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Governor Cuomo’s support for the decriminalization of marijuana is taking a huge step towards true justice in this land of the free. When my mayor is dedicating his time and energy to limiting my soda intake, it’s critical that our state has a prominent government official to take a stand on issues that affect the majority of New York.

Cuomo To The Rescue! NY Governor Plans On Decriminalizing Weed

While not advocating legalization of marijuana, telling police to “ease up“ on marijuana is a step in the right direction. For one, it allows NYC to redirect its resources towards more serious issues. Two, it sets a precedent for the future of this great state.

Hopefully this is the first step to weed being legalized, and why shouldn’t it be? Marijuana barely has any detrimental effects on the user, unless you’re talking about the asinine legal ramifications of using it.

Why is it illegal? Is it to protect us from a substance less harmful than most over the counter medication? No. Marijuana is illegal on a federal level because of two people: Henry J. Anslinger, who needed a new drug craze to sweep the nation to get funding for his Federal Bureau of Narcotics, and William Randolph Hearst, who owned thousands of acres of timberland and a national newspaper, and didn’t want the competition from hemp.

Their shared interest caused them to join and embark on a propaganda campaign that exaggerated the effects of weed and used racial fear to gain public support for laws, which were designed to further subjugate Blacks and Mexicans.

“There are 100,000 total marijuana smokers in the US, and most are Negroes, Hispanics, Filipinos, and entertainers. Their Satanic music, jazz, and swing, result from marijuana use. This marijuana causes white women to seek sexual relations with Negroes, entertainers, and any others.” Anslinger

“…the primary reason to outlaw marijuana is its effect on the degenerate races.” Anslinger

“Reefer makes darkies think they’re as good as white men.”  Anslinger

“Marijuana is the most violence-causing drug in the history of mankind.” Anslinger

So, according to the original proponents of marijuana criminalization, the main detriment of the substance was that it caused racial harmony, and it creates a blood lust comparable to bath salts.

Anslinger and Taft wanted to create laws that target Blacks and Mexicans, and boy, how they succeeded. 82 percent of those affected by marijuana laws are of Mexican or African-American decent.

I can list a bunch of stats showing the benefits marijuana can have on your physical health if used in moderation.

I can show you how legalizing marijuana will help our crippling economy through taxing it. I can compare marijuana to cigarettes and alcohol like so many others have done time and time again, but there is no reason to.

The fact of the matter is, marijuana is a benign substance, and once a person reaches a certain age they should be able to choose whether or not they want to induce certain substances into their body, especially if the substance is not going to do any physical harm to any one around them.

If I can choose to give my life for this country, why can’t I smoke a joint if I want to? You can name the minor health consequences of weed, but rather than using them as a reason to criminalize it, educate people about it at from a young age and give us the choice. Don’t throw us in jail with murders, rapist and thieves. All that does is make people more likely to become criminals. The people who are affected by their crimes could be you.

-Garvey Ashhurst