An easy win for president Biden, right out the gate, would be to legalize marijuana at the federal level.
I have tried marijuana a couple of times, but I don’t like it. I don’t drink much alcohol either, but I could drink a glass of wine (or two) at a dinner party.
However, I don’t think people should be penalized for the consumption of drugs, specially marijuana.
I have a friend who is dead against the consumption of marijuana, she tells me she doesn’t approve (while drinking a glass of martini).
I bring to her attention the drink in her hand.
She tells me. “It’s not the same thing.”
The War on drugs has been a complete failure
The war on drugs was popularized by President Richard Nixon when he declared drug abuse “public enemy number one”.
The United States spends $51 billion annually to fight drugs. This money could be better spend on social programs to help people in need.
Some collateral consequences on those convicted of drug offenses, separate from fines and prison time, are:
- Suspension of driver’s license for six month
- loss of professional licenses
- loss of ability to purchase a firearm (I agree with this one no matter the crime)
- loss of eligibility for food stamps
- loss of eligibility for Federal Student Aid
- loss of eligibility to live in public housing
- loss of ability to vote
- and deportation.
With all these expenses and the harm to society, all well as the social and racial inequalities, the war on drugs has been a cataclysmic failure. Since the beginning of the War on Drugs, drug use and trafficking have gone up, not down.
Legalization of marijuana
There are many arguments for the legalization of marijuana:
- It’s not more harmful than alcohol or tobacco
- It reduces the cost of the criminal justice and law enforcement systems
- It creates an alternative source of income for the states
- It reduces income for organized crime
- It reduces alcohol consumption
- It increases individual freedom
More and more states are legalizing marijuana. About 90% of Americans are in favor of legalization, which is a far cry from the beginning of the War on Drugs when more than 90% of Americans were against any kind of legalization.
However, because marijuana is still illegal at the federal level, businesses are not able to open bank accounts, since banks are federally chartered.
The Biden administration would score a big win if they legalized marijuana during the first 100 days of administration. States would be able to reduce expenses and increase revenues in a short period of time.
Given the change in sentiment, the government should just change the law. Not only that but they should also pardon all the people who are doing time for possession of marijuana.
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