Evaluation: Legalizing Marijuana

Bobby Lindsey, a student in Texas Government at Austin Community College, has written an article regarding the legalization of marijuana, which would allow for the sell and use of the product “hemp”, within the United States. After thoroughly evaluating his argument, it is clear that he does have a reasonable point. Marijuana legalization would allow for an additional product to be sold in the U.S., which would help improve our economy. In addition, it would also enable us to use this product to replace other, more expensive, products.

However, although he does explain this positive attribute of marijuana or hemp legalization, he fails to include the various aspects within our society which legalization would negatively effect. First, there are many harmful short and long term effects of marijuana use such as memory loss, harm to the heart and lungs, lack of quick reflexes, etc. In legalizing marijuana it is reasonable to conclude that more people would begin to use it, thus causing harm to themselves and others around them.

Secondly, marijuana is known as a “gateway drug”, meaning that its use leads to the use of other more severe and dangerous drugs such as cocaine or methamphetamine. Research has shown that many people who use marijuana are more likely to try other drugs. Many users once they have achieved a “high feeling” from marijuana want to then receive that feeling again and would be more willing to try various other drugs to attain this. Additionally, many who use marijuana feel comfortable around drug use and would be more accepting of the use of harsher drugs among the people around them.

Thus, Bobby Lindsey does inform the readers in his article “The Money Plant” of the possible revenue boost from legalizing marijuana. However, he fails to fully inform the readers of the possible harmful effects to our society and the people within it resulting from legalizing marijuana. Hence, it is difficult to take this stance completely seriously given the missing information.

Should the Death Penalty be a Time of the Past?

The concept of an “eye for an eye” has been around since the dawn of mankind. This phrase is particularly taken seriously in Texas where many citizens still believe in the death penalty. Since executions were reinstated in Texas in 1976, executions have been a fairly common ruling in capital offense cases. Specifically, in 2010, Texas carried out seventeen executions, making them the leading state within our nation. However, in more recent years many have begun to question, whether this form of sentencing should be allowed.

Executions are permanent, which is one characteristic that draws people towards them, yet as we have begun to see more frequently not every conviction is accurate. There have been eleven Texas death row inmate exonerations after they were wrongfully accused. For example, Anthony Graves, a former prison resident was recently released after serving eighteen years for a murder he did not commit. Thus, in allowing executions, there is the possibility of people like Graves being killed for something they are later found innocent of. Rulings are not always correct, and so to determine someone’s livelihood based on possible faulty evidence is not a very sensible method.  

Therefore, if Texas were to abolish the death penalty, many would question what would be an equally harsh punishment to replace it with. However, there is an answer for this: life in prison without parole. In 2005 the Texas Legislature passed this idea as a viable option in determining sentencing. This allows for convicted felons to be placed in prison for life, without the option of being let out on parole for an action such as good behavior. Some consider this form of punishment is worse than the death penalty. Instead of being executed and permanently taken from this earth, these inmates are forced to sit in a cell with very little contact to the outside world for the rest of their lives. Furthermore, this would prevent the wrongfully accused of being killed before they are able to prove themselves innocent.

Hence, although the death penalty is a form of punishment that holds people accountable for their actions, it can also harm people not deserving of such punishment. Life without parole is an alternative to the death penalty that is still an extremely harsh sentence.  Thus, I believe that this option will become more prevalent, eventually making the death penalty obsolete.