Prisonworld Rewind: Three Reasons why Legalizing Marijuana could save the United States of America

Originally posted October 2012

One of the most controversial topics in the US for the last five years is the contemplation of regulation for the legalization of marijuana. Cannabis, the medical and technical term for the farmed herb, has numerous medicinal purposes. Various forms of the leaves from the female plant have healing chemical compounds beneficial to those who have chronic pain.

The Prisonworld Radio Hour, syndicated to tunein and itunes, has interviewed guests on both sides of the argument. It is a topic of passionate conversation for those who are proponents of the legalization as well as those who oppose it. One thing that rings true with those on either side is that the realization of regulation may never come to pass in this century.

Hawaii, Michigan, Alaska and the District of Columbia are included in the 15 states that currently have passed legislation for legalized sales of the drug in a structured environment for medicinal purposes. The revenues for these sales fall under the agriculture laws to which there are great tax benefits. If the government took seriously the potential of legal marijuana sales, the country would be well on its way to reducing the national debt.

The three reasons why legalizing marijuana could save the United States are as follows:

• Mass Incarceration – State and Federal prisons are full of inmates who have been convicted of marijuana drug offenses that include possession, sales, distribution and trafficking. Legalization of the drug would clear prison beds so badly needed for rapists and murders and save tax payers millions of dollars
• Education –The US has slipped from the top of the list of countries with outstanding education programs. States have been hit hard with massive budget cuts that are shrinking education budgets from public schools and universities. The legalization of marijuana would allow the government to direct taxes from sales revenues to education which would allow better salaries for teachers, more resources for schools, and newer schools and smaller classrooms for students.
• Healthcare- Chronic pain is experienced by 35% of Americans who suffer from Cancer, Lupus, Multiple Sclerosis, Back Pain and joint pain and other ailments. States who currently benefit from the use of prescription marijuana as a pain reliever is contributing to lowering the costs of prescription drugs and a new era in pain maintenance.

The criminalization of pot, grass, weed, hashish, refer or Mary Jane are by those in Congress who more than likely were undercover smokers during their college years. The legalization of the drug makes more sense than not. When the government finds a way to earmark the herb’s regulation, give kickbacks to the drug companies and make a treaty with the smugglers who cross the borders daily with hundreds of pounds, then and only then will America receive the benefit of the natural healing plant.

Rufus and Jenny Triplett are co-producers and co-hosts of the Prisonworld Radio Hour, which is owned by Dawah International, LLC, a multimedia company. The show airs live weekly on Thursdays at 2pm EST.  For more information log onto www.prisonworldradiohour.com.