6-23 IAN Marijuana 1

 Before I begin this report, let me make it patently clear that I am not a drug user as in illegal. Sure I drink beer…don’t smoke…cigarettes or marijuana and have never dabbled in any of that stuff. But a press release came across my computer that I had to look into. It came from Washington, DC and involves the Marijuana Policy Project or MPP, the nation’s largest marijuana policy reform organization…and they’re trying to legalize the use of this weed for medical and recreational purposes. First a few facts:

*Someone is arrested for a marijuana offense every 37 seconds.

*89% of these are for marijuana possession — not for sale or manufacture.

*In the U.S., there are more arrests for marijuana possession each year than for all violent crimes combined.

And according to MPP, Marijuana prohibition has failed. Mike Meno is the Director of Communications for MPP:  “Eventually we’d like to see marijuana taxed and regulated in a manner similar to alcohol”. Tomorrow we examine the agricultural implications of all of this.