Opinion: The time for legalization

On Oct. 16, Canada legalized marijuana. This decision came as great news to some and a frustration to others. 

While Canada’s 13 provinces and territories have yet to establish their own regulation about obtaining marijuana and where it can be consumed, this decision is a significant step for the culture at large. Only time will determine the ultimate legal and economic ramifications that this new policy will have on the country.

Canada has made the logical choice, and a good choice, by legalizing marijuana. 

I do not consider myself an advocate of recreational marijuana use. I think it creates ethical questions for Christians, given the potential long-term health concerns. However, at this time in North America, legalization is the best way to go. 

The fact is, most people who want to smoke weed are doing it regardless of the legality. Despite the efforts of law enforcement, marijuana is readily accessible. And some people pay a higher price than others — there is an evident racial bias when it comes to possession-related offenses. 

While this reason alone doesn’t inherently justify the legalization of marijuana, it is an element worth keeping in mind. According to a New York Times article from May 18, “White people largely don’t get arrested for (marijuana possession). Black and Hispanic people do, despite survey after survey saying people of most races smoke at similar rates.”

Thousands of Canadians turned out on this unofficial “Marijuana Day” to celebrate the legalization of recreational use of the drug. In the past, April 20 (4/20) was a popular day to petition legalization. (Google images)

People are already widely using marijuana recreationally, legally or not, which creates a variety of complications for law enforcement attempting to justly carry out the law.

The aforementioned New York Times article addresses the fact that walking through New York City, you’re bound to smell weed on nearly every street, and even see people smoking it publicly. 

And that’s just in New York City. Although public marijuana use is more common in cities, it happens all around the United States, to the frustration of both law enforcement and other citizens. 

If marijuana is legalized, local and state governments will be able to establish guidelines regarding when, where, and by whom marijuana can be used. Then, particular crimes can be punished without the “well, everybody’s doing it” dilemma.

In an article published May 25 by The Washington Post, neuroscientist Judith Grisel wrote, “Even many of those apathetic toward (marijuana’s) potential health benefits are ecstatic about its commercial appeal, whether for personal profit or state tax revenue. Legalization in many cases, and for many reasons, can be a good thing.”

So, will the United States be next to legalize marijuana?

According to a fact sheet published in May by the Drug Policy Alliance, 98 percent of Americans already have some form of legal access to marijuana within their state, whether for medical or recreational purposes. Twenty-one years ago, zero percent of Americans had legal access to marijuana, so that’s a significant jump.

The fact sheet notes that “since medical marijuana policies vary widely from state-to-state … it is likely that broader marijuana legalization may open up access for people to use marijuana as a substitute beyond the limits of their state’s medical marijuana policies.”

It shouldn’t be surprising if the United States follows Canada’s lead, and soon. 

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