To: The Indiana State House, The Indiana State Senate, and Governor Eric Holcomb
Indiana for Decriminalizatoin of Marijuana, 420 Legislation
Indiana Governor
Indiana Senate
Indiana State House
It is understood that while marijuana has been essentially illegal since 1937, the prohibition of this plant has not worked. There have been studies done that prove it has medical uses, if it didn't then the synthetic drug Marinol would not exist. It has also been proven that in recreational use it does less harm than alcohol.
Please look at how much our government spends on trying to fight something that is of no threat to our society. Realize how many other ways that money could be spent to make this a stronger country. Also, look into how much more money the country would make through taxation, as it does with alcohol and tobacco.
Don't be afraid to stand up and say this to your fellow politicians. We the people, your constituents, are asking you to do this for us and for our State/state
Sincerely,
Indiana Senate
Indiana State House
It is understood that while marijuana has been essentially illegal since 1937, the prohibition of this plant has not worked. There have been studies done that prove it has medical uses, if it didn't then the synthetic drug Marinol would not exist. It has also been proven that in recreational use it does less harm than alcohol.
Please look at how much our government spends on trying to fight something that is of no threat to our society. Realize how many other ways that money could be spent to make this a stronger country. Also, look into how much more money the country would make through taxation, as it does with alcohol and tobacco.
Don't be afraid to stand up and say this to your fellow politicians. We the people, your constituents, are asking you to do this for us and for our State/state
Sincerely,
Why is this important?
http://www.in.gov/legislative/bills/2012/IN/IN0347.1.html, senate bill 347 it is already in the works, however this is not enough it needs to be Decriminalized all together! "WE THE PEOPLE" just need to support it and stand behind it. Every one in this state that pays taxes is effected by these marijuana laws. Indiana would stand to make over 17,000,000 a year just on revenue see link below; http://money.cnn.com/pf/features/lists/taxes_marijuana/table.html not to mention the money we would save on jury trail cases to try people for marijuana violations, cost to prosecute these cases, cost to pay to incarcerate people for pooss. and then you have the loss of revenue in sells taxes a year,17.8 million, and jobs that it would create to be grown and sold legally it would eliminate the black market and support legal causes as opposed to the criminal causes its profits support now.
In 1988, Michael Aldrich and Tod Mikuriya published "Savings in California Marijuana Law Enforcement Costs Attributable to the Moscone Act of 1976" in the Journal of Psychoactive Drugs. The study estimated California saved almost one billion dollars in a twelve-year period between 1976 and 1988, as a result of the Moscone Act of 1976 that decriminalized cannabis.
In 2003, the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) published "Economic Costs of Drug Abuse," which stated without separately analyzing cannabis related costs, the United States was spending $12.1 billion on law enforcement and court costs, and $16.9 billion in corrections costs, totaling $29 billion a year.
In 2004, Scott Bates of the Boreal Economic Analysis & Research center prepared a study for Alaskans for Rights & Revenues entitled "The Economic Implications of Marijuana Legalization in Alaska." The study estimated the Alaskan government was spending $25–30 million per year enforcing cannabis prohibition laws. The study found if the purchase of cannabis were to be taxed as a legal commodity, tax revenues would increase by about $10–20 million per year, making $35–50 million per year in funds available to the state .
In 2006, a study by Jon Gettman entitled "Marijuana Production in the United States" was published in The Bulletin of Cannabis Reform. The report states cannabis is the top cash crop in 12 states, is one of the top three cash crops in 30 states, and is one of the top five cash crops in 39 states. Gettman estimated the value of U.S. cannabis production at $35.8 billion, which is more than the combined value of corn and wheat. Furthermore, the report states according to federal estimates, eradication efforts have failed to prevent the spread of cannabis production, as cannabis production has increased tenfold in the past 25 years.
In 2006, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime released the 2006 World Drug Report, which stated the North American cannabis market is estimated to be worth anywhere from $10 billion to $60 billion annually. That same study also indicated that the mountainous regions in Appalachia, and the rural areas of the West Coast are ideal for growing cannabis. Allowing farmers there to grow cannabis openly would both provide jobs and reduce the need for expensive federal welfare payments to those areas, which are disproportionately dependent on welfare.
The Drug Enforcement Administration has reported that cannabis sales and trafficking support violent criminal gangs.Proponents of fully decriminalizing cannabis to allow the regulated cultivation and sale of cannabis, including Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, argue that fully decriminalizing cannabis would largely decrease financial gains earned by gangs in black market cannabis sales and trafficking.
Health effects of cannabis
The Lancet's 2007 comparison of substances' relative harm
See also: Effects of cannabis
Cannabis has been subject to many studies over the past century. Studies acknowledge that cannabis can in rare cases cause adverse reactions, but is generally safer than any commonly consumed drug such as Alcohol, Tobacco and pharmaceuticals. Psychopharmacologist David Nutt argues, though he is against full declassification, that the harm caused by cannabis is far less than that caused by alcohol or tobacco, which, if they were invented today "would be illegal.
