The big question is “Should we (Philadelphia) legalize Marijuana?” This issue is right around the corner. Many local publications have given their takes on it. Some good recent sources:
The Philadelphia Magazine, and three from the Inquirer this past Sunday. One against, two for it (one by an economist).
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Kimberly Flok MWF 2:00-2:50
ReplyDeleteMarijuana should absolutely be legal, not just in Philadelphia, but nationwide. Although more conservative states might not be ready just yet to legalize it, I think Philadelphia is an area that should consider legalizing it. The first article mentions a large increase in people over 35 that smoke marijuana. Add those numbers to the ever increasing numbers of teens and those under 35 who smoke, the statistics are staggering. In the area of Philadelphia, to focus the police on stopping marijuana usage does not make sense. The police should not stop the kid on the corner with a joint, but rather should focus their attention on the real crime, such as all the break ins and murders. Another issue, as discussed in class, is the issue of how legalizing marijuana would affect the economy. It seems legalizing it would allow for more ways to tax it and use the money for beneficial things...yet all this money the government has is instead put into this "war on drugs." It just seems like a waste of time and money to keep enforcing the illegality of marijuana.
Jenna Smith TR 8-9:20am
ReplyDeleteIn regards to legalizing marijuana I believe it should be legal for the whole nation. Although I personally choose not to smoke pot-- I am carefree and think everyone should be able to do whatever they please as long as they are not being violent or harming others. Legalizing marijuana also would benefit the American economy in several ways. It could be taxed, which would be accumulated; it would also bring more job opportunities in the warehouses, retail, and transportation that would be created. Even so, marijuana seems to be a popular trend and turning into the new cigarette. Overall, the articles took me by surprise learning that over 35 year olds were the ones in Philly are most likely to “toke up” and if that is true and many under 35 year olds smoke too than common sense would be to legalize it, tax it, and put some sort of restrictions on it.
ASHLEY PESIN TUES/THURS 8- 9:20
ReplyDeleteI think the legalizing of marijuana in Pennsylvania would be an extremely beneficial thing to do. It would decrease the amount of people incarcerated since so many crimes committed deal with marijuana alone. Additionally it would allow cops in Philadelphia to focus on more serious crimes that are happening in drug-ridden areas. Although marijuana is a drug, it is one that is less harmful than alcohol. When I asked the students around me, they agreed that it does not affect or impair driving or decisions. They added, they see no addictive ingredient in said substance. Another reason it should be legal in PA is the fact that the government could make much more money by helping the economy’s taxes. People are going to buy, purchase, and smoke marijuana, so why wouldn’t the government take control by taxing each bag of marijuana being sold.
I think that marijuana should be legalized in Philadelphia in order to reduce incarceration rates for nonviolent crimes. Franklin’s article states that 30% of Philadelphia’s total arrests every year are substance-related. This means that not only is the government not gaining money from taxing the sales of marijuana, but the people of Philadelphia are actually losing money as we pay taxes to house those that are charged with marijuana-related crimes. I think Philadelphia is a great place to start the legalization process before the rest of the state of Pennsylvania. I feel this way because Philadelphia is a large city with high crime rates—seeing the effects it has in regard to crime as well as the money it might bring into the city can serve as justification for the rest of the state and perhaps beyond, since the main focus is on reducing marijuana-related incarceration and increasing revenue through taxation. Of course, with legalization must come regulation. Laws were created decades ago to regulate sales and consumption of alcohol, and though there are sometimes unfortunate accidents and occurrences that happen when people are under the influence of alcohol, this is not the standard and it is dealt with legally at that point. By taxing and regulating marijuana the accumulated money can be used to go toward something beneficial for the state—like the educational budgets that were recently cut or helping those less fortunate to buy health care.
ReplyDeleteI beleive marijuana should be made legal. I understand it's a controversial topic especially among conservatives but i think it will better the economy. It would cut down on spending in jails because people won't be locked up as often. Granted, it needs some sort of regulation, people shouldn't be able to sell it completely on their own without some type of repercussions but i believe a lot more people would purchase it legally. I think the older generation would be more open to smoking. New places of business could open. Not just stores that sell the product but places where people can go for a good time (compared to a bar). It could be easier for people who need it for health reasons. It would create more tax revenue. With the plus sides of low incarceration, more revenue, and more jobs i think legalizing marijuana would be a smart move.
ReplyDeleteHattie Cheek
AE TR 8AM
I defintily would agree with the comments above in that marajouina should be leagilzied not only in Philadelphia, but nation wide. I think one of the most important factors to note is that marijuana was legal in before in our country. Also the government could benefit financially by legalizing marijuana because it could tax the now illegally sold commodity. In addition, specifically in the city of Philadelphia police could spend more time and money on violent crimes instead of the catching someone with marijuana. Finally, either way people are going to buy, sell, and smoke the drug so if it is made legal this way the government can benefit from this drug.
