Hi Dan!! I found that your memo displayed and provided efficient information as to the reason why Marijuana should be legalized in all states within the United States. I usually don’t support the use nor thought of legalizing the use of any drug, but your arguments have heavily convinced me against my beliefs and support your proposition. Especially in your following statement, “Legalization would allow the state to reallocate the funds it currently has pigeonholed for marijuana towards more worthwhile pursuits such the prevention and policing of violent crimes and anti-terrorism efforts”, shows how we can easily allocate money to more important issues that face our cities, states, and country as a whole. I have not seen the use of this drug to particularly be of a detrimental harm as opposed to crimes, terrorism, diseases, and unethical practices amongst citizens. Your memo raises valid view points to the proposition of Legalizing this particular drug, as it is already administered for medical purposes to aid in treatments globally.
Dan,
I love the topic and the argument. I’m from Colorado so have listened to the personal anecdotes of friends and family back home – many of which support your points.
I was shocked to read that 658,000 arrests for possession of marijuana were made in 2012. That sounded like a lot for me in a day and age when marijuana is more and more shrugged off as a priority for police.
I would have liked to hear more about the “harsh sentencing requirements that regularly send nonviolent drug offenders away for life without the possibility of parole.” This whole sentence has a strong sentiment and it left me wanting more details about what exact sentences have been made and perhaps an actual personal story of someone incarcerated. You also strengthen your case when you talk about the issue with race, which is a hot topic.
Where you really hit the point home is backing it up with the economic benefits. Whether someone supports it or not, a lot of people respond well to and have a hard time arguing sound economics.
Dan –
This is a really interesting problem memo, and is certainly very timely. I thought all of your arguments outlining the costs of not legalizing marijuana were very well-supported and convincing. I wonder if there has been any research on the potential economic benefits to NY if they legalized marijuana? That would be a nice complement to the great statistics you quoted earlier in the problem memo.
Also, does medical marijuana have a place in this memo? I realize that medical marijuana makes up a part of the overall statistics, but it seems that has been a factor that has convinced some naysayers to believe in the benefits of legalizing marijuana.
I look forward to reading your memo as it progresses!
Dan,
I believe you have outlined sufficiently why there needs to be a policy change in the use of marijuana but I agree with adrian that I would like to see the benefits of medical marijuana addresses in the memo. Medical marijuana has proven so beneficial for patients suffering from cancer. I know you addressed the cost of sentencing for marijuana use but I would have liked to see that topic discussed a little bit more. I could be wrong because I heard this in passing but I believe it cost more to keep a first time offender of marijuana use in jail that it would be to provide that same person with a free four year education. I am really interested in reading your memo as it finalizes and I look forward to reading you thoughts on where policy can be changed . Great paper!
Dan, I enjoyed reading your memo but I believe that that the laws surrounding marijuana possession and it’s usage should be lessen, I don’t believe that it should be legalized for recreational usage and here’s why. I believe that all forms of mind altering substances are a gate way to addiction, including alcohol. I believe that even if we were to legalize it it would not decrease the high incarceration rate among African Americans. In the contrary, I believe it will increase it. Reason being is that they are other drugs that can be sold in where the laws are not as lenient such as cocaine for example. At this time a person found with possession of 5 grams of crack cocaine is subjected to receive a 5 year mandatory sentence and a person found with 500 grams of pure cocaine would receive the same penalty. Cocaine is a drug for the rich not for the poor. 5 grams of crack is made out of baking soda and 5 grams of cocaine, what does that say? I believe that this legalization of marijuana is misleading the public. I believe that reducing felony penalties to misdemeanor charges would be a better choice.
Hi everyone,
First thank you for all your comments, it has certainly given me much to think about as we progress.
For those asking about the medical marijuana, New York actually passed a law back in June of 2014 that would allow for marijuana to be ingested orally but not smoked in treatment of many different types of illnesses. Unfortunately, the law is one of the strictest in the nation concerning use of marijuana for medical conditions and will take another year to implement (a year and a half since the law’s adoption). Since that seems to be one of the central questions concerning my memo I’m thinking I should at least allude to it, if not devote a paragraph to it.
