Essay On Overcriminalization

Based on the knowledge that I have gained on the results of decriminalization and overcriminalization, I would first like to cover my argument in favor of the decriminalization of marijuana.
As the text highlights on page 422, “State interference with much of this behavior often makes matters worse. The criminalization of drug users and view of them as criminals rather than people with medical problems has cut off the legal supply of drugs, created illegal monopolies, and forced many into criminal activity in order to support their habbits.” I have to agree with the previous statement, one of the worst outcomes of the prohibition of marijuana is that there are a lot of sick people that cannot legally access a medicine that would work for them. For a lot of ill people, medicinal marijuana is an option that allows them to ease their pain and suffering, or treat their symptoms – such as those with PTSD, without serious side effects.
Our text defines overcriminalization as the extension of the criminal law into inappropriate areas of moral conduct, and says that one consequence of overcriminalization is that penalties are often ineffective or inappropriate. According to the U.S. Sentencing Commission, between October 2012 and September 2013, 27.6 percent of drug offenders were locked up for
crimes related to marijuana. This has led to extreme overcrowding in our prison systems, and even greater stress and risk being put on the corrections officers that work in those facilities.
I enjoyed reading a statement by Arnold Trebach on page 422, in a piece of literature titled “Peace Without Surrender in the Perpetual Drug War” (1984).
This statement basically says that while we did not isolate and incriminate those that were tobacco users, the government has effectively discouraged the use of tobacco products in recent years by limiting the ability for addicts to take a “fix”. The law did not start a silent rebellion in our society as has anti-marijuana laws. Instead of prohibiting the use of tobacco it discouraged, controlled, curbed, and coaxed our Nation. I feel as though this type of stance should be taken against marijuana as it would be much more
effective.
Now I would like to discuss the argument against the decriminalization of marijuana. Our text covers on page 422 the idea of decriminalizing public drunkenness, and the discussion of a “broken windows” type theory that suggests the presence on the streets of belligerent drunks contributes to a sense of social disorder. I can only help but to feel that this would also apply to the decriminalization of marijuana. I feel that this would result in a lower quality of life for communities riddled with drug users, and that we would be continuing to lower our morals and show significant signs of weakness by giving into lawless behavior.
Marijuana has been found to be highly addictive, even more so than tobacco, and even worse for your mental and physical health. This type of mentality of just giving into everyone’s desires just because they complain that they have the right to do as they please simply does not work. I believe that it may just be marijuana now, but it will escalate to more serious drugs such as crack, heroin, or even meth simply because of the mentality that “it is that individual’s business what they do with their lives.”