Spring Break
Marijuana supporters draw on prohibition era for support in legalizing drug
Kyle Spencer, Contributing Writer, kspencer@smu.edu
Issue date: 11/4/09 Section: News
It's one o'clock in the afternoon and Keven O'toole, an SMU senior, boards the Dallas Area Rapid Transportation train to go, unwillingly, to another probation hearing. O'toole, who was charged with possession of marijuana in March 2008, was put on deferred adjudication after a plea bargain with the city's attorney. Now he must meet with a probation officer every other week for the next year.
"It's a crap sandwich that I really don't want to chew," O'toole said. "I don't understand why I am being punished for something that has the same effects as alcohol."
O'toole said he would like to see marijuana legalized, and he's not alone. According to a 2006 Rasmussen Reports telephone survey, 40 percent of Americans believe marijuana should be legalized. This issue resurfaced as a hot topic days after the Department of Justice announced it will no longer seek to prosecute people using, prescribing or distributing pot for medical purposes, as long as they're in compliance with local law.
In Texas, if you are caught in possession of 2 ounces or less of marijuana, it is considered a Class B misdemeanor and is punishable by up to 180 days in jail and a $2,000 fine. Those found guilty of selling marijuana face a stiffer punishment. The sale of marijuana to a minor is an automatic felony up to 20 years of incarceration and up to a $10,000 fine decided on by a judge.
According to a letter sent to Congress by a group of American economists, marijuana legalization would save $7.7 billion per year in state and federal expenditures on prohibition enforcement and produce tax revenues of at least $2.4 billion annually. However, if marijuana was taxed similarly to alcohol or tobacco, it might generate as much as $6.2 billion annually.
"It is common sense" said Michael Mallory, a certified public accountant with H&R Block in Tyler, Texas, who would like to see the plant legalized. "We're spending millions in prison costs. Why not shift those resources elsewhere and gain revenue all by legalizing marijuana."
"It's a crap sandwich that I really don't want to chew," O'toole said. "I don't understand why I am being punished for something that has the same effects as alcohol."
O'toole said he would like to see marijuana legalized, and he's not alone. According to a 2006 Rasmussen Reports telephone survey, 40 percent of Americans believe marijuana should be legalized. This issue resurfaced as a hot topic days after the Department of Justice announced it will no longer seek to prosecute people using, prescribing or distributing pot for medical purposes, as long as they're in compliance with local law.
In Texas, if you are caught in possession of 2 ounces or less of marijuana, it is considered a Class B misdemeanor and is punishable by up to 180 days in jail and a $2,000 fine. Those found guilty of selling marijuana face a stiffer punishment. The sale of marijuana to a minor is an automatic felony up to 20 years of incarceration and up to a $10,000 fine decided on by a judge.
According to a letter sent to Congress by a group of American economists, marijuana legalization would save $7.7 billion per year in state and federal expenditures on prohibition enforcement and produce tax revenues of at least $2.4 billion annually. However, if marijuana was taxed similarly to alcohol or tobacco, it might generate as much as $6.2 billion annually.
"It is common sense" said Michael Mallory, a certified public accountant with H&R Block in Tyler, Texas, who would like to see the plant legalized. "We're spending millions in prison costs. Why not shift those resources elsewhere and gain revenue all by legalizing marijuana."
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Jillian Galloway
posted 11/04/09 @ 5:06 PM CST
I don't smoke marijuana so legalizing it won't affect me personally but I do strongly support businesses being allowed to *undercut* cartel marijuana prices so we can end the brutal murder of more than 6,000 people every year. (Continued…)
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