Nu Vibez and Roleplay Guide Magazine - Jan/Feb 2016 | Page 26

LEGALIZING MARIJUANA: DOES THE GOOD OUTWEIGH THE BAD? Journalist: Scorpinosis Nightfire The legalization of Marijuana is supported by the majority of Americans and that support crosses party lines. One writer reported: At a recent National Conference of State Legislatures meeting in Seattle, nearly all policymakers who attended a session on legalizing marijuana said they expected their states would soon have to debate legalization, if they haven’t already. A study by the Pew Research Center released in April found that 53 percent of adults supported the legal use of marijuana However with the expansion of legalized marijuana usage, comes the related challenges of increased usage impacting everyday activities like driving for example. As more states make medical and recreational marijuana use legal, they increasingly are grappling with what constitutes DUID, or driving under the influence of drugs, and how to detect and prosecute it. And they’re finding it is more difficult than identifying and convicting drunken drivers. While marijuana is the substance, other than alcohol, 26 NU VIBEZ & ROLEPLAY GUIDE MAGAZINE most frequently found in drivers involved in car accidents, the rate at which it actually causes crashes is unclear. It comes as no surprise that with the pluses of legalizing pot usage comes negatives as well. The human factor in any equation of trying to get something good from anything we enjoy, is our tendency to over indulge versus intake in moderation.. There is no denying that medicinal Marijuana has been an effective tool in multiple situations where its positive results have been well documented for medical patients. However it seems like the benefits that come from recommended or authorized marijuana usage are always eclipsed by the more frequent reports of problems caused by unregulated over indulgence. I can see how at this point it may look as if this article is pro pot legalization with