Why is Marijuana Still Illegal in 2012?

With the 2012 Election just around the corner and the possibility of legalizing marijuana for recreational and medicinal use in a variety of states across the U.S. I couldn't help but to throw "The Union - the business behind getting high" into my DVD player. Ya I know the movie was released in 2007, but it expresses a lot of interesting points, most of which have you asking yourself, "why is marijuana still illegal?" Although that could all change on Tuesday November 6th, I thought it would be fitting to re-iterate some of the points made in the movie that a lot of people disregard or even overlook. If you haven't seen this documentary I suggest grabbing a copy HERE for under $10 before reading the summary below.

• Gateway Drug Theory - As we all know marijuana has been considered a "gateway drug" because as "they" say if we use marijuana we are more likely to use more dangerous hard drugs. However, marijuana prohibition actually makes marijuana into a gateway drug. Marijuana prohibition leaves marijuana in the hands of drug dealers who don't regulate or discriminate against age and end up pushing harder drugs on the buyers. By regulating it we ultimately get rid of the interactions between marijuana buyers and drug dealers. 
• Addictive vs. habitual - Marijuana isn't addictive, it's more habitual. Yes, we may desire it like we desire a coffee, or a beer, or a favorite dish of food, but it is not addictive.
• Privatized prisons - they exist so investors can profit from them. In order for that to happen the prisoners have to keep rolling on in. Therefore people are put in jail for long sentences for less serious crimes involving marijuana. 
• Drug Testing - There are millions of drug tests every year, hence millions of dollars to be made doing it. Whether it's for professionals looking to secure a job, athletes or even extra curricular activities drug tests are being done for everything these days. Next you'll need to take a fuckin drug test to get your medications...smh. With this drug testing, we are basically telling our children that if you don't want to get caught use the hard drugs not the soft drugs like marijuana that will show up on a test 28 days later.
• Pharmaceutical Industry - this industry is the most profitable in the U.S. but why do the pharmaceutical companies feel threatened by a plant? The answer...because MARIJUANA IS NATURAL! It has many benefits and since it is natural it is basically free medication that you can grow yourself. Since it is natural it can't be patented like pill form medications. So ultimately there is no money to be made for pharmaceutical companies, and the legalization of it could actually hurt their profits. This is the reason why there has been the creation of Marinol, which is a FDA approved pill form of synthetic cannabinoid. This shows that the components within the cannabis plant do have medicinal value, but pharmaceuticals want it in a pill form so it can be patented and profited from. 
• Medical Marijuana v. Recreational Use - Although the discussion about medical marijuana has been more openly accepted by many people today, some are still against it, but why? They say that medical marijuana is just a platform or stepping stone to full legalization. SO WHAT! If it comes up in the discussion then there must be some positive benefits to the idea otherwise people wouldn't be talking about it. 
• MARIJUANA v. ALCOHOL - Alcohol prohibition didn't work in the past, and by regulating it there were less issues in regards to crime and violence. Ask yourself this: Why do people desire alcohol? For relaxation, pleasure, taste, social reasons. Now ask yourself this: Why do people desire marijuana? For all the exact same reasons....AND for medicinal purposes! With that being said if we can legalize and regulate alcohol, then why not marijuana? Marijuana has some positive benefits to its use whereas alcohol has absolutely none and the use of it is more dangerous to yourself and others. Yet smoking a joint is frowned upon by some of our peers who enjoy their daily alcoholic beverage. Doesn't make much sense now does it?
• Natural - Why is nature against the law in 2012

After reading this did you ask yourself, "Why is marijuana still illegal in 2012?" If so then get out there on November 6th and be a part of history by changing the laws in your respective states. Then one day it will be a federal discussion. Stay medicated!

greenomix

grow, grind & prosper