Legalize Hit

Twenty-five million Americans lit up last year, and ten billion was spent to keep them from doing so. About $400 was spent per user to halt its use, and guess what? It did nothing. Potheads and hippies have been clamoring for decades to legalize marijuana; in a country where legal drugs like alcohol and cigarettes kill tens of thousands a year. But there has never been a recorded death attributed to marijuana. So why all this expensive effort to keep down a drug that is still easily acquired and used every day? Legalizing marijuana could save 7.7 billion in wasted taxpayer money, and generate 6.2 billion, according to an article on Alternet.
This decriminalization would also get nearly 30% of our prison population free, those charged with drug offenses, most from marijuana. this would free up much needed space, reduce costs, and may eventually change our status as the World's Incarceration Capital. We have more prisoners in out country than China does. It says something when a communist nation with four-times our population sends less people to prison than we do. Our priorities are seriously screwed up.
On a CNBC clip I watched, a round table discussed the pro's and con's of legalization. A former DEA head spouted distorted or untrue facts purporting the dangerous nature of marijuana, while a calm and logical advocate ripped him to shreds, philosophically. There is no reason that it should remain illegal. Alcohol is more of a gateway drug than weed cold ever hope to be. The sad truth is that the conservative right are maintaining an antiquated view of this 'evil drug,' and continually pumping up a war on it that has remained almost completely ineffectual since its inception.
Just because one group of people think something is a good idea, or that it's a good idea to cater to misplaced and unnecessary fears doesn't mean it is. Look how well Prohibition worked out. Thirteen years after it was passed, it became the first and only amendment to be repealed. Thirteen states have decriminalized the use of marijuana, mostly for medical usage, and I feel others will soon follow. However, the biggest stumbling block to ending an expensive and fruitless war, keeping the billions spent on weed in our country, and effectually putting many drug-lords out of business would be for the Federal government to take to step and remove that stumbling block.
For the detractors, no, this will not lead to the legalization of dangerous, deadly drugs like heroin and meth, which is where money spent fighting weed should be utilized, and yes, there will be safe usage requirements on it just like alcohol. There has to be. Usage may go up, but is that more detrimental than sending thousands of people to prison for wanting to relax with a bowl or spending ungodly amounts of money in what amounts to political masturbation? I don't think so.
For the record, I have not ever smoked marijuana, I merely advocate for its legalization, and to be used wisely. Although no one has ever overdosed on pot, you shouldn't ever get behind the wheel of a car intoxicated with ANYTHING. There, that should cover my ass.