The U.S. federal government is not known for always making the best choices. In some states, it’s legal to marry your first cousin but not a member of the same sex. However, one of America’s biggest flubs is the propagation of alcohol and the criminalization of marijuana.
Ever since the end of Prohibition, alcohol has been legal in the U.S. First made available to anyone over the age of 18, Congress changed the national minimum drinking age to 21 in 1984. Marijuana, however, was deemed illegal in 1937 and has remained so ever since. From then on, more than 20 million Americans have been arrested and convicted of marijuana-related crimes. This is where the issues begin because the results of these laws changed the course of our history.
Under the influence of alcohol, users become agitated, belligerent, ill, deluded and make incredibly poor decisions. This is because alcohol somewhat numbs the brain’s abilities by altering the chemical messages that control the body’s thought processes, behaviors and emotions. Because of this, users are more likely to get into a car while drunk, start a fight and vomit all over the sidewalks of Midtown right outside Pizza by the Slice. Aside from the damage it does to your brain, alcohol is incredibly corrosive to other parts of the body as well. Drinking large quantities of alcohol can permanently damage the liver, heart, pancreas and immune system and lead to cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus and breasts. And this stuff is legal.
Marijuana is a different animal. While smoking or eating pot still puts the user in a state of insobriety, the long-term effects are much less damaging to the body. The use of marijuana puts the user in an elevated state of relaxation and — let’s be honest — hunger. A person high on weed will never challenge a random person to a fight, won’t vomit from nausea all over Midtown in front of Pizza by the Slice and most certainly won’t have a hangover the next day. Smoking a large amount of weed may lead to a temporary loss of coordination, memory retention and, depending on the person, minor anxiety. Unless the marijuana is laced with other chemicals, the average pot user does not experience any negative side effects while getting high.
Marijuana is not only used for getting high. Recent studies have shown that the use of marijuana helps with those suffering from epilepsy. It not only weakens the severity of seizures, but it also reduces the occurrence of them. Although the studies are limited, as marijuana becomes legalized in more areas of the U.S., more trials will be held.
Marijuana has also been known to give cancer patients relief from nausea due to treatment and increase their appetites. Researchers have isolated strains from the marijuana plant, allowing specific dosages to be given to patients with predictable outcomes. A few of these strains have even been approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Some supporters even claim consuming marijuana inhibits the growth of tumors.
Overall, it seems there is no clear precedent regarding what makes substances legal and what does not. Both alcohol and marijuana have their pros and cons yet are enjoyed by millions every day. Promoting alcohol and shunning marijuana is a ridiculous notion and a decision our government should re-evaluate.
Preventing the population from accessing a substance that can change people’s lives for the better and allow users to have a positive non-sober, non-violent experience, is the real crime here.
Legalizing and taxing marijuana will not only make the selling and growing of weed much less dangerous, but it will also add major tax revenue.
In a controlled environment, we can work toward controlling substance abuse.
I urge you to keep an open mind and remain informed about the uses and abuses of both alcohol and marijuana. Enjoy responsibly.
[Rachel Kalisher is a UF anthropology and classics junior. Her columns appear on Tuesdays. A version of this column ran on page 7 on 2/4/2014 under the headline "What’s worse: weed or alcohol?"]
