Marijuana legalization is an uphill battle

Weed isn’t going away.

This leafy green plant has been popular in the US since the 17th century. Demand for rope, clothing and sails resulted in a thriving hemp industry for over two centuries. Eventually, imports met this demand, but tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main psychoactive ingredient in cannabis, remained in over-the-counter medication well into the 19th century.

As you may already know, pot’s fall from grace came after the Mexican Revolution, when Mexican immigrants flooded into the southern U.S., bringing recreational cannabis use with them. Dubbed “the Marijuana Menace,” anti-drug campaigns did their best to associate cannabis with the distrusted immigrant population. By the 1920s, over half of the U.S. had banned its use.

Unfortunately, THC-rich cannabis hasn’t received such amnesty, despite a wealth of bills proposing its legalization.

Last summer, I attended an event hosted by the Wake Libertarian Party. During this well-attended seminar, NC House Democrat Alison Dahle answered questions regarding her recently proposed House Bill 617, which would provide sweeping legalization for adults at least 21 years of age to own and use marijuana in NC. It also included an outline for regulating a commercial cannabis market and criminal justice reform, including expunging criminal records for drug crimes made legal by the bill.

Attacking the so-called “war on drugs” is an uphill battle, and HB 617 didn’t make it far. Dahle’s fellow House members voiced concerns about the radical change, and distrust for cannabis runs deep in older generations.

There is certainly a public appetite for cannabis products. You wouldn’t have to drive far to find smoke shops proudly advertising a selection of prohibition-dodging delta-8 THC products. The THC alternative market, in which companies provide chemically similar compounds derived from THC-rich cannabis, is booming, prompting 18 states to issue restrictions or outright bans to maintain their hold on marijuana consumption.

Just under half of nonviolent drug crimes are marijuana related. If we are to progress as a society, we must stop wasting over $51 billion annually on drug-related law enforcement and start making changes where it really matters.

The U.S. has been fighting the war on drugs for over 50 years, but it seems drugs won in the end. We have the opportunity to repeal regressive policies and secure the freedom to make our own choices.

Now, where did I put that lighter…