ReplyDeleteMegan Schmidt
AE MWF 2pm
Marijuana is an herb from plants like oregano or parsley, although the difference is that marijuana releases THC at a certain temperature which blocks synapse and gives the ‘high’ feeling. Unlike oregano, parsley, marijuana is not legal and it should be legal. Marijuana is grown from a plant and it is not made from chemicals or after chemically treating a natural substance, it’s naturally grows on the land. Alcohol is chemical made from ethanol which is more harmful than marijuana with lots of medical uses, helping cure body. In many religions, smoking cannabis is perfectly fine and it’s considered as divine blessing of God. I think everybody has right to do whatever they want to do as long as it does not disturb the society. Lower unemployment, less crimes, more revenue, less debt, increase in GDP, medical uses, etc. are some of the benefits of legalizing marijuana. I think the word of 21st century is to legalize marijuana.
ReplyDeleteMuktak Tripathi
AE, MWF 2:00 P.M
I think that Marijuana should be legalized. It would most definately benefit the economy in many ways. If marijuana was legalized, the government could put a high tax on it and use that tax money toward healthcare or education purposes, for example. People will buy marijuana whether its legal or illegal, either way people want it and they will find a way to get what they want. So why should it be illegal? Also, if marijuana was legalized it could benefit the public by using it to treat people medically. As long as people are not driving while they are high or putting people in danger, there is no reason to keep the drug illegal. In addition, the police can focus on more serious crimes in society that harm people rather than arresting people for things such as possession.
ReplyDeleteJessica Catanese
AE TR 8:00
N'keya Peters (Tue, Thur 8am-9:20am)
ReplyDeleteI think that marijuana should be legalized. It is evident that our war on drugs have not been successful because as stated in the article in the Philadelphia Inquirer, our drug use has increased. The only way to tackle the "issue" would be to legalize it, that way the government can handle it.
The article in the Inquirer is basically a perfect example of the one thing that I think keeps people from supporting marijuana legalization, and thats ignorance. A few highlights-
ReplyDeleteHe says marijuana is like harder drugs like cocaine.Completely untrue. While perhaps mentally addictive, weed has never been shown to be physically addictive. He says crime will raise, yet neglects that if we legalize it, nearly 50% of the arrests made now will not happen since thats how many arrests are marijuana related. At $20,000 a pop for a prisoner per year, the risk seems to outweight the reward. Finally, he talks about the health and mental effects of the "drug", saying how its terrible for your lungs, makes it harder to learn, etc. The health benefit is a senseless argument since we already legalize things (i.e. cigarettes, alcohol, any junk food ever created)that has negative effects on our body. The mental effects are, from my personal experience, not there. I know many people who are high achieving students, yet partake in quite a bit of herbal remedy. How do opponents of legalization continue to see there side as correct when there is an overwhelming amount of information that conflicts what they have to say?
Matthew V. t,tr 8-9:20
In the debate whether marijuana should be legalized,I disagree and agree. Reading Neill Franklin article made me realized that it probably is more beneficial to legalize marijuana. Franklin brought up the point that arrsting and going after the sellers only adds another job opening, I agree with this statement because you see proof of this when you see a new dealer. Although i agree with him I also believe that once you acknowledge that marijuana is okay next is going to be crack and other very addicting drug. This will be a bad scenario because then the number of addicts will possibly increase. Many people might say that marijuana should be legalized becasue it is hardly addictive, which is better than cigarettes that are legal. When debating about this topic there are many pros and cons to sway someones decision.
ReplyDeleteDesirae Holland.TR-8-9:20
I also believe that Marijuana should be legalized. Meese’s argument that the effects of alcohol are worse than the effects of marijuana lacks the negative effects of alcohol and the positive effects of marijuana. Alcohol causes more immediate damage to the human body especially to major organs like the live, whereas marijuana’s negative effects occur through after time and repetitive use. Unlike alcohol or hardcore drugs, there are very few instances where someone overdoes or “over smokes” marijuana. Legalizing marijuana allows the government to tax a product that is believed to be relatively inelastic, and because of the high number of marijuana users, tax revenues would increase. Legalization would give the power of allocation to the government and law enforcers, and allow them to focus on more pressing matters.
ReplyDeleteMax Ufberg
ReplyDeleteMWF
2:00-2:50
Like many of the others, I too stand by the legalization for marijuana. I think taxing marijuana, in state stores, would give the government a lot of money to go to more beneficial objectives. They could also use a good chunk of this money to fight the war on greater, more harmful drugs. Because marijuana is an inelastic good, the government would make a huge profit off if its legalization.
