MMJ Investors Forum

[mc67]

Legalize marijuana, Virginia January 9, 2015


Kudos to the editorial board for the Jan. 9 editorial in favor of decriminalizing small amounts of pot in Virginia.

Nearly half the country has recognized that the laws against marijuana are more harmful than the drug itself, and because of that have either greatly decriminalized marijuana or flat out legalized it, such as in Colorado and Washington state. States like Virginia that continue to make marijuana illegal are seen as draconian and need to get with the times. Like the old laws of slavery or alcohol prohibition, modern times show that legalization is the correct thing to do and it is time to throw out the old antiquated laws.

Scientfic proof has shown that marijuana is less harmful than alcohol or marijuana. In fact, science is beginning to show how beneficial marijuana can be medically.

The “war on drugs” is a failed war against the people of America. The harms created from the illegality of the drug far outweigh any potential harm from the plant itself.

Everyday hundreds of Virginians are arrested for minor possession. Their lives are then turned upside down because they may lose their freedom through incarceration, their driver’s license, their job, their home and, yes in circumstances, their children. The Department of Social Services will take children from their parents based solely on marijuana use. How horribly draconian is that?

Instead of using tax dollars to wrongly interfere with citizens’ lives, why not legalize marijuana and tax it as Colorado has? Colorado is experiencing a windfall in taxes since legalization and has used that money to better the state. Much of those taxes has gone into the state’s public schools. Since people are going to smoke pot regardless of the law, why not legalize it and benefit from it, as opposed to ruining citizens’ lives?

Legalization is going to happen. Let’s make it happen now as opposed to five or 10 years from now. Call your legislators and let them know you support the winds of change.

WILLIAM W. LITTLE II

Churchville