I agree with Anna Flores in her 2018 blog post that for numerous reasons, a major one being health, Marijuana should be legalized. Something that I’d like to add to this topic is the important issue of those jailed for Marijuana charges. This demographic also skews black, unsurprisingly. Not because more black people smoke, but because the resources to punish every person caught, was not available so law enforcement had to be more selective. I agree weed should be legalized, but with that we ought to be diligent when it comes to getting those jailed for it -within reason- freed.
If it’s decided that marijuana is not a bad/harmful substance by lawmakers then those jailed for it even when it was illegal should have their sentences lifted. It is not as if when weed is legalized that the substance and its effects drastically change; it’s only that lawmakers changed their minds. People don’t deserve to be criminalized over something such as non-violent Pot related charges, especially if it becomes legal.
It is very bizarre to think that Tobacco/cigarettes are totally legal even though it is widely known how much of a killer it is. Versus Weed, which appears to do more good than harm. Supposedly, given how insanely rich tobacco companies are it gets less bizarre, and a bit more revealing of this society. Personally, I believe in several years, at least, Marijuana will likely become legal nationwide. Tobacco on the other-hand may take longer.
The health benefits of marijuana is something of worthwhile weight to be considered, but as should the recreational aspect of the drug as well. If people get to keep cigarettes for their aesthetic purposes and no health benefits, then it is hard see why Pot cannot be legal. Most importantly, when Marijuana gets legalized it is important not to forget those who were thrown into prison for it. Since, America won’t necessarily free people of their sentences, because of a law change, it’s important that those who are free try to help those in need. It seems some states are on the right track and are creating laws to ensure these people’s rights. It is important that as a country we stay on this track, and keep an eye out for states that legalize in the future, and what they do with those who had been criminalized for it.
Kelsey’s persuasive blog post titled “Freed for the Love of Weed” argues for the legalization of marijuana, but more crucially, the importance of how those who were jailed for marijuana possession be handled. The first paragraph does a fine job at explaining her opinion on the topic, however she does go off on a slight tangent when she begins talking about demographic statistics concerning those who have been jailed for marijuana possession. However, she clearly states that she believes marijuana should be legalized and that we “ought to be diligent” in freeing those who have been jailed for marijuana possession. In her second paragraph, Kelsey describes a scenario where lawmakers find marijuana to not be a bad or harmful substance and argues that the substance itself had not changed; the lawmakers opinions have changed. She then claims that in this scenario non-violent marijuana related charges be lifted off of those who had been charged with use or possession. I personally did not think this scenario does much for her argument because it does not particularly persuade me to agree weed should be legalized. In her third paragraph, Kelsie compares tobacco to weed. She finds it “very bizarre” that a killer substance like tobacco would be legal, meanwhile weed is being medically prescribed by doctors to help people. This really helps her argument because it gives more context to other drugs that have been legalized, and the standards they meet. It helps us make the connection that weed does not reach the same standard of danger as does tobacco use long-term. In her fourth paragraph, she talks about a day when marijuana is legalized and how she hopes that people are diligent in helping “those who were thrown in prison for it” become free. She believes our country is on the “right track” and should keep passing laws “to ensure these people’s rights.” She closes her article with suggesting that we should keep an eye out for states that legalize this drug, and how they hand those who had been criminalized for it. I think this sends a strong message to the reader and leaves them processing and mulling over in their mind how they would handle a scenario where marijuana is legalized yet there are prisons full of those convicted for marijuana use. Kelsey did a great job!
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