WEEK 2

1/11/2016

States Rights/Federalism - Historical & Contemporary Context

A defining characteristic of the United States is our federalist stance. Our model of government enables states (and sometimes territories) to have a partially autonomous legislative and legal system within the national structure. The relationship between the federal government and the states has been contentious from the start. Issues of constitutionality and morality are generally at the center of these debates.

This nuanced relationship between the federal regulations, laws and practices with the cultural differences in each state has shown to be tenuous and draining on our political system.

Below there are two excerpts from online publications that highlight a historical and contemporary issue that provides additional context to this central question in American political institutions. Choose one and comment below answer the guiding questions.

Marijuana Reform/ A Statement by - Ethan Nadelmann:
    The suggestion that reform of marijuana prohibition laws in the United States must start by focusing on federal and international law is simply an excuse for inaction. Federal law in this area will only change as a result of political pressures associated with changes in state laws. This does not mean that no efforts should be made to change federal and international laws, just that reforming state laws is an essential part of the political process by which federal and international marijuana prohibition laws will ultimately be reformed and repealed. Keep in mind too that this country has a long tradition of states serving as incubators for innovative policy reforms.
     Kevin makes two other mistakes in his commentary. It’s not true – although I wish it were – that "most places punish the use of small amounts of marijuana similarly to a speeding ticket." Few people are handcuffed or taken to a police station or incarcerated in a jail for speeding tickets, but all those indignities routinely are applied to people arrested for possession of small amounts of marijuana. Government employees won’t lose their jobs for a speeding ticket but they may very well for a marijuana possession arrest. Punishment can be even more severe if the person arrested is among the roughly five million Americans on parole or probation, often for very minor offenses. Millions of Americans have suffered much worse than the equivalent of a speeding ticket in recent years for nothing more than being caught with a little marijuana.
     As for the comparison with alcohol, the costs of alcohol abuse are so great in good part because alcohol can be a remarkably dangerous and destructive drug for a minority of consumers – much more so than marijuana. There is no basis to assume that the costs of marijuana misuse would be anything comparable to those of alcohol misuse if marijuana were made legally available.

Ethan Nadelmann is Executive Director of the Drug Policy Alliance. Excerpt from: http://reason.com/archives/2012/10/09/marijuana-and-states-rights-a-reason-deb.

Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857)
    In Dred Scott v. Sandford (argued 1856 -- decided 1857), the Supreme Court ruled that Americans of African descent, whether free or slave, were not American citizens and could not sue in federal court. The Court also ruled that Congress lacked power to ban slavery in the U.S. territories. Finally, the Court declared that the rights of slave owners were constitutionally protected by the Fifth Amendment because slaves were categorized as property.
    The controversy began in 1833, when Dr. John Emerson, a surgeon with the U.S. Army, purchased Dred Scott, a slave, and eventually moved Scott to a base in the Wisconsin Territory. Slavery was banned in the territory pursuant to the Missouri Compromise. Scott lived there for the next four years, hiring himself out for work during the long stretches when Emerson was away. In 1840, Scott, his new wife, and their young children moved to Louisiana and then to St. Louis with Emerson. Emerson died in 1843, leaving the Scott family to his wife, Eliza Irene Sanford. In 1846, after laboring and saving for years, the Scotts sought to buy their freedom from Sanford, but she refused. Dred Scott then sued Sanford in a state court, arguing that he was legally free because he and his family had lived in a territory where slavery was banned. In 1850, the state court finally declared Scott free. However, Scott's wages had been withheld pending the resolution of his case, and during that time Mrs. Emerson remarried and left her brother, John Sanford, to deal with her affairs. Mr. Sanford, unwilling to pay the back wages owed to Scott, appealed the decision to the Missouri Supreme Court. The court overturned the lower court's decision and ruled in favor of Sanford. Scott then filed another lawsuit in a federal circuit court claiming damages against Sanford's brother, John F.A. Sanford, for Sanford's alleged physical abuse against him. The jury ruled that Scott could not sue in federal court because he had already been deemed a slave under Missouri law. Scott appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, which reviewed the case in 1856. Due to a clerical error at the time, Sanford's name was misspelled in court records.
(Excerpt from: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/supremecourt/antebellum/landmark_dred.html)

Who benefits from the decisions being made on the issues above? (drug policy, citizenship rights, racism)
What realities about American political culture did you learn when reading about the "case" you chose?
In what ways could this issue be transformed? How would you change the dynamics (push and pull factors) of this political issue?