Hi Dan!! I found that your memo displayed and provided efficient information as to the reason why Marijuana should be legalized in all states within the United States. I usually don’t support the use nor thought of legalizing the use of any drug, but your arguments have heavily convinced me against my beliefs and support your proposition. Especially in your following statement, “Legalization would allow the state to reallocate the funds it currently has pigeonholed for marijuana towards more worthwhile pursuits such the prevention and policing of violent crimes and anti-terrorism efforts”, shows how we can easily allocate money to more important issues that face our cities, states, and country as a whole. I have not seen the use of this drug to particularly be of a detrimental harm as opposed to crimes, terrorism, diseases, and unethical practices amongst citizens. Your memo raises valid view points to the proposition of Legalizing this particular drug, as it is already administered for medical purposes to aid in treatments globally.
Dan,
I love the topic and the argument. I’m from Colorado so have listened to the personal anecdotes of friends and family back home – many of which support your points.
I was shocked to read that 658,000 arrests for possession of marijuana were made in 2012. That sounded like a lot for me in a day and age when marijuana is more and more shrugged off as a priority for police.
I would have liked to hear more about the “harsh sentencing requirements that regularly send nonviolent drug offenders away for life without the possibility of parole.” This whole sentence has a strong sentiment and it left me wanting more details about what exact sentences have been made and perhaps an actual personal story of someone incarcerated. You also strengthen your case when you talk about the issue with race, which is a hot topic.
Where you really hit the point home is backing it up with the economic benefits. Whether someone supports it or not, a lot of people respond well to and have a hard time arguing sound economics.
Dan –
This is a really interesting problem memo, and is certainly very timely. I thought all of your arguments outlining the costs of not legalizing marijuana were very well-supported and convincing. I wonder if there has been any research on the potential economic benefits to NY if they legalized marijuana? That would be a nice complement to the great statistics you quoted earlier in the problem memo.
Also, does medical marijuana have a place in this memo? I realize that medical marijuana makes up a part of the overall statistics, but it seems that has been a factor that has convinced some naysayers to believe in the benefits of legalizing marijuana.
I look forward to reading your memo as it progresses!
Dan,
I believe you have outlined sufficiently why there needs to be a policy change in the use of marijuana but I agree with adrian that I would like to see the benefits of medical marijuana addresses in the memo. Medical marijuana has proven so beneficial for patients suffering from cancer. I know you addressed the cost of sentencing for marijuana use but I would have liked to see that topic discussed a little bit more. I could be wrong because I heard this in passing but I believe it cost more to keep a first time offender of marijuana use in jail that it would be to provide that same person with a free four year education. I am really interested in reading your memo as it finalizes and I look forward to reading you thoughts on where policy can be changed . Great paper!
Dan, I enjoyed reading your memo but I believe that that the laws surrounding marijuana possession and it’s usage should be lessen, I don’t believe that it should be legalized for recreational usage and here’s why. I believe that all forms of mind altering substances are a gate way to addiction, including alcohol. I believe that even if we were to legalize it it would not decrease the high incarceration rate among African Americans. In the contrary, I believe it will increase it. Reason being is that they are other drugs that can be sold in where the laws are not as lenient such as cocaine for example. At this time a person found with possession of 5 grams of crack cocaine is subjected to receive a 5 year mandatory sentence and a person found with 500 grams of pure cocaine would receive the same penalty. Cocaine is a drug for the rich not for the poor. 5 grams of crack is made out of baking soda and 5 grams of cocaine, what does that say? I believe that this legalization of marijuana is misleading the public. I believe that reducing felony penalties to misdemeanor charges would be a better choice.
Hi everyone,
First thank you for all your comments, it has certainly given me much to think about as we progress.
For those asking about the medical marijuana, New York actually passed a law back in June of 2014 that would allow for marijuana to be ingested orally but not smoked in treatment of many different types of illnesses. Unfortunately, the law is one of the strictest in the nation concerning use of marijuana for medical conditions and will take another year to implement (a year and a half since the law’s adoption). Since that seems to be one of the central questions concerning my memo I’m thinking I should at least allude to it, if not devote a paragraph to it.
Again, thanks!