Kimberly Boyd MWF 2:00-2:50
ReplyDeleteI'm not exactly sure where I stand with the idea of legalizing marijuana. Like the article states, it would benefit Philadelphia greatly, because it would lower the incarceration rate and have cops focus their attention on more serious crimes. Such as, murders and break-ins. Also, by having marijuana legalized, this would take some of the mystery out of the substance, and the use of it may actually decrease, or become less prominent in the least. However, it makes me question if this drug is legalized, what is the next step? Like everything in society, once when fad is ended there is always a new one. If marijuana is legalized, will this make a new drug, such as cocaine become more prevalent? Obviously, cocaine has many more serious impacts than a substance like marijuana. I'm not sure this would actually happen. However, what is to say that it won't? Then, the legalizing of marijuana would not be to the benefit of society and Philadelphia, but would cause the promotion of a new, more dangerous drug, and serious damage people's lives.
Richard Ehmer
ReplyDeleteMWF 2:00-2:50
I believe that marijuana should be legalized. As Max said above me, the money the government can get from taxing marijuana could be used to fight the war on hard drugs and show people the effects of these other more dangerous drugs. I do think if the United States or just Pennsylvania legalizes marijuana, that they should put an age restriction on it like there is for cigarettes. The legalization would help us more than hurt us. It can help the economy and it is not as harmful as other legal drugs such as alcohol. It can also help people who have serious illnesses or diseases in many ways.
I believe that Marijuana should be leagalized, the war on drugs has already been lost and the government needs to take advantage of the benefits the legalization will bring about. For one the government could tax marijuana, this would make them money that could be used to enhance other aspects of the economy. Nobody has ever died from marijuana, more people die from alcohol and cigarettes everyday. Because of this it is evident that the legalization would make sense because like everything when it is illegal or against the rules people want to break those rules and that is when the product is abused. Not only will the government be able to tax it, but millions will be saved and jails will be available to house CRIMINALS and not people who are caught with the possession of Marijuana. I am all for making it illegal to sell and that the drug should be distributed correctly, but people should be able to smoke it as they please, with a suitable age limit of 18 like there is for cigarettes. The police attention needs to be on the criminals and the murderers that are growing largely in number and adhere to the conviction of those smoking or carrying marijuana, this is something that needs to be done or else we are looking at a permanent war on drugs.
ReplyDeleteJasmin Eales
MWF
The benefits that Philadelphia would gain from the legalization of marijuana are incredible. Our incarceration rate would decrease imedietly and would give cops a huge opportunity to focus on more violent crimes which is important in this area. It is important for Philadelphia to realize that they may actually be losing money on keeping marijuana illegal, rather than gaining it from taxing it. Franklin's article discusses the number of arrests every year that are substance related, proving that the tax payers of Philadelphia are losing money each time a home is charged with a marijuana related crime. Also, a good point is that marijuana is not proven to have any negative effects on people, unlike alcohol and other drug related substances; therefore, proves to not be as dangerous as stuff that is now legal in out city.
ReplyDeleteRichelle Lencicki
MWF 8-9:30
I absolutly DISAGREE that marijuana should be legalized in PA as well as the entire nation. Are we really about to legalize a drug that when used without control causes people to make bad judgments. We already have people driving under the influence, imagine how many people would drive while being high. I could careless how it impacts the economy. The truth is that it is dangerous for society.
ReplyDeleteTaisje Claiborne
Zach Martin MWF 2-250
ReplyDeleteIt just makes sense to legalize marijuana. Let's face it, smoking a joint or a bowl has become the new after work drink. People now unwind at the end of a long day with a little bit of marijuana, just as the generations before us would come home and drink. The revenue from legalization and taxation of marijuana would be great for our economy, especially considering the state of our economy now. Also, the strain on our economy from the funds required to prosecute people over a drug that has no addictive quality is plain nonsensical. Treat it like alcohol. No driving intoxicated, and you must be 21 to indulge.
While I was not for legalizing marijuana, I wrote my paper on this topic and was forced to change my opinion with the facts I was presented with through my research. I did think that legalizing a drug that encourages people to make bad decisions would only make matters worse. I thought people would go crazy with the legalization and get really caught up in it without knowing how dangerous it was for society. However, alcohol is legal and we still have people driving drunk. There will always be people who will abuse the drug and go way farther than needed. However, the economic benefits and solutions to the issues many who are against the legalization are weighed much more highly. Every issue that is brought up seems to have a solution and changed my mind. I know agree that marijuana should be legalized nationwide for the betterment of our economy and our people.
ReplyDelete