Reduction in prison overcrowding and strain on the Criminal Justice System
Supporters of decriminalization argue that if cannabis was to be legalized it would reduce the amount of non violent offenders in prison making room for the incarceration of more violent offenders as well as easing the current strain that the large amount of cannabis possession cases have on the criminal justice system. They also propose that it would also save taxpayers the cost of incarceration for these non violent offenders.
Success of progressive drug policies adopted in other countries
Studies on decriminalization of Marijuana in Portugal have indicated it to be a "huge success". Drug use rates in Portugal were found to be dramatically lower than the United states with Decriminalization enacted.
Teen use of Marijuana in the Netherlands where it is sold legally and openly is lower than in the United States. It is natural we want what we can not have, legalize it and it losses it seductive power of rebellion that most underage user are attracted to.
Individual freedom
Some people are in favor of decriminalization and legalization of marijuana simply for the moral stance that individuals freedom for property rights should be respected. This view is generally held in libertarian politics. This view is that regardless of any health effects of someones lifestyle choice if they are not directly harming anyone else or their property then they should be free to. Many people who support drug freedom policies may personally be strongly against drug use personally but still wants to protect the freedom of others to do so. lets not forget 12 U.S. presidents admittedly smoked or grew and smoked marijuana George ...
In 1988, Michael Aldrich and Tod Mikuriya published "Savings in California Marijuana Law Enforcement Costs Attributable to the Moscone Act of 1976" in the Journal of Psychoactive Drugs. The study estimated California saved almost one billion dollars in a twelve-year period between 1976 and 1988, as a result of the Moscone Act of 1976 that decriminalized cannabis.
In 2003, the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) published "Economic Costs of Drug Abuse," which stated without separately analyzing cannabis related costs, the United States was spending $12.1 billion on law enforcement and court costs, and $16.9 billion in corrections costs, totaling $29 billion a year.
In 2004, Scott Bates of the Boreal Economic Analysis & Research center prepared a study for Alaskans for Rights & Revenues entitled "The Economic Implications of Marijuana Legalization in Alaska." The study estimated the Alaskan government was spending $25–30 million per year enforcing cannabis prohibition laws. The study found if the purchase of cannabis were to be taxed as a legal commodity, tax revenues would increase by about $10–20 million per year, making $35–50 million per year in funds available to the state .
In 2006, a study by Jon Gettman entitled "Marijuana Production in the United States" was published in The Bulletin of Cannabis Reform. The report states cannabis is the top cash crop in 12 states, is one of the top three cash crops in 30 states, and is one of the top five cash crops in 39 states. Gettman estimated the value of U.S. cannabis production at $35.8 billion, which is more than the combined value of corn and wheat. Furthermore, the report states according to federal estimates, eradication efforts have failed to prevent the spread of cannabis production, as cannabis production has increased tenfold in the past 25 years.
In 2006, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime released the 2006 World Drug Report, which stated the North American cannabis market is estimated to be worth anywhere from $10 billion to $60 billion annually. That same study also indicated that the mountainous regions in Appalachia, and the rural areas of the West Coast are ideal for growing cannabis. Allowing farmers there to grow cannabis openly would both provide jobs and reduce the need for expensive federal welfare payments to those areas, which are disproportionately dependent on welfare.
The Drug Enforcement Administration has reported that cannabis sales and trafficking support violent criminal gangs.Proponents of fully decriminalizing cannabis to allow the regulated cultivation and sale of cannabis, including Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, argue that fully decriminalizing cannabis would largely decrease financial gains earned by gangs in black market cannabis sales and trafficking.
Health effects of cannabis
The Lancet's 2007 comparison of substances' relative harm
See also: Effects of cannabis
Cannabis has been subject to many studies over the past century. Studies acknowledge that cannabis can in rare cases cause adverse reactions, but is generally safer than any commonly consumed drug such as Alcohol, Tobacco and pharmaceuticals. Psychopharmacologist David Nutt argues, though he is against full declassification, that the harm caused by cannabis is far less than that caused by alcohol or tobacco, which, if they were invented today "would be illegal.
Reduction in prison overcrowding and strain on the Criminal Justice System
Supporters of decriminalization argue that if cannabis was to be legalized it would reduce the amount of non violent offenders in prison making room for the incarceration of more violent offenders as well as easing the current strain that the large amount of cannabis possession cases have on the criminal justice system. They also propose that it would also save taxpayers the cost of incarceration for these non violent offenders.
Success of progressive drug policies adopted in other countries
Studies on decriminalization of Marijuana in Portugal have indicated it to be a "huge success". Drug use rates in Portugal were found to be dramatically lower than the United states with Decriminalization enacted.
Teen use of Marijuana in the Netherlands where it is sold legally and openly is lower than in the United States. It is natural we want what we can not have, legalize it and it losses it seductive power of rebellion that most underage user are attracted to.
Individual freedom
Some people are in favor of decriminalization and legalization of marijuana simply for the moral stance that individuals freedom for property rights should be respected. This view is generally held in libertarian politics. This view is that regardless of any health effects of someones lifestyle choice if they are not directly harming anyone else or their property then they should be free to. Many people who support drug freedom policies may personally be strongly against drug use personally but still wants to protect the freedom of others to do so. lets not forget 12 U.S. presidents admittedly smoked or grew and smoked marijuana George ...