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The Legalization Movement



Imagine if you will, standing in the grocery store waiting to check out while the customer in front of you asks the clerk for a pack of Acapulco Gold marijuana cigarettes. It could happen, one day, if a group of liberal minded people have their way. According to Ibid, this group continues to grow larger every year. While I am sure other reasons exist for this current upswing, there are some basic points that I would like to cover. The recent incline of support continues for the legalization movement due most importantly to the discovery of certain medical benefits, then the excessive and unfair punishments handed down, and finally the integration of more liberals in the government.

Over the past several years the true benefits of marijuana, as a medicine, have been proven, says the Schedules of Controlled Substances, yet the federal government still does not allow for its legalization. In Nadelmann’s article, Abel points out that there have been debates on both sides of the spectrum, but the general consensus is that marijuana has been used for hundreds of thousands of years to treat certain ailments. (Abel) The Federal government still refuses to recognize the tremendous benefits marijuana possesses, but still stands by its statement that it is a

“gateway drug” and leads people to more harmful drugs. This theory has been disproved time and again throughout the many attempts at legalization. In studies done over the years, researchers have discovered that, when compared to other illegal drugs, marijuana has the lowest addiction rate, the least painful withdrawals, is the least deadly, and has the least amount of violence associated with the “high”.

For these reasons, the government (state and federal) cannot agree on prohibition. Several states, such as California, Washington, and Alaska, have passed laws allowing for the consumption of medicinal marijuana for persons with documentation of a condition known to be treatable with THC (the active component of marijuana). (Piper et al) This trend is quickly spreading throughout the states, causing more and more support for the proposed bill. (Whitlock) These trends do not seem to belong to one political party in particular, as support seems to come from every direction. Furthermore, members of the legislative department have found in favor of an “amendment” that will forbid the allotment of funds for the implementation of stricter laws in those states which have passed “medicinal consumption laws”. (Epstien) To better protect the members of our society using marijuana for medicinal purposes from prosecution, some states have created “patient registries”, which gives law enforcement officers a way to check the person’s health status. (National Organization…) In some states, there have even been organizations such as hospices that cater to those persons using the drug for medicinal purposes. (in text reference) Marijuana has been, for so long, associated with the irrational actions of the “hippes” form the sixties. With these newly discovered health benefits has come a new understanding from the general public, thus opening the door for more lax laws.

More and more citizens are asking that the “decriminalization” of marijuana be implemented in the United States, most saying that the current laws are much too strict. (Ibid) About seventy-two percent of the public feels that, for minor offenses of possession, there should only be a fine. (Stein) Even law enforcement officials and law makers see the criminalization of marijuana a waste of money, costing the government about ten to fifteen million dollars annually. (in text reference).

According to statistics, around 700,000 arrests are made every year for “marijuana offenses”, which is more than all other illegal drugs combined, with eighty-seven percent of those arrests for mere “possession” charges. (Ibid & Federal Bureau…) The punishments for these “crimes” range from paying a fine to spending years in prison. Many prosecutors state that “no one goes to jail for a simple possession charge”, but thousands are sent back to prison every year for a dirty urine test or possession while on parole or probation. (Alabama Sentencing Commission) There are some states which even go so far as to revoke or suspend a person’s driver’s license when they have a marijuana related charge. The federal government refuses the right to student aid for higher education to those convicted of any drug charges, while allowing someone that has committed much worse crimes, such as rape or murder, to still receive funds.

The reasoning behind “criminalization” is this; that making the laws stricter for adults will cause the young people to steer clear of the drug, thus preventing the repetitive cycle of addiction. When polled, many teenagers say that, despite the efforts to limit the accessibility of the drug, they still have no trouble finding it. The same teens also stated that the efforts sometimes “backfire” in that the general “taboo” of the drug makes it more desirable to rebellious young people. As new information is released about the intentional lies about marijuana’s effects this may also cause them to not believe the warnings from the authorities about more potentially harmful drugs. (Johnston) These harsh laws are even upsetting some of the more open-minded politicians, causing them to call for the reform of the current legislation.

The statement, “Trying to reduce heroin addiction by preventing marijuana use is like trying to reduce motorcycle fatalities by cracking down on bicycle riding.” is how a large number of the new politicians see the current laws. (Zimmer 37, 38) To state this simply, if there was no marijuana available, there would still be drug abuse in this country, and its replacement would most likely be more dangerous.

