senate Bill S. 2237
Letting States Decide on Marijuana Legalization
Argument in favor
This bill lets states decide if they want to legalize marijuana, while protecting those states that want to keep it illegal. The current federal ban on weed is a waste of taxpayer dollars and puts an undue burden on our criminal justice system.
12/01/2015
"I suspect I would vote yes. And I would vote yes because I am seeing in this country too many lives being destroyed for non-violent offenses. We have a criminal justice system that lets CEOs on Wall Street walk away and yet we are imprisoning or giving jail sentences to young people who are smoking marijuana,...I think we have to think through this war on drugs, which has done an enormous amount of damage. We need to rethink our criminal justice system and we've got a lot of work to do in that area." [huffingtonpost.com]
11/30/2015
"In terms of marijuana and legalization, I think that should be a state issue, state-by-state." [washingtonpost.com]
11/16/2015
Marijuana is destroying so many future potentials of young people, due to criminal charges for using a small amount of marijuana for recreation use.
Argument opposed
The normalization, expanded use, and increased availability of marijuana across the U.S. does not detract from the fact that it is a dangerous substance. It is classified as a Schedule I drug for a reason, and it should stay that way.
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11/07/2015
Now that THC is considered suitable for medical use, where is the FDA?
11/18/2015
I'm against marijuana for recreational use, but I'm for marijuana for medical use (with a doctor's prescription).
"I suspect I would vote yes. And I would vote yes because I am seeing in this country too many lives being destroyed for non-violent offenses. We have a criminal justice system that lets CEOs on Wall Street walk away and yet we are imprisoning or giving jail sentences to young people who are smoking marijuana,...I think we have to think through this war on drugs, which has done an enormous amount of damage. We need to rethink our criminal justice system and we've got a lot of work to do in that area." [huffingtonpost.com]
I'm against marijuana for recreational use, but I'm for marijuana for medical use (with a doctor's prescription).
"In terms of marijuana and legalization, I think that should be a state issue, state-by-state." [washingtonpost.com]
Marijuana is destroying so many future potentials of young people, due to criminal charges for using a small amount of marijuana for recreation use.
Get the Government out of the states problems and issues. Let them decide not the Government
Now that THC is considered suitable for medical use, where is the FDA?
Tax marijuana heavily, allocate the money to schools, infrastructure, etc.
It should be regulated by State, just as Alcohol is regulated.
States deserve as much autonomy as possible. It's their state let them decide.
Even though I would not support any form of street drugs, marijuana is a gateway to "heavier" drugs leading to addiction and the ruin of many lives. BUT, States are the true forges of democracy where ideas are born and tried. Successful ideas can then be moved to more States. The Federal Government should take some hints.
Considering the idea that marijuana is a "gateway" drug is extremely incorrect and archaic, and the fact that marijuana is not destructive like other drugs, and even in some cases, alcohol, I believe it's time to legalize it. I personally don't smoke, but I have no issues with it.
The war on drugs, including marijuana, is & has been a waste of our country's resources, productivity, talent & youth. We need to (federally) legalize, regulate/tax, research & normalize drugs & drug use in these free, United States.
It's time to legalize and regulate. Legalizing of even just medical marijuana in my already great state would create thousands of jobs and the taxes can be used in areas that we need to improve. Texas has always been an example for other states in areas such as job growth and justice system reform and now we need to be the example for Marijuana policy reform.
Individual freedom , you be able to decide if Y O U want to drink smoke take drugs as long as you don't impair other people's freedom
The Constitution makes allowance for states to legislate on issues that are not explicitly within the purview of the federal government.
States already are deciding on legalization of marijuana. Why not make it official? The rational for prohibition was never valid to begin with anyway.