Iowa Representative Wants To Reform State’s Marijuana Laws
Iowa State Representative Bruce Hunter says he wants to introduce legislation that would decriminalize marijuana in Iowa. While some media outlets are describing the proposed bill as ‘legalization,’ it’s actually decriminalization. While I would love to see full legalization in Iowa, decriminalization is the right step. No one should ever have to sit in a cage because of marijuana.
“We’ve got a prison population that is made up of a lot of people that haven’t really committed a violent crime, other than smoking some marijuana,” Hunter said according to the Des Moines Register. “It doesn’t do anybody any good. We’re not fixing a drug problem by sending people to jail with a bunch of other drug problems.”
As always, there’s a reefer madness prohibitionist throwing around rhetoric. Steven Lukan, the director of the Governor’s Office of Drug Control Policy, said, ”A good analogy I was given is that back in the ’60s, smoking a joint was like drinking three beers. You achieved a quick high that didn’t stick around as long. Today smoking a joint can be like drinking a keg.” Really Mr. Lukan? Have you ever smoked a joint and compared it with drinking a keg? I rarely drink, and if I tried to drink a whole keg I would certainly end up in a hospital. However, no one, and I mean NO ONE, would go to the hospital after smoking a joint. I feel bad for the citizens of Iowa that have to put up with that crap.
Go get ’em Iowa. Decriminalization, medical, and beyond. Fight for what’s right. Fight for those that are wrongly incarcerated. Fight for those college students that had their financial aid taken away from them because they possessed marijuana. Fight for the suffering patients that are forced to use harmful pharmaceuticals because they can’t get safe access to medical marijuana. Iowa will be a better place due to your efforts!
