OPINION & EDITORIAL
Marijuana legalization would help society
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Also by S. Kyle Pauly:
- Abusive lawsuits reflect on society (March 9, 2005)
- Squabbling over some numbers (February 4, 2005)
- Playing God with lives of innocents (December 7, 2004)
- Proud to be an American (November 16, 2004)
Related Stories:
- A higher tolerance (September 25, 2007)
- Wisconsin's dance with Mary Jane (October 3, 2005)
- Halloween riots add fuel to pot decriminalization fire (November 6, 2002)
- Marijuana column misguided (December 7, 2005)
- Let Halloween fall where it may (October 9, 2003)
by S. Kyle Pauly
Friday, April 8, 2005
Madison has seen a lot in its time: crazy Halloween nights, champion football teams, protests up the wazoo, the Mifflin block party and homeless by the hundreds. The list could continue infinitely, but I bet one thing you’d thought it would never see was a conservative lobbying for the legalization of marijuana.
What has the world come to?
While I’ve been repeatedly reminded by liberals on campus of how stupid and completely incompetent my viewpoints are, I realize here I’ll be bashed from both sides. However, I honestly feel this is an issue which our government has been idle on for far too long, so I’m going to let my ego take a hit. For the record, I don’t smoke, so this isn’t coming your way because I want an easier time while getting high.
I’m sure we’ve all heard the reports: marijuana is no more detrimental than cigarettes or alcohol; in fact it is not even addictive. Yet beyond the glaring hypocrisy of its illegality in comparison to cigarettes and alcohol, marijuana could not only let the stoners peacefully get high, it could also be of service to society.
Yes, that’s correct — legalizing marijuana could improve our society. Doctors have long been arguing for the allowance of marijuana, at least in a medical setting, as it has been shown to reduce the pain associated with numerous diseases as well as lessening the nausea associated with chemotherapy.
Beyond the hospital, marijuana could serve as a pot of gold for our nation’s debt. Californians seem to really enjoy their Mary Jane, and not wanting to have to hide their “criminal” ways there has been the greatest push in California for the legalization of marijuana. Yet, behind the dreadlocks, marijuana-leaf patches and all other stereotypical markings stands some pretty compelling data. It was found that legalizing marijuana would save “over $156 million in law enforcement costs for arrest, prosecution, trial and imprisonment of marijuana offenders.” Also taxing marijuana at $1 per joint and marketing it in a way very similar to alcohol could bring in between $8 and $13 billion per year, according to a report by the State Office of Narcotics and Drug Abuse to the California Legislature.
Furthermore, surely the government can’t prohibit marijuana solely on the basis of safety. Cigarettes kill 440,000 Americans every year, and we are all well aware of the dangers of alcohol. If it were legalized, strict laws would have to be enforced, just as with alcohol and cigarettes.
Plenty of people now are lighting up and very rarely do you hear of problems created by these light-headed folk.
While many stereotypes surround the use of marijuana, there are plenty of people who smoke regularly and don’t fit into such simple characterizations. Walk down State Street on any given day and you’ll likely smell that distinct aroma. There are numerous law-breaking citizens in Madison who should be jailed, fined or both according to current laws, but many of these people are productive members of society. They’re students, doctors, legislators and — dare I even suggest it — policemen. They come from all walks of life and, in the eyes of our government, are criminals.
It is time to legalize marijuana. The prospective economic gain is too great to pass up. Why not let Walgreens employees monitor the distribution and content of marijuana instead of dealers on street corners? Not only would the economy benefit, but the risk associated with laced marijuana would subside.
Will legalizing marijuana really change the dynamics of our country? No. The liberals will all keep doing what they’re doing, anyway. And who knows? Maybe a few conservatives could light up, and we could all just get along.
S. Kyle Pauly (spauly@badgerherald.com) is a pre-med sophomore majoring in biology.
Anonymous (April 8, 2005 @ 5:52am):
Oh yes your views are so original and controversial. Legalizing pot? Unthinkable! How dare you suggest such an outrageous and totally whacky idea.
