By Anna Braxton and Margo Stockdale
President Barack Obama made headlines across the country when he stated in a Jan. 19 interview with the New Yorker that he believes marijuana to be no more dangerous than alcohol. The president has publicly admitted to using the drug in the past, and his usage remains controversial. For the first time, however, according to a Gallup poll, more than half of Americans favor the legalization of marijuana, with support reaching 58 percent. This support has led to the legalization of the drug in 20 states plus Washington D.C., mainly for medicinal use. Two states have gained publicity for legalizing recreational use, and retail facilities in Colorado are now open for business.
Even in Georgia, the state legislature has introduced bills that may legalize marijuana. The pending legislation aims to legalize the drug for medicinal purposes.
Trail blazers
Constituents of the state of Colorado voted in the November 2012 election to pass Amendment 64 to the state constitution, which included a referendum that allowed the statewide use of marijuana for recreational and medicinal purposes. The amendment has now been enacted as Article 18, section 16 of the state constitution and legalizes personal use of the drug for adults aged 21 and over.
The amendment also commercialized the cultivation, manufacturing, and sale of marijuana, with the first dispensaries opening on Jan. 1, 2014. According to Colorado College economics professor Neal Rappaport, the law passed because the predominantly liberal and libertarian constituency was able to out number the social-conservative voters in the state.
“Colorado has a strong libertarian streak, which generally is the swing factor,” wrote Rappaport in an email. “I think this is why a state which legalized marijuana also has recalled legislatures who voted for stricter gun control laws.”
Rappaport explained that the appeal was the perception of marijuana compared to alcohol, and that most voters viewed them both as widespread and potentially lucrative sources of taxable commodities. The voters decided that revenue from the tax on marijuana would be a great benefit in infrastructural developments in the state, such as schools.
Despite being a primarily liberal and libertarian cause, the amendment has garnered support from former U.S. Representative and 2008 Republican presidential nominee, Tom Tancredo, who commented that he believed the prohibition of marijuana to be one of the most wasteful and inefficient government programs.
Colorado governor John Hickenlooper explained shortly after the law passed in December 2012, that since the drug remains illegal under federal law, strict regulations and restrictions needed to be put in place. These included regulations on the growth and sale of marijuana, as well as additional local and state license requirements for retail marijuana establishments.
The state passed Proposition AA on Nov. 5, 2013. The Proposition included a 15 percent excise tax on marijuana and a 10 to 15 percent sales tax on retail sales statewide. Local taxes were also passed, such as a 3.5 percent sales tax in Denver.
Lighting up the economy
Along with revenue from heightened taxes, Colorado has profited from tourism linked to the legalization of marijuana. The newly legalized retail marijuana dispensaries reportedly made $5 million in the first week of their legalization.
Tour companies, such as My 420 Tours, have jumped on the new market, offering “behind-the-scenes tours of the cannabis market, while consuming responsibly, legally, and freely.”
Rappaport argued, however, that marijuana sales are not likely to have any long-term economic impacts once the publicity and novelty wear off.
“The market for marijuana will remain a niche market with some legal sales, some illegal sales, some medical use,” Rappaport wrote. “And most people remaining to abstain.”
Another boon for the economy would be the creation of jobs. The Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol published a report claiming that Amendment 64 would bring $60 million in revenue, which could potentially top $100 million in five years.
Giving in to peer pressure?
Many states have already legalized medicinal marijuana and Emory Economics professor Andrew Francis believes that number will increase in the next few years.
“The main incentive for states to do so is to conserve police and prison resources,” Francis wrote in an email. “An enormous amount of time and money is tied up in arresting, prosecuting, and incarcerating people who consume marijuana.”
Nalin Needham, a Grady literature teacher, said he believes nationwide legalization will become possible in time.
“I think generationally we will get to a point where that is a lot more feasible,” Needham said. “Although, I think that will happen a lot sooner than later because I think a lot of states are going to realize that there is a lot of taxable income out there that they are leaving on the table by making it illegal.”
Francis noted that a large reason for the growing popularity of the legalization stems from the growing belief of Americans that there are few negative effects associated with marijuana. He believes that, once drunk driving fatalities are taken into account, alcohol consumption is far more dangerous.
Many believe, in fact, that marijuana possesses health benefits, specifically in reducing vomiting and nausea associated with chemotherapy. It is also used to help treat patients with Acquired Immune Deficiency Sydrome (AIDS) and those suffering from muscle spasticity.
Republican state Rep. Allen Peake saw what kind of effect medicinal marijuana has first hand when he visited the pediatric intensive care unit at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Egleston.
Peake visited with Haleigh Cox, a seizure patient whose family is moving to Colorado because of the benefits provided by cannabis oil. Peake joined state House Speaker, David Ralston, in advocating for the legalization of marijuana for medicinal uses. Many Georgia parents have shown support for this issue as well, and are appealing to lawmakers to introduce a bill that may legalize the drug in order to help sick children.
The issue has also sparked interest in the state senate. State Sen. John McKoon has proposed more intensive research on the medical benefits of marijuana and whether Georgia’s current policy, allowing marijuana for the treatment of glaucoma and cancer, should be expanded to include a wider range of reasons for prescription.
Grady senior Kether Griffin believes that once this research is conducted, there will be a greater chance that more conservative states like Georgia will legalize marijuana. Griffin said that the use of marijuana is a personal decision, and it should not be restricted.
Many more states have shown interest in legalizing marijuana, including the traditionally conservative states of Kentucky and Tennessee. In Alaska, a petition has reached the state government calling for the legalization of marijuana for recreational purposes. If enough of the signatures are verified, the issue will be voted on in August 2014.
Buzz kill
Despite the support from over half of American citizens, the legalization of marijuana still faces many setbacks. Because legalization efforts have been made at a state-level, federal law may override state decisions, especially in regard to the public sector.
Additionally, Rappaport stated that potential issues could arise given the extent of the restriction and regulation of legal sales. He argued that the illegal market will not disappear, but may lead to more illegal sales if the price is too high, similar to alcohol and cigarette bootlegging.
Another major concern is that there have not yet been enough tests on the effects of marijuana. Opponents have reservations because the drug has gained so much attention for supposedly being safer than alcohol, a substance that has undergone endless research and evaluation.
Even in states where recreational marijuana is legal, it faces regulation similar to that of alcohol. Included is the prohibition of public use. Adults aged 21 or older must be indoors in order to smoke marijuana legally. Driving while under the influence of marijuana is similarly illegal.
Though the “Green Revolution,” as it has been dubbed, may seem to be taking up arms, as Gov. Hickenlooper said: “Don’t break out the cheetos or goldfish too quickly.”
