Our War on Drugs Lacks Common Sense

By Ann

pic from nybarfly.com

A young calf emerges from the safety of its mother’s womb and opens her little eyes for the first time.  In a few minutes, she will be able to walk and start to process the world around her.  Her life is just beginning and she stays close to her mother for protection, for food, and for direction. But, before she can smell her first smell, walk her first step, or drink her first sip of milk, she is savagely raped to death by a young local with a tattoo that says “Why not”.

The delinquent stands in court and pleads guilty to killing this young baby calf by a vicious and cruel act.  He had intercourse with the newborn and when he admits this fact, the courtroom erupts in laughter rather than disgust.   

His act is only classified as a misdemeanor in this jurisdiction and he is only sentenced to a year of probation.

Immediately after the sadistic animal abuser, a young college kid pleads guilty to delivering marijuana to another college student. He sold a small amount of marijuana to a consenting adult who consumed it and who, if he continues to consume it- may (gasp) be vulnerable to a bout of bronchitis. Ironically, the courtroom is silent as the “offender” is solemnly sentenced.

The student is convicted of a felony and sent to jail. 

pic found at robertswriting.blogspot.com

A misdemeanor and a felony are two types of crimes.  In  a nutshell, a misdemeanor is a lesser crime than a felony.  Felonies have harsher penalties.   Some examples of felonies are rape and murder.  Some examples of misdemeanors are driving under the influence and retail theft.

Consequences 

Felonies are permanent scarlet letters.  

In addition to the everlasting stigma of having been convicted of a serious crime, a felon also faces loss of job opportunities, welfare benefits, access to public housing, and they are not eligible for student loans.  Further, a person convicted of a felony cannot vote, cannot serve on a jury, and cannot possess a firearm.  

pic can be found at richarddietrich.wordpress.com

What am I trying to say here?  Am I proselytising against the war on drugs? 

Am I making a statement that marijuana should be legal?  Am  I asking readers to rally their legislators to revoke archaic laws and support the sale of marijuana, tax it, and stimulate the economy while de-criminalizing good people?  Am I asking people to acknowledge the futility and inhumanity of making it a felony to deliver an herb that does not cause brain damage, genetic damage, or damage the immune system… does not kill brain cells or induce violent behavior…

No way!  The thought of imposing my opinion based on my legal experience, my degree from a criminal justice college, statistics, and plain old common sense makes me writhe in indignation! 

I wouldn’t do that.

I would just leave you with this…

The college student will not graduate from college.  He will not get a good job.  He will never be a teacher, a lawyer, a doctor, or a CEO.  He will not serve on a jury.  He will never get to vote.

But the cow killer.  He can.