The ACLU Supports Legalizing Marijuana

The criminal act of possessing marijuana leads to more arrests in America than all violent crimes combined. Blacks are 4 times more likely to be arrested than whites for marijuana possession. White and black people consume marijuana at an equal rate. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) advocates for influencing public policy and defending citizens against unequal liberties. The prohibition of marijuana has resulted in a disparity of arrests and liberties against American citizens.

In 2013 the ACLU released a report called “Marijuana in Black and White”. The report shows that blacks in some regions of the United States are arrested up to fifteen times more than whites. The report also focused on the amount of money wasted on the arrests. A survey found that 9 out of 10 people believe that minor possession of marijuana should not face any jail time.

It is estimated that marijuana arrests cost the taxpayers ten billion dollars annually. In 2010 the minor marijuana possession arrests in New York City alone were $75 million. On an individual level a conviction can lead to a lost job, suspended license and ineligibility for public assistance.

The ACLU supports the legalization of medical marijuana including regulation and taxation. ACLU advocates for legislation like Colorado and Washington to decriminalize marijuana. They support citizens who pose no danger to public safety.

Source:

https://www.aclu.org/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/17/marijuana-possession-arrests_n_2490340.html

Zero Tolerance for Marijuana in the Military

Veterans Equal Access Act Released Dec 3, 2014

   The U.S. Military holds a zero tolerance for marijuana use. Federal laws govern the military on cannabis use. New policies and studies from the federal government show promise of a policy shift to allowing medical-marijuana for military veterans.

   Marijuana possession is a crime under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). Military personnel can be penalized with a court martial. The zero tolerance also includes military families on base. Possession can result in eviction of housing or loss of job on the base.(Source)

   There are 23 states that have legalized medical-marijuana. Military personnel in these states still have to adhere by the federal and UCMJ laws. Seventy-five percent of the soldiers were drug tested at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington in 2013. Of the 30,836 soldiers tested, 250 tested positive. This is down from 2012 which had 315 testing positive. At Fort Carson in Colorado they tested all 26,000 soldiers having 254 test positive for marijuana in 2013.

   “The results of our continued drug testing demonstrate the commitment soldiers have to the Army profession, regardless of a state’s legalization of marijuana,” Army Spokesman Lt. Col. Benjamin Garrett commented on the zero tolerance for marijuana. “With 98 percent of the Army population testing negative for illicit drugs, soldiers demonstrate their ability to take responsibility for themselves, reinforcing the fact that our drug testing program is working.” (Source)

Signs of Change for the Zero Tolerance

   The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in 2010 stated that veterans may use medical-marijuana in states where it is legal. Under federal law it remained illegal for VA doctors to recommend cannabis as treatment. Veterans wanting medical-marijuana would need to obtain the prescription from a civilian doctor. This statement allowed veterans to not fear losing benefits if they used marijuana.(Source)

   The U.S. Government in March 2014 approved to study for marijuana treatment for veterans with PTSD. The study will have 50 veterans with PTSD use different amounts of marijuana in a vapor or smoked form. This study may show a shift in federal policy with regards to marijuana and the use in the military.(Source)

   On December 3^rd, 2014 the Veterans Equal Access Act was released. It would allow VA doctors to prescribe medical marijuana for veterans.(Source) This comes at a crucial time for veterans when many suffer from PTSD and other conditions. Currently Arizona, Connecticut, Maine and New Mexico recognize cannabis as a treatment for PTSD.(Source) The VA working at a federal level may help open the doors for many other states to qualify PTSD as a condition that medical-marijuana can treat.

Source:

http://hemp.org/news/node/4293

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/nov/6/marijuana-presents-dilemma-for-military-as-more-st/

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/government-approves-marijuana-study-for-treating-ptsd-in-veterans/

http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/military/story/2012-06-05/military-veterans-medical-marijuana/55395138/1

http://www.leafly.com/knowledge-center/medical-resources/qualifying-conditions-for-medical-marijuana-by-state

http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/new-bill-would-allow-the-va-to-recommend-medical-marijuana/article_6ce3f13f-28d7-5084-8ebf-7c9d70a74fa9.html

Legalizing Marijuana Reduces Crime

The use of marijuana has shown a two fold effect on the rate of crime. The first being the act of legalizing allows drug possession charges to go down dramatically. The other showing that the effect of the drug shows less tendency to commit violent crimes.

Colorado is almost one year into legalization of recreational use of marijuana. Millions of dollars have been saved by removing criminal penalties to possession of marijuana. Arrests for the possession of marijuana before legalization were upwards of 10,000 arrests a year.(Source) Colorado Center on Law & Policy projects a reduction in $12 million a year on criminal costs by legalizing marijuana. (Source) With the state tax excised on sales and other factors for legalization it is proposed to save upwards of $60 million for the state of Colorado. (Source)

A Study done in 2010 researched the crime rates after legalization of marijuana. They found that drug and property theft went up, while violent crime went down. Rates for aggravated assault, robbery and homicide show a large reduction in areas that legalize medical marijuana.(Source) In 2010 a study was conducted to see if marijuana users were repeat criminal offenders. The bulk of crime with the population was related to illegal possession and distribution of marijuana, not with any other crimes. By legalizing marijuana these crimes would cease to exist. (Source)

Dispensaries are a common target for theft and crime, in where they dispense large amounts of cannabis and manage sales in cash. Dispensaries because of the threat of theft implement security guards and camera surveillance which in turn has shown to reduce crime in the immediate vicinity of the dispensaries. (Source) The presence of dispensaries has not shown any increase in property theft or violent crime in the community. (Source)

Source:

http://www.plosone.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0092816

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3683594/

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2950879/

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19839964

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3364319/

http://cclponline.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/amendment_64_analysis_final.pdf

http://marijuana-arrests.com/210,000-Marijuana-Arrests-In-Colorado.html