An article on CNN (http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/07/30/frank.marijuana/index.html) alerted me that a Massachusetts democrat is going to propose legislation that would, to a small extent, make marijuana legal. While it would not be legal to the extent of cigarettes or alcohol, it would be quite a giant leap forward.

No, unfortunately, this is a bill that has promise but, in the political snowball game we like to play, has a few stipulations attached.

The nitty gritty

There are a few restrictions to the law that make it a good step, but not the best step:

• Individual carriers are limited to 100 grams / 3.5 ounces / .25 pounds
• No sales made for profit (sorry Big Tobacco)
• No profit trades limited to one ounce
• Growing is still forbidden
• Importing and exporting is still forbidden
• State laws would not change (whether they support or ban marijuana use)

What all this translates to is that it would be federally acceptable for the medical marijuana market to grow. No longer would medical users be restricted or made to feel like second-class citizens. Furthermore, this would likely translate to no arrests of young kids or adults who are using. As stated in the article, these kind of arrests can have negative repercussions on a person’s career and general livelihood.

Where its all going

I think, while not where marijuana users want law to be, this law would be a step in the right direction. As we all know, laws have a way of getting progressively more open. If you want to legalize marijuana, you don’t start with a bill to make it open and free. You start small, with tiny battles. The states started those battles a long time ago when they started allowing medical marijuana to be used. This is just one more battle, that I hope comes out on the right side.

I think down the road we can expect to see “Marlboro Herb” or something like that… but thats not for this bill. It is, however, really is great to see that legislation is becoming more open-minded about how people live their lives and that, so long as you are not hurting the others around you or putting them in danger, you can do what you need to do.

My own glance

I think that marijuana is no different from alcohol and cigarettes. In fact, it might actually be a better, safer, alternative. Some of the advantages to marijuana:

• No known case of overdose (medical evidence suggests you could not possibly ingest enough in any form to overdose – alcohol can not boast this fact)
• Less toxins than cigarettes
• No known physically addictive properties, unlike alcohol and cigarettes (psychological addiction is possible – but then anything can be psychologically addicting)
• Medical benefits in cancer patients, among other types of illness
• Safer form of inebriation than alcohol (your inhibition to do dangerous things, like drive, is not altered)

These are all important factors to consider. Though I do not smoke marijuana, I believe that I would if it were legal. It seems to have almost none of the negative effects of alcohol and cigarettes, with the same ability to relax and enjoy yourself. I really have to agree that people should be allowed to do what they want with their own bodies so long as they are not endangering others. If this includes lighting up the ol’ bong for a rip or two before bed… why not?