Essay On Marijuana Decriminalization

The current social climate of the United States with regard to marijuana decriminalization and legalization, which has been at the center of many conversations and debates in both the political and private sectors, it seems appropriate to focus on the acts implemented after 1900 that contributed to the criminalizing of marijuana.

Four laws enacted by the federal government that initiated and later solidified the criminalizing marijuana are:

The Marijuana Tax Act of 1937 - established a tax of $1 per ounce to a registered person and $100 per ounce to an unregistered person (White & Holman, 2012).

The Boggs Act of 1951 - Began the criminal sanctioning of marijuana by increasing the penalties associated with the possession of marijuana. It

The Controlled Substance Act of 1970 - lowered criminal penalties for marijuana distribution by implementing limitations on imprisonment based on the number of prior offenses committed for the same offense (Millhorn et al, 2009).

When considering the events that precipitated the passing of these acts, one must consider the social climate of the majority with regards to how they viewed minorities and the influences of their actions on the white youth, which created a moral panic and fear of creating a society of morally corrupt white youth. This was said to be the rationale behind the push for criminalizing marijuana, but it was presented under the guise of providing protection for every citizen.

For controversies associated with the implementing of these acts, one must consider the racial disparities and inequalities created in the justice system, such as criminal adjudications and sentencing of minorities, and the overcrowding of prisons where the majority of the population is comprised of young minority