We live in a country where we have the freedom of speech and of right. Our government wastes millions upon millions of dollars each year in the fight against marijuana users and growers. However the most little known aspect of this is most of the marijuana smokers and growers benefit from the substance. Most users of the substance do not use it for medical reasons as prescribed by their doctor, however the 20% of Canadians who use it for medical purposes find themselves sneaking around like criminals for the only substance that helps ease their pain and suffering.
Marijuana and its use are very touchy subjects, both of which we would like to address. There have been studies, which suggest marijuana use is less dangerous than cigarettes and alcohol combined, however these studies have been lost in the politics of it all. We did however find one study, which we found interesting...
There was a study done in England by a private group, which the government does not want you to know about. The study took 200 individuals, 100 of who smoke marijuana, and 100 of who do not. They had setup a driving course about 3 kilometers long, winding and very hard to navigate, they had set no speed limits for the drivers.
What did this study find that the government does not want you to know? Out of the 100 people who did not smoke marijuana that took the course 50% of them hit pylons and they had an average speed of 42kmph. Out of the 100 people who did smoke marijuana before taking the driving test, 20% of them hit pylons and the average speed was 38kmph.
Comparing the numbers we see that 50% of the non-substance users hit pylons while only 20% of the substance users did hit pylons. As well the non-substance users went an average speed of 42kmph while the marijuana users had an average speed of 38kmph. What does this tell us? Most, and we're not saying all, people drive more cautiously and pay more attention to their surroundings after using marijuana than those who do not use the drug.
This study was given to the English government who quickly stated it had no credentials whatsoever and dismissed it just as fast. This study was done by a reputable private firm in England, which did not return any requests for more information of the study.
Our government wastes millions upon millions of dollars each year fighting marijuana use and growth in court and in tracking the individuals down. These people are not Crack users, not heroine users, they are not the people who break into your house to steal your valuables. Marijuana is a light recreational drug, of which our government is trying to crack down and abolish.
It is true that some people will become abusers of this drug, there are alcohol abusers as well, but is alcohol an illegal substance now a days? Of course, just like Alcohol and Cigarettes, there should be a legal age set for the buying of marijuana for personal consumption as well as a ban on driving while under the influence of marijuana.
Think of all the money the government could save by not fighting marijuana users and growers that could go back into our social system, into our schools, into our cities to make them better. The government could make money on the legalization of marijuana by taxing it, bringing our economy back to what it once was, driving our bottom feeding dollar up to once again rival the United States.
Followups:
#1 Samantha Wilson writes: Although I agree with a lot of your views, marijuana should not be legalized. In some people it can bring out the worst and should not be allowed into our country. I do agree that we as a country could grow more than we have been.
#2 Anonymous writes: Editor, I liked your article. It expresses the views by a lot of us to help this country grow economically and socially. Although I do not use marijuana myself, I feel that in our rights, a substance no powerful than alcohol is on us, that marijuana should be legalized for use by those who would choose to use it and that our tax dollars be spent for more creative things than hunting marijuana growers, which are the least of our concerns. Its good to see you have.
EDITORS NOTE: WE DO NOT CONDONE NOR ENCOURAGE THE USE OF ILLEGAL SUBSTANCES.