Requirements for BLOG POSTS

You must write 250 words each post (due Thursday @ Midnight), Responses to two other students 50 words each (due Sunday @ midnight)
Students must post during the week the blog is assigned or it will not be graded.

92 Comments

Elena Saldivar

1/13/2016 12:01:25 pm

In the Dred Scott V.S Sandford case the benefits that it gives in the modern age is that now immigrants who are applying for citizenship or who just became citizens in America are now protected under the constitution, regardless of ethnicity or color of there skin. The reality that hit for me was that African Americans who were brought over to the Americas as slaves were consider property, not human beings in the time of slavery and the government and white settlers was blinded by the fact that they could make a profit from selling them and a source of labor for many plantation owners. Even though we have come a long way in racial equality it is still an issue that we still face with today. The way that I feel the issue could be transformed is to expand this issue to other minority groups in our country and to people who are now coming over either to seek a better life or as we recently seen to many of the refuges who are trying to escape the continuing war in Palestine. Even though there may be many people out there with their different opinions on recent issue in the news. It is ok for people to have there opinions, but I think wise to help change the dynamic is to put yourselves into there shoes and think of what is happing in there country to make them want to leave. Try to take a look at both sides.

Nadia Villanueva

1/17/2016 09:37:27 pm

I agree with you about the impact of bringing African American as slaves to here without treating them like human beings. Also I like your opinion and the alternative solution of emphatizing thinking in big groups starting from small ones.

Nimsy Velasquez

1/17/2016 11:31:41 pm

I really like that you respect other peoples opinions and you are open to take a look at both sides of what is happening. I agree with you in all the points that you made. It is still shocking to me that they would treat human beings as if they were an object.

Adriana Serna

1/13/2016 02:03:48 pm

When looking at the Dred Scott v. Sandford case and the decision to overturn the lower courts decision and rule in favor of Sandford, it brought to attention the injustice of slavery and the injustice done to the African American's living in the United States at that time. What is appalling about this case is that Dred Scott and his family were living in a territory where slavery was banned and after the state court declared him free, it was taken away because Missouri law deemed him a slave and therefore could not sue because he had no right to do so. That just shows the misuse of power by the state and the Supreme Court in the United States. In the end, the decision made on this case benefited the people who faced racism and injustice because it showed how mistreated African Americans were, or any race for that matter. It fueled the Civil Rights Movement and any other who faced racism or wanted equal citizenship rights in the United States. Because this case happened in our history we are able to look back on it and help defend the mistreated people and stop unjust laws against humans of all races. The realities I learned about American political culture when reading about the Dred Scott V. Sandford case is that the political system of the U.S. is corrupt, unfair, and there is extreme misuse of power. We can always use the Dred Scott V. Sandford case to reflect upon and learn from so that we can reduce the injustice of the system even though racism is still apparent in our political culture. We must do our part when we see racism, bullying, or any misuse of power, even if what we do seems small.

1/14/2016 02:10:18 pm

I might also add that the Dred Scott v. Sanford case fueled the civil war when the tensions between the two sides built because of the case.

Eskarletl Ruiz

1/14/2016 08:12:42 pm

I think it's terrible that this happened. Those people did not deserve what happened to them, and then once they were finally free and no longer slaves, they were discriminated against and again the constitution was not protecting their rights even though they were now seen as people. They suffered for a long time, and still suffer to this day because the discrimination was not fully gone away, but has definitely improved. It could this use more improving.

Brandon L

1/14/2016 10:10:39 pm

One interesting thing is whether it really was misuse of power in the mentality the country was currently in; to have a system and economy run primarily on a force such as slavery. I think the mentality of most people during that time was one not in favor by any means to Scott. This could be both racism and economic issues.