The fact that you think you are really out there for suggesting this shows just how clueless and repressed you are.
Anonymous (April 8, 2005 @ 8:33am):
As much as I love checking out Sheila Shaw's backside, that picture with the softball article is of the volleyball team. But hey, all women's sports are the same, right guys?
Anonymous (April 8, 2005 @ 8:55am):
Pre-med?
I didn't know they had that major here. Did you already get into med school?
We are not puffing a little bit are we there s. pauly?
Anonymous (April 8, 2005 @ 9:34am):
"wacky" not "whacky"!
Anonymous (April 8, 2005 @ 10:03am):
The government could eliminate the deficit by taxing weed!
I think weed is less damaging to society than gambling and government gets plenty from that. Taxes on achohol and tobbaco are huge, why not add weed to the mix?
Anonymous (April 8, 2005 @ 11:16am):
I am more of a paleoconservative myself. For me, the jury is still out on whether or not pot should be legalized. I really do sympathize with both sides of the argument. I just don't think that the government should be in the position to profit because of addiction, physical or psychological. Should government start taxing pornography because it is more addictive (medically speaking) than crack cocaine? It is another reliable source of revenue, after all, to be exploited.
Also, if pot gains legitimacy, does that mean that employers are all the more unable to fire people because of their preference for herb? I think we ought to give more freedom to potential employers to hire and fire if pot laws are liberalized.
Anonymous (April 8, 2005 @ 11:23am):
"I think we ought to give more freedom to potential employers to hire and fire if pot laws are liberalized."
Aren't you paying attention to current events? Today, employers can fire people for smoking tobacco on their own time, I don't imagine it wiil be any harder for weed.
Anonymous (April 8, 2005 @ 11:24am):
"I just don't think that the government should be in the position to profit because of addiction, physical or psychological."
I agree, what do you suggest we do about the current situation regarding gambling, tobacco, alcohol and soap operas?
Anonymous (April 8, 2005 @ 12:12pm):
"Aren't you paying attention to current events? Today, employers can fire people for smoking tobacco on their own time, I don't imagine it wiil be any harder for weed."
Point taken. Thanks.
Anonymous (April 8, 2005 @ 1:19pm):
It's always been said that cops have the best dope. And that's why I believe pot should be legalized, so the rest of us can get our hands on some good reefer too. Damn pigs, they get all the good shit! Give everybody else a chance for once!
Anonymous (April 8, 2005 @ 2:27pm):
The government could also eliminate the deficit by taxing stupidity. Suppose the tax was one cent per word -- on this article alone, the government would get over six dollars!
Anonymous (April 8, 2005 @ 2:48pm):
Thanks for not taking yourself nor the topic too seriously. Other students can learn from you.
Anonymous (April 8, 2005 @ 3:09pm):
"The government could also eliminate the deficit by taxing stupidity."
As usual, Congress would need to exempt itself from the rules - or else the government would end up owing itself huge amounts of money (just like the SS Trust fund).
Anonymous (April 8, 2005 @ 3:31pm):
i think the bigger question is why are we not taxing hair extensions, as i'm sure we all agree ms. pauly currently uses. just look at that picture of her. i mean, come on, honestly
Anonymous (April 8, 2005 @ 8:22pm):
"As usual, Congress would need to exempt itself from the rules - or else the government would end up owing itself huge amounts of money (just like the SS Trust fund)."
There's an easy solution to that too -- instead of paying our Congress Critters their overblown salaries to screw us over at every opportunity, we can bankrupt their corrupt asses and let them know how it feels for a change. We'd probably even make enough to pay for the Bush tax cuts, the Iraq war, and Social Security.
Anonymous (April 8, 2005 @ 8:23pm):
The only reason it's illegal in the first place is because Dupont and Hurst didn't want hemp hurting their fabric business.
