Who *Really* Benefits from Marijuana Prohibition?

The lie that we've been told since the 1930's is that marijuana is harmful, so the government is looking out for us by keeping it illegal. Almost eighty years into Prohibition, the government continues to perpetuate this myth, and unfortunately, too many Christians continue to buy into it.


In reality, marijuana is no more harmful than cigarettes or alcohol - two legal substances. This point is backed up by millions of hours of research over decades, and does not need to be debated here. What is actually orders of magnitude worse than marijuana itself are our country's marijuana laws. Consider the case of Jillian Batty, a candy-maker from California, and ask yourself the question: which is more harmful; marijuana, or our marijuana laws?


As reported on copblock.org, Jillian Batty Wemyss was on her way from her home in California to New Hampshire, where she had planned to set up her booth selling her candy and fudge at a festival. While driving through Texas, Jillian was stopped at an unconstitutional border-patrol checkpoint, where a drug dog signaled that she (the dog) smelled drugs. Jillian's vehicle was unlawfully searched, and she was found to be in possession of less than a gram of cannabis. She was jailed overnight and placed in solitary confinement. Under Texas' particularly draconian drug laws, she's facing 180 days in jail.


What, specifically, is Jillian being protected from? The possibility that she would have gone to her hotel that night and relaxed with a joint, while victimizing nobody? In what way is Jillian's life going to be improved now that she's a name and number in the Texas criminal justice system? Thanks to our overbearing government's "protection" of Jillian, she missed out on her chance for her business to make money, depriving her family of income. But at least we're protecting her from harm.


Why do we continue to prosecute this ridiculous war against a harmless plant and those who use it? Let's take a look at who [i]actually[/i] benefits from marijuana prohibition.


1. The Drug-Testing Industry. Ever wondered why your employer is so interested in what you do in your free time? If you're a conservative and/or a Christian, you've most likely bought into the mistaken belief that if you have nothing to hide, then you have nothing to fear, and simply accepted having to pee in a cup as part of the job. In reality, the drug testing industry is a multi-billion dollar industry [1] that purports to benefit employers and probation boards, while instead funneling millions back into government anti-drug propaganda and politicians' campaign funds in order to stay in business.


2. Police Unions. The federal government hands out billions of dollars in grants to local law enforcement agencies in the name of anti-drug enforcement; here is one example [2]. If those government grants were to dry up, local police departments would be out that sweet, sweet federal money. Of course, if marijuana were legal, police departments wouldn't need that money to bust the 900,000 people per year that they do for possession. Of course, the police unions don't see it that way. Federal grant money = police jobs = more money for police unions. The system continues to perpetuate itself. As long as a misinformed populace continues to demand police protection from the Loco Weed, police departments will continue to demand those federal anti-drug grants. And as those federal anti-drug grants continue to enrich police unions, which leads to campaign donations (but only for those candidates who are interested in continuing marijuana prohibition), prohibition will continue.


3. Criminal Gangs. There's a reason the Bloods, Crips, MS13, Mexican drug cartels, and any other armed criminal gang that you care to name, are involved in the drug trade: it's profitable. If users could purchase their cannabis legally (as they can in 16 states, barring federal enforcement), armed gangs have no incentive to become involved in marijuana trafficking. Of course, this makes a larger case for the legalization of all drugs, but that is a topic for another column.


If you are interested in supporting Ms. Batty Wemyss, and getting some delicious toffee, fudge, or candy in return, please visit her website: Stateless Sweets

[1] http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2001/08/12/CM163746.DTL
[2] http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20120507/ARTICLE/120509652?tc=ar