Matthew Mullen

1/16/2016 04:11:56 am

I think it is extremely worthy to note all the examples of learning from the Dred Scott case that you mention in your post. To think that the case fueled the civil rights movement is an unsettling feeling because it brings up how not only in this situation, but a lot of instances throughout history where something truly terrible has to happen in order for there to be a worthwhile change, or in this case a, a racial revolution in which so many people rose up and fought for their rights and for the rights of all people of all ethnicities.

Trevor Davies

1/16/2016 12:44:59 pm

During the 1850’s people had a different perspective on what constituted a person. The terrible misfortune that happened to Dred Scott showed the injustice in our judicial system. While residing in a free state that abolished slavery, the court system did not consider him to be a citizen, therefore, could not expect any protection from the government.

Calvin Nuttall

1/17/2016 08:42:24 pm

I appreciate your emphasis on the Supreme Court's misuse of power in this case. While it was indeed within the court's authority to rule Scott unable to counter-sue, it was unfair and only a method of silencing him on an issue where he may have been victorious if he has been given due process of law as a full citizen of the country.

Ha Mac Bach Thien

1/17/2016 10:59:45 pm

I agree with you that the court does not always make a good decision and there is misuse of power. I am so glad that slavery is just a past, but there are till discrimination nowadays. Also we should keep this case in mind so that we can fight for unfair cases that are still happening in out society.

Payton Palazzolo

1/13/2016 03:03:24 pm

In looking at the statement made by Ethan Nadelmann on the subject of Marijuana Reform, we can see the issues regarding the difference between State and Federal Law. The government continually makes attempts in having you believe that the prohibition laws against marijuana are strictly a Federal matter, when in all actuality, these prohibition laws can be handled at the state level. Nathan also argues that in order to ultimately repeal the prohibition of marijuana on a Federal level, individual States must take a stand and repeal it first. This is an argument that I agree with. Another absurdity about marijuana is how many individuals are incarcerated for having small amounts of this substance on them. In fact, 52% of all drug arrests in 2010 were for marijuana. Of the 8.2 million marijuana arrests between 2001 and 2010, 88% were for simply having marijuana. Nationwide, the arrest data revealed a consistent trend as well. Despite roughly equal rates, Blacks were 3.73 times more likely to be arrested for marijuana than whites. Now when in comes to benefits, I'm not too sure where I stand. I feel that legalizing marijuana may have some financial benefits for our country (via taxes) however, I'm not sure as to what it would to to our nation socially. Although most of the time marijuana "relaxes" you and is seemingly less harmful than alcohol, you still have to account for the individuals that may smoke and don't become "relaxed." The substance has different effects on different people, and is still somewhat harmful. Overall, this excerpt from Nathan goes to show that the American political system is still somewhat skewed and needs direction. As a citizen, I think that in order to repeal this prohibition and change the dynamics of this country, we must show our political leaders that the pro's of this repeal greatly outweighs the con's. If that can be proven, than this country will definitely see some change on both the Federal and State levels in regards to the topic of marijuana prohibition.

Arienna Jones

1/14/2016 12:36:18 pm

The statistic in your post really surprised me! Especially that 88% were arrested for only having it, not using it. I definitely agree with you that our nation's system of government needs some work. I was also kind of in the same boat as you with not knowing what the effect of legalizing all marijuana would have on our society, its hard to make a prediction with those kinds of things.

1/17/2016 08:50:14 pm

I think that legalizing it would have positive benefits for users and growers alike. Legal competition between growers would result in lower prices and improved product! Not to mention, a huge amount of revenue for the government in the form of taxes on growers and distributors. Similarly to tobacco, marijuana smoke does have carcinogenic effects on the lungs (as does breathing any smoke containing soot particles) so access would have to be limited within reasonable health restrictions.

Melissa Nevarez

1/14/2016 07:30:57 pm

I do agree that marijuana has different effects on people. Some do feel more relaxed and some don't. I also agree that if we show the political leaders more pro's than con's it can make a big change. More positive change. And since there were alot of arrests due to marijuana position, I feel like it'll definitely decrease by a big percentage.

