Some people have the misleading and ignorant conception that if marijuana becomes legalized and even decriminalized, civil society as we know it will become inefficient and quickly begin to decay. However, when you learn the truth about marijuana and its medical purposes, and the myths are exposed, people begin to change their minds. The recent vote on ballot initiative #2 in Massachusetts proves this growing trend of young adults and even older people (30-60) who have children, changing their minds about where they stand on the issue of legalizing/decriminalizing marijuana.

Marijuana has been around since the beginning of time. However, many argue that it is morally wrong to smoke marijuana. Aside from this, they believe that civil society as we know it will be destroyed if people resort to marijuana. However, there are no records of anyone ever overdosing on Marijuana (ever!). Yet, there have been a countless amount of people whose lives have either been taken or changed forever due to drunk driving and drunk driving accidents (as either victims or the driver-their lives have changed and or ended).
First off, we must realize that Marijuana is nothing like alcohol and its properties. This is the typically misconception people have in the first place. They think people cannot drive “high” because it’s like driving drunk. Same thing goes for working and or doing homework or anything productive in society. People think that an individual cannot function if they are “high” on marijuana. However, many people can be productive and still smoke marijuana. Smoking marijuana is not like alcohol; people are aware of their surroundings and often have a better sense of things and are more in touch with not only themselves, but nature and their surroundings.

This brings me to my third and final argument. THE DRUG INDUSTRY AND BIG BUSINESS IN AMERICA! The United States government, along with big business in the states and elsewhere around the world are out to make a profit! Therefore, instead of research and tell the truth about a drug that works and helps heal people (MARIJUANA!), helps ease pain, nausea, sickness, etc. The American government and big business would rather force an individual to take pills, pain pills, have more doctors visits, see a specialist, make a co-payment, etc. than have an individual spend less money on something that actually works. Now, people who are anti-marijuana will argue first and foremost that it is immoral to use marijuana. I argue that making an individual suffer when there is something out there that will work is immoral. Not smoking marijuana cannot be found in the Bible, however the Golden rule can be implicitly and explicitly found in almost every Holy Text. “Treat people how you would want to be treated!” Therefore, would you want to suffer? If not, politicians, aristocrats, the indigent, and middle class must really think about this issue. It is not what people make it out to be. Of course their always needs to be rules and regulations, but telling the truth and holding people accountable for distributing the truth amongst its citizens and paramount to anything that follows.

Lastly, what are the purposes of Federalism if State’s cannot exercise their own laws and rights? A state repeatedly passes marijuana legislation to decriminalize and or legalize and the Federal government steps in and says “no you can’t!” Federal law always trumps state law, and if Federal law says the use of marijuana is illegal then it is illegal in every state under every circumstance. However, I would argue that the Federal government needs to at least take into account terminally ill patients and individuals. Among them are AIDS victims. Many of these individuals will tell you that they overwhelmingly find that marijuana stimulates their appetites so they can fight off dangerous disease that will inevitably cause decay and death. Also, those who suffer from glaucoma, and that have used marijuana before, will explain that marijuana has, without a doubt, prevented them from going blind time and time again. And lastly, cancer patients! How many people do you know that were in pain and dying from cancer, or who currently are the government has only gotten in there way when they’ve wanted to alleviate their pain? Are you kidding? What happened to justice and the Golden rule? For Cancer patients, Marijuana indubitably alleviates the severe nausea that is often brought upon by numerous chemotherapy sessions.

Therefore, when we think about marijuana and the question on whether to decriminalize or legalize, think of these people. Don’t think of the stoners and getting high in their dorm rooms or off campus housing. Even though, they’re not a threat, not funding terrorism, and not committing a crime any worse than those who drink alcohol in the safety of their own homes behind closed doors! Is that really the governments business? I think not. Please think of those terminally ill people who need marijuana and not big business forcing addictive pills down their throat only to bring about more pain, and in order to generate more money through doctor’s visits and writing scripts for patients. What a joke. MARIJUANA SAVES LIVES.