Why Isn’t Cannabis Legal and Taxed Like Alcohol?

It is often argued that cannabis should be legalized and taxed similarly to alcohol, given its lower risk relative to traditional alcoholic beverages. Yet, the status quo remains: cannabis remains heavily regulated and illicit. This article examines the complex reasons behind this situation, involving political, economic, and social factors.

Why Cannabis Should Be Legalized and Taxed

The most compelling argument is the public health perspective. Alcohol and tobacco are heavily regulated and taxed due to documented health risks, including alcohol-induced organ damage and addiction. Like alcohol, cannabis is a psychoactive substance capable of altering perception and cognitive function. However, evidence suggests that cannabis is significantly less harmful, with fewer long-term negative impacts on physical and mental health.

Comparative Safety

Cannabis has a much lower risk profile compared to alcohol and hard drugs. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the likelihood of someone dying from an overdose of cannabis is essentially zero, in contrast to the thousands who die annually from alcohol-related causes. Furthermore, cannabis does not cause the same issues with organ damage or addiction as alcohol. These safety factors should logically prompt a debate on why cannabis should be treated similarly to alcohol in terms of regulation and taxation.

Political and Economic Barriers

The current reality is that cannabis is not only illegal but is also categorized as a Schedule I drug under the United States Controlled Substances Act, meaning it has no medical use and a high potential for abuse. This classification stems from a combination of historical, political, and economic factors.

Multinational Pharmaceutical Influence

A significant obstacle to cannabis legalization is the influence of pharmaceutical interests. It has been documented that pharmaceutical companies with interests in alcohol, tobacco, and other legal drugs actively lobby against cannabis legalization. Payments to politicians and the spread of misinformation about the dangers of cannabis are tactics used by these companies to maintain the current status quo.

Stigma and Culture

Culture and societal stigma play a critical role. Conservatively minded populations are often resistant to change, viewing cannabis primarily through the lens of moral or ideological debate rather than public health. The idea that cannabis is primarily a recreational drug is deeply ingrained, and many believe that it should remain illegal as a way to uphold moral values.

Historical Context and Racial Bias

The criminalization of cannabis has deep roots in historical and racial biases. Early prohibitive policies were often racialized, targeting communities of color, to create an aura of cultural and moral superiority. Even now, despite legal progress, the war on drugs has disproportionately affected minority communities, raising questions of racial justice and equity.

Lies and Misinformation

During the prohibition era, numerous false claims and misinformation campaigns were launched to justify the outlawing of cannabis. One of the most persistent myths is that cannabis causes schizophrenia, a claim that has since been debunked by medical research. This historical clustering of myths around cannabis highlights the need to address and correct these inaccuracies.

Health and Medical Use

One of the key areas of contention is the medical utility of cannabis. While many advocates argue for its therapeutic benefits, particularly in treating conditions like epilepsy, these claims are often met with skepticism. However, it is important to recognize that cannabis has been used therapeutically for centuries and not just in Western medical contexts.

William Brooke O’Shaughnessy, an Irish physician working in India, introduced the medical use of cannabis to the Western world in the 19th century. His work was based on observations of traditional Indian medicine, which noted the anticonvulsant properties of cannabis. This perspective highlights the limitations of Western medicine, which for too long dismissed knowledge from other cultures.

Conclusion

The reason why cannabis is not legalized and taxed like alcohol is a multifaceted issue involving economic interests, political lobbying, cultural attitudes, and historical inequities. While the evidence supports a more permissive approach to cannabis as a public health measure, overcoming entrenched interests and societal attitudes remains a significant challenge. The longstanding debate around cannabis underscores the need for a thorough examination of the data and a more empathetic and evidence-based approach to drug policy.