Legalize Marijuana to Address Economic Growth?

To The Editor:
On Nov. 2 we had a huge shift in our government. It is clear that the people of this country are not satisfied with the job our government is doing. But regardless of who became governor where, and who is in the House or the Senate, people from all areas of the globe were focused on Proposition 19, a bill that was loosely written and caused a huge fight, 44 to 56 percent, in a mid-term election. It is time to bring forth all the evidence and open this topic for an honest national debate, publicly without the scare tactics that are used by other corporations that feel threatened by this truly versatile plant.
I feel it is safe to say that we could use jobs in this country, at least that’s what 89 percent of the population thinks, that our economy is not doing good at all. President Obama swore to the entire country that “Change” was to come. The No. 1 question on his email, that he swore to the country he would respond to, was the question: Will you consider legalizing marijuana to address our economic growth? He turned the number one concern of the people into a joke and laughed amongst the people he was addressing in this conference. The video can be found on YouTube.
We are talking about a plant that is not only safer than alcohol, but safer than aspirin. Recent alcohol studies in the UK found that alcohol is worse than cocaine and even heroin, but since it has a legal status it is accepted and widely used in our society. That being said, there must be alternative conspiracies that make this truly benign plant illegal.
It is the 25,000 natural resources that it has to offer. How many small businesses could be created? It is a threat to big business. Various parts of the plant may be utilized for making paper, textiles, cosmetics, paints, clothing, nutritional foods, insulation, and animal feed. Not to mention biodegradable plastics, oil to heat homes, and fuel for our cars. Energy independence. It produces a much higher yield per acre than substitutes such as wood pulp and cotton and requires virtually no pesticides. Just imagine America replenishing the economy with quality products again. A leading exporter. But there lies my concern. We must utilize this plant within our borders and not allow companies to base themselves overseas. We must reap the rewards.
Then there’s the children…honestly, the children are usually the ones who are recruited by these gangs and cartels to sell these drugs. Do you see them selling alcohol or cigarettes? No, it is regulated. Studies show that teens clearly admit that it is easier to buy illegal drugs, than alcohol and tobacco products. These dealers will not ask your children for ID, regulation will.
It is time to educate ourselves on the true benefits that marijuana has to offer. It is time to remove this money from the black market that is used to buy weapons for violence against our children. We must make a true “Change.” Open this debate to the public…our future depends on it. Stop printing and inflating our dollar.
THOMAS CASSIDY
Dennisville