District Judge Weighs on Marijuana Classification
A somewhat odd twist in what appeared to be a routine case involving a grow operation on federal lands, has led the discussion in the case into a 3 day hearing about marijuana’s classification as a schedule 1 drug. The defense believes that they have enough evidence after 40 years of dark ages for marijuana policy to reclassify the demonized herbal medicine.
The case itself will have no outcome as to the actual classification of marijuana, but it might help the seven guys who were growing on federal lands in California. Because the case is being tried federally, the men will face the harshest extent of the law for their crimes, and the classification of marijuana has a lot to do with the severity of their sentence.
What Extent of the Law Applies to Marijuana?
Mostly the case is about whether the punishment is befitting of the crime, which a hot topic is given the state of United States prisons which are overflowing with inmates. Experts estimate that more than $1,000,000,000 a year are spent on the incarceration of marijuana offenders. At about 45,000 inmates, marijuana inmate represent about 1/8th of prisoners in state and federal penitentiaries for drug related crimes, so it would follow that tax payers spend $8 billion on keeping drug offenders in prison.
This is part of a growing sentiment among government officials that marijuana should be reclassified. Recent studies of the beneficial effects of cannabis are being considered as well as the limited risk for addiction. While Addiction can happen, it is rare and requires especially high doses of THC to occur. Proper use of a vaporizer, and regulating dosage easily defeats the health risks of smoking.
A Passive Federal Government
The case should provide an excellent discourse among experts from both sides of the marijuana argument. A long standing argument that marijuana has a high potential for abuse will be the sentiment that is on trial, while the 7 men who were growing marijuana are caught in a national debate that is far bigger than them. Far Bigger even than the buds from Green House Seed Co. even, and that says a lot.
Obama will also be thrown into the fire citing that his stance is hypocritical, as defense lawyers hope to use the inaction of the federal government as a sign that the activity is condoned. The congressional order for the DEA to stand down in states where medical laws are in place will likely be a part of the discussion as well, and whether or not raids in recreational states are legitimate as well.