Kaysie Nassman

1/14/2016 09:06:13 pm

I agree with this!! As far as seeing any transformation on the issues with marijuana, there needs to be some solid evidence of its pros and cons. I think that with this certain topic, yes its not for everyone, BUT the fact of the matter is with it not being for everyone, not many people are well educated on the topic and that goes for the people forming the rules and regulations. Lets be realistic.

Noel Alejandre

1/14/2016 11:54:17 pm

its sad how there has been many arrest simply for the possession of marijuana. even sadder that most of the people getting arrested are the minorities. its proven that marijuana does not kill people and its not harmful. why try to banned something that has a lot of benefits. i think it has already proven that it helps the sick people, why keep doubting the benefits of the plant. It should just be legalize nation wide.

1/15/2016 10:32:02 pm

I find it extremely sad but not at all surprising that more African Americans were arrested than whites. Just like with everything else, it seems like there is a bias in our society that African Americans do more drugs, and over all commit more crime when there is just as many whites, or any other race for that matter, that take drugs or commit crimes. In fact I knew more white classmates in my high school that took drugs, in particular marijuana. That just proves further how prejudice people can be, how prejudice law enforcement can be towards people of color. It is unfair and very upsetting. I also agree with you about being unsure how beneficial it would be for our nation. It can have a negative affect on people but maybe if it becomes legal then there would be less incarceration against one group more than the other.

1/16/2016 12:44:11 pm

With all the statistical data shown here, it’s hard to understand the reasoning behind the federal government’s need to restrict national consumption of marijuana. We currently spend more on each prison inmate then children in school. Prisons are over crowed as it is and so the legalization of marijuana would prevent more people from going to jail for petty marijuana crimes.

Kevin Manago

1/16/2016 02:50:36 pm

To be honest that's such a crazy, but somewhat realistic statistic, considering the way many people in our country act towards black people. There are always a lot of videos about police brutality, and I am sure the majority of these brutality assaults are from white male police officers, to black victims. It's crazy, because why would a certain ethnicity be treated differently just based on something they can't control? If a white man and a black man were both to be caught with marijuana, chances are only the white man would get out of that situation safely.

George Boxberger

1/17/2016 11:44:18 pm

I agree that cannabis would best be legalized on a per state basis. However, federal law is able to supercede state law, and cannabis is classified as a Schedule 1 substance by the federal government, effectively making it very illegal in the eyes of the federal government, as per the Controlled Substances Act. It will be necessary for Congress to repeal the presence of cannabis as part of the Controlled Substances Act in order for states to legalize it. Also, the causes of an individual smoking cannabis should not necessarily be given tons of weight, as many people believe that the government has no right to dictate what you may or may not put in your own body. Government attempts on prohibition do not keep the substance out of the hands of those who desire it, so we are therefore best served by legalization, and allowing the federal government to regulate it then.

Justine Calso

1/13/2016 10:50:48 pm

The issue of marijuana reform should be handled by state governments instead of the federal government. Even though marijuana is a drug, the federal government should focus more of their time and resources on more serious and harmful substances. If marijuana was legalized in most, if not all, municipalities, more money would go to the state. Jobs would also be created by opening cannabis dispensaries. Also, individuals would buy more groceries, pay more sales tax, which would in turn, help improve their state. Law enforcement would save more money, resources and time if they didn’t have to make arrests for the possession of marijuana. I learned that possession of marijuana on probationers could send them back to jail. It is ludicrous that individuals in possession of less harmful drugs are punished and sentenced harshly. Both drug possession and speeding are examples of breaking the law, but one punishment ends with a ticket and the other could end with a record. To me, marijuana has such a negative connotation to many people when it is mentioned. Government officials need to see that marijuana and cannabis can do wonderful things for individuals with illnesses. It is not something that one should be processed for. It aids with depression, glaucoma, anxiety, sleep disorders, and stress. However, those who apply for a medical marijuana card should be thoroughly tested to make sure they really do need one, rather than everyone just name a health issue they may have and hope they are given a card.

1/14/2016 12:41:01 pm

Your post on this was really interesting, I definitely agree that the tests for those applying to use marijuana to help with those things (which really surprised me I didn't know it helped with all of that!) needs to be rigorous. I just wonder what the effect of legalizing the use of marijuana would be on our culture - not just our government. I think that marijuana has a bad reputation for a reason - because though it helps some, it can affect others in different ways, making it harder to control.

