Ingrid Weir

First of all, no, I am not a pot smoker. That is not my reasoning for supporting the cause.

Would I partake if it were legal? Perhaps. I would over taking an Ativan or Xanax any day of the week, and goodness knows that if I were to have cancer or a number of other ailments, I would definitely like the option... the option to not go to a doctor, pay my copay (as long as God-willing, I am one of the fully insured in the US), and then, go through a pharmaceutical company then pharmacy to buy it. Nope, I would like to be able to go down to the same place I can buy Jose Cuervo or Jägermeister... or cigarettes, Redbull, lottery tickets, and a whole host of other things that are very bad for you if abused.

Why? Because I'm a grownup, and I can make that decision for myself.

I can make the decision to go to Vegas and blow all of my money in one fell swoop if I want... but if you smoke pot, you go to jail, have a criminal record, and it follows you the rest of your life.

Did you know that an estimated 858,408 Americans were arrested for cannabis violations in 2009. This accounted for over 52% of all drug arrests in the United States... and all illegal drug violations accounted for roughly 13% of all arrests in the US that year...

• Every 30 SECONDS, someone is arrested for a marijuana violation in the US...
• 89% are arrested for possession, only.

Now, I ask you, when is the last time you heard the headline, "A Local Man Said to be High on Marijuana Killed His Entire Family Last Night"?

You haven't, have you? You've heard of people drinking too much tequila or even beer, taking prescription drugs, and a whole host of other things, but marijuana? Nope.

Now, this isn't to say that marijuana doesn't have its drawbacks, and I am not even saying it is a good thing to smoke pot.

I am simply saying that ...

1. People are already doing it...
2. We're wasting money trying to fight this war on pot...
3. Good people, who are otherwise law-abiding citizens, are treated like common criminals because they chose to smoke the reefer...
4. There are far, far, more harmful substances that are completely legal...
5. The war on marijuana supports gang activity and terrorism...
6. There are a whole host of other reasons, too including the medical aspects, but this is becoming long-winded...

My solution? I've said this for a long time, and finally, thanks to Mr. Willie Nelson, others are really starting to grab on to it, too...

LEGALIZE IT

Stop the criminalization of otherwise law-abiding people, take the power from criminal drug dealers, and stop wasting money on a drug war we will never win.

REGULATE IT

Stop dealers and users alike from adding dangerous additives including but not limited to lacing marijuana with date-rape drugs.

TAX IT

I know we hate taxes and all, but they are important for things such as education, roads, protective services such as the police, fire department, and of course, the Department of Family and Children's Services.

Once again, I reiterate that I am not a pot smoker, but I am an American, tax-paying adult of sound mind, and I believe that if we are to advance in this country, we need to concentrate on more important things than prohibition. It didn't work for alcohol, and it isn't working for marijuana either. Help us take back the power from criminals and let the police focus on more important criminals and actual matters of public safety!

Thanks for your support, and thank you to Mr. Willie Nelson for his help in raising awareness of this matter!

If you are in the Kennesaw, Georgia are on January 18, 2011, we are holding a Teapot Party Rally.

Click Here to go to the Facebook Event and RSVP!