. This act made it illegal to sell marijuana without paying an occupational tax and a special tax on each sale. However, because few “tax stamps” (“Drug Legalization”, January 5, 2001) were ever issued, the act effectively made marijuana illegal.The federal government has been strengthening its laws against drug sales and possession for the past eighty years. A total of thirty-two states have mandatory-minimum laws similar to federal guidelines. For example, in New York, possession of a few ounces of cocaine or twelve ounces of marijuana can bring up to fifteen years in prison while a second or third offense can lead to life imprisonment. That is a longer sentence than some rapists and murderers receive.The call for legalization has been ongoing for many years. Theoretically, legalization would have a domino effect. First, prohibition of drugs limits the supply, creating extreme inflation and making the importing and selling drugs big business. Thus, legalization would take away the profit margin, lowering drug prices and destroying the black market. Second, by lowering drug prices, users would be less likely to turn to crime to support their habits. After all, there are few jobs that can maintain an expensive habit that can cost up to $1000 per day. Additionally, law enforcement estimates that seventy-five percent of criminal offenses are drug-related. Third, allowing the federal government to control the production and delivery of drugs would make them safer in that the government could ensure the purity and quality of the drugs.Legalization would also help to reduce the number of drug-related imprisonments and help uncrown jails. For instance, in New York City, it is estimated that there are 150 arrests per day for possession and since1981 the state has spent $4 billion to increase prison capacity. An alternative is drug treatment. Sending drug offenders to treatment programs instead of prison w...
