he Representative of Indiana Dan Burton was one who pushed for the death penalty for those caught dealing marijuana. Burton's son was caught transporting 8 pounds of marijuana, and while awaiting trial his son was found in his apartment with 30 marijuana plants. He received only community service and 2 years probation. In 1996 the son of Representative of California Randy Cunningham was caught trafficking 400 pounds of pot from California to Massachusetts. While under arrest the son confessed to being involved in a drug ring that has shipped over ten tons of marijuana throughout the U.S. The Rep. Managed to reduce his son's life sentence to 2 years. It might have been a shorter sentence if his son had not tested positive for cocaine 3 times while out on bail (Schlosser 50, 52). It seems that having a father in a high place is a good thing. These stories are also great examples of how the men who impose these laws are focused on public display rather than self and lawful integrity. The government does not realize the irrationality and unfairness of their imposed consequences until they experience the punishments up close. In all, the war on pot is a more negative situation that positive. It wastes money, sacrifices excessive amounts of time in the lives of people, and is not taken seriously even by the men who advocate it. The best solution is decriminalization. In the 70's, the 11 states who did decriminalize marijuana experienced no rise in crime of any kind (Schlosser 49). Scarce prison cells should be reserved for violent criminals, not pot smokers. Impose fines and create a little revenue for the state, not spend it all trying to eradicate a substance that is less harmful than the alcohol we consume everyday....
