4 of 7

Write now Article Tools

Marijuana has become such a common drug that its continued criminalization is amounting to little more than a record percentage of the population incarcerated and the overstuffing of our jails and prisons with nonviolent criminals who take up space that could be saved for more violent individuals.

For decades the main strategies in fighting the drug war have been to legislate tougher drug laws, and "throw money at the problem;" which is the refined critic's way of saying that the state is hiring more police officers and building more prisons. We have gotten tougher and tougher on nonviolent drug offenders, and with rigid sentencing guidelines many states have effectively taken away a judge's discretion with legislation. That means longer terms of incarceration for more people. Legislators also take away the possibility of parole in many drug-related circumstances. Parole has traditionally been a way of clearing space in prisons.

Since the sentencing and parole guidelines have become so strict for drug offenders, and since our prisons have become so packed; the parole boards end up putting more of the violent offenders on parole because they've got to clear some space at the prisons, and because they've got to have someone to parole or else there is no need for a parole review board (which is made up of paid individuals).

As long as there is such a high demand for drugs, there will always be those dealing in drugs. The market is self-determining. Making marijuana illegal ensures that any money spent on that market goes to criminals. It becomes a black market, which by definition can ONLY benefit criminals. So all the money or states and municipalities and the federal government spend hiring cops and building jails could be saved, legitimate marijuana retailers could be taxed users could grow their own and a huge source of funding would be pulled from underneath violent and organized criminals everywhere.

Learn more about this author, Matthew Tyler Funk.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about The debate over legalizing marijuana?
We want to hear your view. Write now!