Casualties of the drug war aren’t just those who choose to partake in an illegal substance whether it be consuming it, cultivating it, possessing it, or distributing it. We are all casualties of the war on drugs and more specifically the war against cannabis.
Casualties of the war against cannabis include mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters, children, grandchildren and every person that is a part of our society.
When an individual chooses to utilize cannabis, whether it be for medicinal or recreational purposes, they become a target for law enforcement officials trying to uphold the law in which they took an oath to protect. Unfortunately, the laws pertaining to cannabis are more harmful than the plant could ever be, and many times when these individuals are caught in possession of cannabis, it is not just them that are affected negatively. When someone is arrested for cannabis, which happens every minute of every day, it affects not only them but also their family, friends, and loved ones.
It also affects every other member of society as it requires law enforcement resources that could be utilized for crimes that actually have a victim rather than for chasing and arresting someone for a plant. This means that violent crimes such as rapes, burglaries, and even murder go unaddressed simply because the resources are not available.
The war on drugs and specifically the war against cannabis also prevents the mass majority of society from having safe, legal, and affordable access to a miraculous medicine. This in return causes most individuals to turn to pharmaceutical medications which can not only be harmful or deadly but are also very costly. With nearly 40% of Americans relying on state insurance, this cost trickles down to the taxpayer whether they realize it or not.
Cannabis possession, cultivation, distribution, and consumption are all victimless crimes in states that still criminalize the plant. These victimless crimes result in arrests that cause us all to become victims in one manner or another. You see the war on cannabis is the real criminal, and we are the victims. The war on cannabis separates families, it ruins futures, and it is costing us as a society to pay not only with our pockets but also with our lives. It is time that cannabis is freed once and for all.
Cannabis has NEVER been the cause of a single death EVER! It is time that we as a society stand up for this plant which has so very much to offer each and every one of us.
Article courtesy of Expert Joints. Written by AshleyP from CannaLance (Canna-Lance.com, @CannaLance, @MJWriter87)