Marijuana , legalized?

“Weed is a seed that grows in the ground. If God didn't want it, it wouldn't be around. So all you people that don't get high, just shut up and give it a try.”                                             

-       Dodge Girl

How would you like it if every time you turned around, you were being searched? How would you like to be a victim of the “stop and frisk” law? Just picture this, you don’t smoke marijuana but one of your friends does, and you just happen to be holding it for them. Worse case scenario… you get a fine, or end up behind bars because you just “held” the small amount of marijuana for your friend. Even if you didn’t smoke it, it was in your possession and that’s a crime.

Marijuana is an illegal drug. Committing a crime makes you a criminal. A criminal is a person who is guilty of crime. So does having even the smallest possession of marijuana make you a criminal? The answer is yes. Recently I have read an article called, “Marijuana law just creates criminals” by Hakeem Jeffries, that talks a lot about how the illegal use of marijuana gets millions of people arrested each day.

In the article Jeffries says, “But what many people don't know is that the state decriminalized this offense more than 30 years ago, making private possession of less than 25 grams of marijuana a violation punishable by a $100 fine.” Many people are unaware of this. This is a crime, making millions of Americans “criminals” without them even knowing it. Another interesting point that Jeffries makes is when he talks about the “stop and frisk” law that makes millions of New Yorkers “criminals” as well.

Also, In the article Jeffries clearly says, “Often however, the police approach young people and instruct them to empty their pockets immediately and show the officers anything they have. People who have a small quantity of marijuana in their pockets take it out and hold it up. The marijuana is now in public view. Thousands of people are then arrested and charged with misdemeanor possession, punishable by up to three months in jail and a $500 fine.” I don’t think that this is fair because people can be “stopped and frisked” based on their looks, or just random acts of prejudice. Although, I don’t agree that marijuana should be legalized, people should still have their privacy and personal space.

If you don’t feel as though you should be a victim of the “stop and frisk” law, take the lead and be above the influence.