Anonymous (April 8, 2005 @ 8:43pm):
"There's an easy solution to that too -- instead of paying our Congress Critters their overblown salaries to screw us over at every opportunity, we can bankrupt their corrupt asses and let them know how it feels for a change.
Har-de-har, they'd regret passing that "bankruptcy reform" bill then!
Anonymous (April 9, 2005 @ 1:22am):
"It's always been said that cops have the best dope."
Hey, I know a cop up in Minneapolis who can get you some...uh, never mind. NEVER MIND!! I'M TAKIN' THE FIFTH!!
Let's see, where did I put that defense attorney's number? Where is it. WHERE THE F#%* IS IT!!
Anonymous (April 9, 2005 @ 6:02am):
After reading your article, (which I enjoyed) I wondered why you waste your time?
One critic is so stupid that he is unaware that what is written is that your major is biology.
Anonymous:
Pre-med?
I didn't know they had that major here. Did you already get into med school?
Another takes a cheap stupid pot shot at your real hair. This is what bashers consider important. Irrelevant posts to make their balls bigger. (They may as well find some use for them since no woman would find them attarctive)
Other critics had a sense of humor and joined in your fun. I congratulate all you kids who are enjoying life and people. For the rest...when you get older you will look back and see what fools you were. You have minds, use them constructively. You are not what you think you are...but it is a stage which will takes you years to find out. Good luck to you.
Anonymous (April 9, 2005 @ 11:03am):
I think the critic was aware of the biology part. What exactly is a "pre-med sophomore" though. is it any different than a "sophmore hoping to get into med school some day"
Anonymous (April 9, 2005 @ 12:00pm):
"Medicine
Pre-medicine is not a major or a classification, nor is it a formal academic program. It is an area of intended interest that can be pursued simultaneously with the completion of any major and regular degree requirements.
Students interested in pre-medicine are encouraged to seek advising at the Letters and Science Advising Center, 25 Ingraham Hall. In addition, they should obtain the booklet Pre-medicine at Wisconsin, which is available at both 25 Ingraham Hall and 116 Agricultural Hall.Students in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences and the College of Letters and Science: For more information about pre-medicine, refer to the college sections in this catalog. See also www.med.wisc.edu/Education/Programs/MD/Admissions/PreMedReq.asp."
Anonymous (April 9, 2005 @ 3:09pm):
There's nothing wrong with calling yourself pre-med. It means that you're not just majoring in some shit degree like Biology, but that you're actually going to do something with your life. If it just says "biology" people wonder why the hell you're wasting your time. (I have experience with this.)
Anonymous (April 10, 2005 @ 7:23am):
^Everyone intends on doing something with their life. Why don't business majors say I am a pre-CEO sophmore majoring in accounting? Why don't we all just tack on what are plans are after undergraduate to our title?
saying you are pre-med or pre-law is puffery, plain and simple.
Anonymous (April 10, 2005 @ 10:37am):
You're a pre-med student majoring in biology, all you can say about the effects on the body is it isn't any worse than cigarettes or alcohol? How about actually doing some research before writing this drivel. What reports are you referring to? Cite your referrences! Did you even read anything before writing this? If this is an exmple of how you research an issue, you should toss your med school applicaiton in to the shredder right now because you don't have what it takes.
Anonymous (April 10, 2005 @ 11:17am):
"saying you are pre-med or pre-law is puffery, plain and simple."
Maybe things have changed but pre-med used to mean that you wanted to make big money.
Anonymous (April 10, 2005 @ 1:57pm):
No one is stopping you from calling yourself pre-CEO or pre-Pizza Hut deliver (if you are political science major).
Anonymous (April 10, 2005 @ 3:13pm):
I'm pre-graduated, pre-married, pre-asleep, pre-dead, and pre-menstrual. Beat that, S. Kyle!
Anonymous (April 11, 2005 @ 8:43am):
im all for it......
