When imagining why an American might be put in jail, most people would think of violent and evil crimes like murder, rape, or robbery. However, something less evil is causing thousands of people to be arrested each year — smoking marijuana. Though it is a very tame and commonplace substance, for years marijuana has been vilified and framed to be extremely dangerous by the government. Laws criminalizing marijuana are irrational and need to be nullified to encourage personal freedoms for Americans. 

The recreational consumption of marijuana has been occurring in the US since 1900. Despite War on Drugs propaganda against marijuana, its use is still widespread and normalized in American media and culture, with about 17% of the country indulging at least once a year.  In contrast, the American government still classifies cannabis as a Schedule I controlled substance alongside deadly and addictive drugs such as heroin, LSD, and methamphetamine. Schedule I substances are defined as “substances that have no currently accepted medical use in the United States, a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision, and a high potential for abuse.” From this definition alone, the average person would likely not classify the drug in this category. For one, 38 states currently allow marijuana to be used in some form as medical treatment, including conservative states such as Alabama and Florida. As for abuse, there is a 10% chance that one might become addicted to marijuana once they begin use, lower than that of cocaine, heroin, and nicotine. There is also no way to overdose on just marijuana, unlike all other Schedule I drugs.

Despite all these points, recreational marijuana use is still illegal in 26 states.  In 2022, over 227,000 people were arrested for marijuana-related charges with the average sentence being five months. Possession could entail simply being caught with one marijuana cigarette. While this punishment might seem light, it has a huge negative impact on the person's life. Ex-convicts are often turned down from jobs, due to stigma around serving prison time. The financial cost of arrest and incarceration can also deeply strain families’ and individuals’ well-being. These costs include lost income while incarcerated, bail, and attorney fees. In addition, about 20-40% of ex-cons experience mental health issues due to their time in prison. 

Similar to many other laws, black and brown Americans are much more affected by marijuana laws than white Americans. Studies show that while white and black Americans use marijuana at about the same rate, blacks are nearly 4 times as likely to be arrested for use. This ridiculous discrepancy is contributing to mass incarceration, poverty, and a lack of stable households for Black Americans. Furthermore, all these issues can cause Black Americans to lose trust in the government and have issues with employment. 

However, marijuana does have its drawbacks because it is still a drug. Decriminalization could cause minors to acquire the drug more easily, which can cause lesser school performance and permanent effects on their brains. Frequent use of marijuana can be linked to mental health issues, lung damage, and memory loss. Legalization could also cause issues with increased inebriated driving and people going to work intoxicated. But, these problems apply to alcoholic beverages as well, which are completely legal in the United States. In addition, information promoted by the government about safe marijuana use could combat many of these problems. 

Overall, it is time for marijuana to be legalized in the US. People should be allowed to make their own decisions about their use of marijuana due to its calming and joyful effects, the tiny chances of addiction or overdose, and societal normalization. Legally being able to smoke marijuana will allow Americans to exert control over their substance use without fear of life-altering punishment. 

This article was edited by Grace Hur.