1/14/2016 07:38:08 pm

I definitely agree that if marijuana was legalized the States would have more money. Almost a lot of people go to cannabis dispensaries and if it ever gotten legalize, more people would spend more. The money can go to good causes as well. Such as groceries, or just pretty much anything we need.

Yunlin Xie

1/15/2016 12:11:38 am

I quite agree government can get a lot of tax if marijuana is legalized. That is also the major reason why I think legalizing marijuana might be a way to deal the issue talked in this case. No matter how strict the restriction of marijuana is, people will still find a way to get it if they want to. Just legalizing it might be the best way, because you can not reduce the use of marijuana anyway. Why not get more money to do something else for citizens?

1/14/2016 12:31:54 pm

In the article about legalizing marijuana, I think that the people who use marijuana for medical or recreational purposes benefit. I learned a lot from this article. I didn’t know that restrictions for marijuana use are regulated so strictly as compared to speeding tickets. I didn’t know that that many people were incarcerated for using or having marijuana on them, no one that I know that uses it has ever been arrested. I guess that just attests to the huge numbers of people in our society today that do use it. I think that if I had an influence into this issue, I would definitely want to legalize the use of medical marijuana, if it really could help people. I think it is important to give people the best help that they can get. The contrast of the speeding tickets and drug use is pretty drastic, but to me it makes sense. This argument, and every argument, has two sides – and each side should work to communicate an agreement with the other. The dynamics of this issue could be changed in great ways if a) fair laws were put in place and b) people abided by those laws. It is necessary that the laws we have in our society are realistic, reasonable, and written in an understanding of the people they will apply to. But it is also necessary that these laws are followed – otherwise the purpose of the laws are lost, as is the structure they could potentially provide.

Antonio Villa

1/14/2016 03:58:11 pm

I love how courts are the rooms of wisdom and the people making all key verdicts are upheld and called "your honor" when they can be a great dishonor to human kind and the existence of life. It is ideal that when a nation unites and fights for freedom and independence, it would apply to all; but when it is convenient to do so; particularly in cases that would maintain/ increase wealth or power, solid words that were expressed to represent concrete ideas suddenly become loose and fluid for people to "interpret" for their own benefit and selfish needs. The Dread Scott case is a necessary struggle that lead to more questions, progression, and knowledge. Without such a struggle, and without the clerical error that allowed the supreme justices to pick out the case in the first place; there would have been more time of ignorance and tolerated abuse among the entire population. The folks who benefit from black people being seen as non-citizens and not human were the white-slave owning crowd that made their wealth on the expense of the lives of slaves as well as the politicians who considered them a fraction of a human in order to gain representation, while not representing the needs of the enslaved people in their states. How convenient. I see more and more on how the idea, the word "rights" is a shitty tool and illusion to mislead others on what they really have, which is privileged. The all powerful, all knowing, and all owning few dictate the worth of the people. They throw you a bone to keep you grateful and in line, but in a swift second your privileged can cease to exist while they judge your worth based off of how you look or an actions you undertake that contradicts their beliefs. This issue could have been transformed if other nations became involved and in some way by impacting the income of the slave labor production through an embargo of some sort, but not many argue with a low cost that can only exist while some less valued group pays that price for them.

brandon L

1/14/2016 10:15:36 pm

Your ending statements that included other nations to become involved sounded interesting to me because a ton of southern nations had slavery and to a degree a whole lot worse than the amount of slavery the United States had. So slavery during this era wasn't just United States nor was it the biggest consumer of slaves. But interesting no doubt what if other nations intervened on this mutilation of a singled out ethnic group.

Keyan Mehrabi link

1/14/2016 11:00:05 pm

What you said was so true and it amazes me. Freedom and rights don't really exist in America nowadays. People break the rules they sometimes get away with it. People do something that is legal, they could be killed. The government does what they want whether it's legal or not because they have the power too. So for people to say that America is the land of freedom is completely false. One day you can be alive, one day you can be gone. You have to protect yourself and take precautions because people are crazy and you can't assume that someone won't kill you. As crazy as that sounds :D

1/15/2016 12:43:51 am

Thanks to this case, people are able to see black people’s struggle, otherwise, black people and slaves would have a longer suffering time without independence and freedom. I agree on the statement that “right” sometimes is an illusion, which is privileged. This reminds me of my country, in my country there is no such thing called ”human rights”, because it is an illusion, a lie.

