How Prohibition of Marijuana is Affecting our Society

It can be argued that making a commonly used substance illegal will subsequently cause an increase in violent crimes surrounding that substance, just like the prohibition of alcohol did in the 1920’s and early 1930’s. The prohibition of marijuana has resulted in corruption, organized crime, and funding for further criminal activity including importation of other drugs and guns.  

Statistics Canada reports that over the last 30 years - even with a significant decline in arrests involving marijuana,  it is still the most common drug being reported by the police.  Portions of the figures are related to the cultivation of marijuana, which has a higher potential of leading to violent crimes. By prohibiting one of the most commonly used drugs in Canada, it is only resulting in higher profit for drug dealers and creating turf wars that most often result in gun violence.

This chart illustrates the arrest rates related to several different drugs from 1977-2007.

Not all of the marijuana in our country is grown in Canada. By outlawing marijuana, it is also resulting in violence south of the American border. In Mexico and other Latin countries where the production of marijuana is prevalent, malicious behaviour and massacres are being conducted all for the purpose of profit. 

In the United States, an overwhelming amount of people are being convicted with non-violent drug charges. Around 750,000 people were arrested in 2012 for violating marijuana laws; 87 percent of those were simple possession charges. 

Drugs can be dangerous, this is something everyone can agree on, but not all drug users are violent offenders. It is the people who illegally cultivate and distribute drugs that are the ruthless, money-hungry, criminals and the ones who pose an immediate threat to society. By legalizing marijuana we can regulate the cultivation of the plant and make the process much safer, all while decreasing criminal activity and potentially eliminating future violent crimes. 

The video below highlights some of the problems that surround prohibition in Canada, focusing in particular on the province of British Columbia.

Citations:

Perreault, S. (2013, July 25). Police-reported crime statistics in Canada. Retrieved from http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/85-002-x/2013001/article/11854-eng.htm?fpv=269303

Federal Bureau of Investigation. "Crime in the United States, 2012." Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, 2013.