The admittance of past drug abuse by a number of well known public figures has opened a lot of eyes as well. Some of those which have admitted use are Al Gore, Bill Bradley, and John Kerry; as well as a few religious leaders. In the eyes of some, this admission has brought into perspective the broad usage of this mild drug. In recent polls researchers have found that almost one million Americans have tried marijuana at least once in their lives. (Substance Abuse…)

It has been found that most Americans that use marijuana use it for the same reasons as someone drinks beer or takes prescription anti-depressants—to relax from a stressful day at work. In a leading British medical journal they explored the theory that “marijuana might soon emerge as the aspirin of the twenty-first century, providing a wide array of medical benefits at low cost to diverse populations.”

So, why is it not illegal to go home and consume alcohol when the affects of alcohol are so much more devastating than the affects of marijuana? We have thousands of statistics proving the amount of deaths from drunk driving or other alcohol related deaths, yet the American government will not make this action illegal. In our quest to end the prohibition of alcohol we were faced with many challenges but finally, after the rising of the majority of the population, we lifted the ban on alcohol. In a report by Franklin P. Adams of the New York World, he stated the simple truth about the act of prohibition:

Prohibition is an awful flop,

We like it.

It can’t stop what it’s meant to stop

We like it.

It’s left a trail of graft and slime

It don’t prohibit worth a dime

It’s filled our land with vice and crime,

Nevertheless, we’re for it.

In conclusion may I just say that I support the legalization of marijuana because of the major boost it would have on our economy. There are so many people that buy marijuana from other countries and in turn boost that countries economy. Why not keep that money in the United States? I believe that, eventually, our law-makers will see that they are losing and wasting precious amounts of money on the war against marijuana. The people of this country are speaking their minds if anyone would sit up and listen. The uprising against prohibition will continue to grow because the awareness of medical purposes has grown, the nation as a whole has grown intolerant of the harsh laws, and because more liberal people that are willing to review the facts are finding their way into office. So, is it so unbelievable to think that we will be able to purchase marijuana from a tobacco establishment? Well, just look at what happened when we fought against the prohibition of alcohol. History does have a way of repeating itself.

OZZFEST: An Ultimate Experience



My thirteen year old daughter said it best when she described OZZFEST as, “a rolling carnival of heavy metal.” OZZFEST 2005 in Nashville, Tennessee, at Starwood Amphitheatre took place on August 31st. Beginning at ten a.m., twenty-three bands stormed the two stages one after another, driving the thundering music into the ears of thousands of spectators. The purpose of this massive concert was simple--to entertain the crowd of music hungry fans, young and old. Although this was the first year I had attended, the music festival has been taking place now for twelve years. Performer/Artist Ozzy Osborne has been essential in planning these gatherings of musicians in hopes of allowing new artists to gain national exposure as well as giving the audience several well known bands to enjoy. OZZFEST 2005 was definitely an ultimate heavy metal experience because of the extensive band line-up, the carnival like atmosphere, and the overall great value.

Let me start with the least important factor—expense. The ticket prices ranged from $31.50 to $150, depending on your seating level. For the least amount of money, you got a “general yard” ticket. These tickets allowed the holder to sit anywhere in the grassy areas around the main stage amphitheater. The holders of these tickets were also responsible for providing their own seating, many bringing blankets or lawn chairs. The view wasn’t much, but you still experienced the full intensity of the music. The next step up was the $55 ticket. At this price, you were provided seats but were not protected from the elements by the canopy. These seats gave a somewhat better view of the main stage. The next level seating was the $81 ticket. These tickets were in rows ten through twenty-five, which meant better than average viewing of the performers. These are the tickets that my daughter and I held. We were seated in row ten to the right of the stage and could see the bands well enough to get a few photographs. For those people willing to spend the big bucks—$150—the seats were in rows one through ten. The lucky holders of these tickets were able to gather around the stage, allowing for extremely close contact. One more great point is that no matter what level ticket you held, you were still able to watch the second stage bands in a “general admission” form. If you were brave enough to push through the mass of “moshing” people, you could witness the show from the front row. For the amount of money spent on actual tickets, the value was exceptional.

Another aspect of value was that the concert-goers were allowed to take in small backpacks or tote bags of food and drinks—non-alcoholic, of course. This alleviated some of the financial stress caused by other concerts. Starwood did provide a vast array of food: pizza, hamburgers, fries, hot dogs. They even had some “gourmet” foods; one such was Jack Daniels grilled meats. These all smelled absolutely wonderful, but they would put a dent in even the healthiest of pocket books. French fries and a small drink weighed in at a whopping $6.85. If you wanted Chicago style pizza, you had to shell out around ten bucks, depending on the topping choice. Drinks ranged from mild to wild including: lemonade, colas, mixed drinks, and even straight shots of hard liquor, but these luxuries were not affordable for everyone. If you purchased your tickets wisely and provided your own food and beverage, the concert was a great value, but there are other, more important aspects to be talked about.

