Thaindian News

October 19, 2010 (Pen Men at Work): The question of legalizing the use of Marijuana has been simmering for some time now. Joycelyn Elders, the former U.S. Surgeon General told CNN on Sunday that she was all for legalizing pot. She was speaking to Don Lemon of the CNN and responded to whether legalizing Marijuana would make the situation worse. Elders had served under President Bill Clinton in 1993.

California is all set to start voting on Proposition 19 next month. An increased number of votes for the issue will see the recreational use of Marijuana being legalized all throughout the state. The federal officers, however, oppose the move and state that they would continue to enforce the drug law even if Proposition 19 is approved.

Elders went on to add that it was a horrible thing to criminalize young people who were really doing no harm. Pot is not a toxic substance she emphasized. She also stated that using up so much of the country’s resources in order to combat the use of Marijuana was wastage.

People supporting the issue point out the various advantages which include the additional revenue and saving of enforcement costs while the opposers highlight the side effects of taking the drug.

Elders further stated that the drug was not addictive in nature and stressed that alcohol which is legal is as bad if not worse than pot.

The U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, in the meantime has warned of a major fall back in federal partnerships between the state and the local drug enforcement authorities if the proposition is passed through next month.