Imagine, if you will, alcohol was once again banned. In a throwback to 1920′s and 1930′s America, you can no longer obtain the forbidden brew at your local ABC Store, Grocery, or distributor. Do some visualization here and think about those times when you really like to enjoy yourself with a tall glass of your favorite alcoholic substance. Maybe you have had an excruciatingly long day at work and want to kick up your feet on the porch with a frosty bottle of Corona. Picture a happy hour toast with friends to celebrate a recent promotion, only clinking glasses of soda instead of Martinis. Perhaps you are marrying the person of your dreams, and would like all of your closest family and friends to join together for a champagne toast.
Cut to an alcohol-less reality. Fact is, a majority of the people in the US disagree with your position on alcohol, and will go to any number of lengths to tell you how bad it is for you (which it is). You are banned from drinking in public places, even your own home. Alcohol is illegal to possess, manufacture, transport, or consume, yet you are still readily able to get any host of prescription drugs from a physician.
A few days before your friend’s birthday a co-worker gets back to you, letting you know that an acquaintance of theirs is selling beer in Mexico. You really do not feel comfortable driving across the border with the illegal beverage, so your co-worker is able to work out a deal with him to have the beer delivered to you in a shady border town, for an extra fee of $100. You drive into el barrio, meet up with the dealer, pay $200 for 20 bottles of unsantized, reused beer bottles made with parasite-infested Mexican water.
While making the 40 minute drive back to your friend’s party, you are pulled over by a police officer that began following you as you left the “bad” part of town. After following closely for about 7 miles he turns on his lights and pulls you over. Your nervousness impairs your judgment when the officer makes the traffic stop and as a result you neglect to take your 5th amendment rights, and consent to a search of your vehicle. The prohibition laws state that more than 12 beers is a felony, but less is a misdemeanor; you have just been charged with a felony.
After a short court case you are incarcerated for 6 months for a felony possession of beer. The 6 months was the result of a plea bargain, during which the court agreed to drop the “intent to distribute” charges (since you had more than 12 bottles of beer) if you plead guilty. After you serve your 6 months you are released, but now you have fines, no job, and are considered a convicted felon.
While this is a made up story, the truth is that this same scenario happens each and every day to Americans who use marijuana. The drug war that our lawmakers, politicians and judges have created does nothing more than prematurely end the lives of millions of citizens. It is ridiculous and unhealthy for a civilized society to act this way, and continue to uphold oppressive laws and law enforcement regimes. Tax it, regulate it, use it to help our nation emerge from the trillions and trillions of dollars we have stacked up in debt. The prohibition of Marijuana must end.