There’s currently a bill that would dramatically reform drug policy in New Hampshire for the better: NH HB 492, a bill that if passed would legalize the possession of up to an ounce of marijuana for adults and would regulate the distribution of it to licensed vendors. The bill, which both house Democrats and Republicans sponsored, will go before the New Hampshire House of Representatives’ Criminal Justice Committee Feb. 14.
Along with multiple doctors, ex- police officers, prison reformers and human rights groups, I’m not alone in saying that it’s about time. Especially in a state which claims to “Live Free or Die.” The case could be made very clear for why NH HB 492 should be passed in the New Hampshire House.
While I feel like a kid banging his head against the wall, her Think of the children. Odd way to open up a pro-marijuana argument, considering it’s the line used by terrified DARE parents against it. But seriously think of the children. DrugWarfacts.org stated that high school students are more likely to smoke marijuana than to use tobacco, 24 percent to 15 percent.
The National Center for Substance Abuse at Columbia University noted that 91 percent of high school students know someone who sells marijuana. If we regulate marijuana, like we do alcohol and tobacco, then we can put restrictions on it. If a 16 year old goes to a liquor store, he or she has to provide an ID. If a 16 year old goes into a cafeteria, all that person needs is money and he gets his weed.
Allowing marijuana in the public market would allow restrictions on it that will protect children. It will protect them better than the black market.
Prohibition doesn’t work. Haven’t we learned anything from history (or Boardwalk Empire). In the 1920s, we applied prohibition toward alcohol through the Eighteenth Amendment. The result was an explosion of violence through the underground market with no affect on people’s drinking habits.
We would’ve never known the name Al Capone had it not been for prohibition. The problem with prohibition is by completely banning something, one leaves the object banned into a black market, which could create more danger to the public than regulation.
If we let marijuana become legal in New Hampshire, we will be taking a big chunk out of the pockets of the Mexican drug cartels that have committed headline-worthy atrocities to protect their profits.
Think of the prison problem and oppression. The United States has 5 percent of the world’s population but 25 percent of the world’s prison population. The majority of prisoners are illiterate, substance abusers, and black and Latino males. Black Americans make up 13 percent of drug users and 35 percent of the drug arrests, according to the American Civil Liberties Union.
Many of the people are in jail for non-violent drug crimes. Reason magazine accounted that one in four inmates in prison are non-violent drug offenders, many for marijuana use. So the logic is we should throw people in jail … for using substances that can hurt them. If we are going to throw people in jail for poor health choices, why not throw the morbidly obese customers at Burger King in jail?
Legalizing marijuana has connections to the prison industrial problem. By legalizing marijuana in New Hampshire, we can also take money hit the pockets of the private prison owners who can’t wait to build another place to lock you up.
Think about medical benefits and no risk. Throughout history, there has never been a recorded death from marijuana. Tobacco kills 443,000, alcohol kills 75,000 and motor vehicles kill 36,000 people a year. None of those things are banned.
Currently, 17 states have allowed marijuana to be used medically. Marijuana is used for a variety of different health ailments, the biggest being cancer. It has proven to decrease pain, alleviate nausea, stimulate appetite and induce euphoria. Are we really going to keep prosecuting sick people?
There are a multitude of different arguments that would take up this entire newspaper, such as the money to be gained and the idea that all we own of this planet is our piece of flesh so let us govern it ourselves.
You have a chance to make this ridiculous law change. Contact your local representative through the New Hampshire or go the Students for Sensible Drug Policy action center at SSDP.org/action to send a message to your local legislature. Colorado and Washington state did it. Now is the time to put the “Live Free” motto in full effect.
Brian Rabadeau can be contacted at
brabadeau@keene-equinox.com