another addictive substance, lumping it in with alcohol and tobacco. Data shows that marijuana use in increasing, legal or not.
Facts from Northwest HIDTA (High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas)indicate in their statistics from 2012, that between 2007-2010, the percentage of Americans using marijuana regularly increased 21%. Nationally, Washington ranks 15th for the percentage of marijuana users.
The increased use and leanings toward legalization comes at a time when science is finding that the use of marijuana may be more detrimental than originally thought. Harvard University research has found that there is a five times greater risk of heart attack in the hour after smoking marijuana. The National Institute of Health has reported that smoking five joints per week may yield the same amount of tar and chemicals into the lungs as smoking a pack of cigarettes a day. Weakened immune systems, memory impairment, and depression have all been linked with regular use. Yet, some studies suggest that the medical applications for some conditions could be valuable if federal law permit further research.
Right now, medical use of marijuana is legal in eighteen states and the District of Columbia. Colorado and Washington state have approved it for recreational use. Other states are considering putting the issue to vote in the near future. The conundrum presented by these individual state votes is that federal laws ban all use of pot. All kinds of questions from taxation to controls to transporting are all issues that will have to be dealt with. How can states laws conflict with federal ones? Which law is the one people are held to? So far, it seems like the U.S. government isn’t responding to the matter.
Over the last few years, Federal agents have raided medical marijuana dispensaries in states that have legalized this use. At what point will the federal government work with state governments and make the position clear for U.S. citizens? Will someone smoking pot in a state that has deemed it legal, be arrested for a federal crime?
This seems like another political jumble of opposing ideas, talking heads, and foot-dragging. The biggest voiced concern on the federal side is the increased use among minors if legalized. They say that legalization may diminish the impression that the drug has definite dangers, especially in adolescents.
The states are going to continue to push forward with their liberal approaches and Congress is not going to move with it. How all of this will affect upholding laws is anybody’s guess. There will likely be increased court cases arguing state vs. federal law. It will likely be Reefer Madness.