The next wonderful element about this concert was the carnival-like atmosphere. Situated around the main stage were rows of booths and concessions of every kind. There were games to play ranging from throwing darts at balloons to finding the marijuana flavored sucker—all of which rewarded the participant some sort of prize. Merchants selling everything from concert memorabilia to drug paraphernalia were wound in and among other types of vendors. The prices of these items varied depending on exactly what the consumer was interested in. There were two unique booths at the concert we attended, which I am sure may vary depending on local laws. A tattoo booth was available for those willing to spend a little money and endure some pain while listening to the bands and also a body airbrushing booth, where airbrush artists would paint directly on the skin, giving the illusion of a tattoo, for those less dedicated to what they have put on their bodies. Even if your budget was slim, you could still enjoy the “midway” by just watching the interesting people walking around. It was like a freak show and it was absolutely awesome: strange dress, outrageous hair, overly-done make-up, and piercings that made you stop and wonder what they were thinking! The strangest person I can remember is a young man wearing a black, full-length, velvet cloak (in ninety degree heat) with black lipstick and eyeliner, and more metal in his face than in the motor of a car. My daughter and I enjoyed this as much as anything else.

There was one free and totally unique booth in the midway that seemed to attract the most attention. In the back of the viewing area for the second stage, there was a tent set up. In that tent were the bands that were scheduled to perform on that stage. They were available to answer questions, pose for photos, and sign autographs for any fan willing to stand in line. This was something I had never seen done before, and I was very impressed with the dedication to fans that the bands expressed. All of these reasons made this concert entertaining to anyone of just about any age.

The atmosphere set the stage for the best part of the show—the bands. Second stage performers included Rob Zombie, Killswitch Engage, Shadows Fall, As I Lay Dying, Mastodon, the Haunted, Arch Enemy, The Black Dahlia Murder, Bury Your Dead, and more. These sets started with the least known bands first, allowing fifteen to twenty minute time slots for the first four bands. The next five were allotted thirty minutes to play. This increase in time continued up until it reached an hour and fifteen minutes, which was allowed for none other than Rob Zombie. When his set was finished, there was a break of about 30 minutes to allow people to get to their seats for the main show.

For its 10th anniversary OZZFEST scheduled Black Sabbath (original members), Velvet Revolver, Black Label Society, Mudvayne, and In Flames as the main stage performers. In Flames lead the fury starting at around six p.m. and playing for forty-five minutes. Although I was not familiar with this band, I still enjoyed the growling bass lines and thundering drums. Next Mudvayne took the stage, playing for an even hour. Since I am not a fan of Mudvayne, we chose to check out the food selections, but there were plenty of rockers that made sure they made it to the floor to watch them. Black Label Society, featuring Zakk Wyldd, demanded the crowd’s attention with their abrasive lyrics and strong guitar riffs. They pounded the audience for an hour as well. Next was actually my favorite performance of the night, Velvet Revolver. Former STP front-man Scott Weiland belted out such tunes as “Slither” and “…Fall to Pieces” causing the fans to reach for their lighters in tribute. As they left the stage and the crowd cheered, the lights began to brighten. Anyone who has ever been to a concert knows what is about to happen. It is time for a quick set change. While waiting, there were several large screens that were playing the “Fuse” music video channel for entertainment. After about fifteen minutes the lights went black, and the audience roared with anticipation.

The members of Black Sabbath appeared on stage one at a time. Front man Ozzy Osborne emitted an energy that quickly spread over the crowd. He owned the stage for almost two hours, singing all of the tunes that made Sabbath a heavy metal icon. It was amazing to watch the original members of a band that has been around for decades. As always, Ozzy made sure to pay tribute to the “Guitar God”, Rhandy Rhoades (whose life tragically ended in 1982) by playing the song “Crazy Train”. After two encores, the band finally ended the show with “Black Sabbath”. After taking their bows, the members left the stage and the lights came on—end of the show.

The outstanding line-up, highly entertaining atmosphere, and overall value made this a concert for all ages, drawing together generations that may not have otherwise been in the same place. If you are looking for an ultimate musical experience, then I strongly suggest that you get tickets to the 2007 OZZFEST. As an avid concert-goer, I have been to many shows, but I have never enjoyed one as much as I did OZZFEST. I would really love to see some more of the well established bands offer the same advantage to the underground music circuit as well. What this music festival does for the bands and the fans alike is worth praising. As my final thought, I would like to quote Ozzy himself and say, “You can’t kill rock and roll!”

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