1/14/2016 05:25:38 pm

In the case of cannabis, those who will benefit from its legalization include many racial minorities. This is due to a significant racial gap in arrests made by police officers (predominantly white) that heavily favors white drug users and disproportionately affects cannabis users of color. In theory, cannabis prohibition laws are intended to equally discourage cannabis use and punish it across racial lines, however, in practice, prohibition of cannabis is used as a means of pushing a racist agenda towards racial minorities, and allowing for greater incarceration of racial minorities in comparison to black people. Cannabis manufacturers and the overall cannabis industry would greatly benefit if states were to gradually legalize the sale of cannabis. The current state of cannabis prohibition greatly aids the pharmaceutical industry, so much so that the pharmaceutical industry has successfully lobbied Congress and the government to oppose the legalization of cannabis. This is because legal cannabis would adversely affect the profit margins made by the pharmaceuticals for conditions that cannabis is able to treat.
I learned that American political culture is often very partisan, due to the nature of the two party system. The article reaffirmed this point, and reaffirmed that many people view political issues as being black and white, a battle of good versus evil, when, in practice, plenty of grey area exists for almost any given political issue. Many people are simply ideological hardliners, and are unwilling to compromise. The American political culture as a whole lacks pragmatism, both from its citizens and its politicians.
This issue of cannabis prohibition can be best transformed by, of course, legalizing its sale and production, and ending the unsuccessful War on Cannabis and the larger War on Drugs. The most straightforward way to do so at this point is to support presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, who wants to remove cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act, and wants to remove the role of the federal government in punishing individuals for cannabis related infractions. Push factors for the legalization of cannabis include desires to incarcerate people for nonviolent crimes, reducing the US prison population, as well as reallocating police resources towards more pressing matters other than an individual smoking cannabis. Cannabis industry advocates and workers are also pushing for cannabis legalization. However, the tobacco and pharmaceutical industries are vehemently lobbying Congress against the legalization of Cannabis, as there is lots of potential for the Cannabis industry to make both the tobacco and pharmaceutical industries less profitable. This issue could also be transformed by allowing people to view the prohibition of cannabis in the same light as the unsuccessful prohibition of alcohol in the United States in the 1920’s. When the government attempts to legislate morality and ban certain substances, it does not make those substances unattainable. Rather, it gives the black market, as well as some criminals and gang members to have a monopoly on cannabis and drugs, and allows people to profit, who should not be making tons of money. The least bad option is clearly to legalize cannabis, as giving retailers the power to sell cannabis will alleviate young people from obtaining it. Drug dealers will still sell cannabis to minors, as they are seeking to make a quick profit. Finally, I would change the dynamics of this issue by portraying cannabis use as a personal choice, which others have no business in interfering with. We should not attempt to legislate morality, and instead, use laws and police force towards more urgent needs. The stigma of using cannabis must be removed as well, in order to allow for reasonable discussion and debate regarding its legalization.

1/15/2016 12:04:36 am

I agree that some of the people that would benefit out of legalizing marijuana are the minorities. In states where its not legal, many of them get arrested for having a little or a lot of marijuana and get sent to jail. in places where its legal, the states are the ones that benefit the most because they are taxing it. this just brings in millions of dollars for the state.

1/16/2016 02:58:55 pm

It's surprising how most arrest cases of cannabis are related to black people. Most white people who get caught with it are probably just given a verbal warning again and again, while blacks are arrested for even carrying a little amount. The police system is majorly biased which is causing animosity towards people of different color.

1/14/2016 06:00:33 pm

1.If marijuana is legalized, I think three groups of people will get the benefits. First, the government. There is no doubt that government can begin to collect taxes from those who produce marijuana, who carry marijuana with them, and who consume marijuana. Second, the sellers. If marijuana is legalized, the consumption of it will probably increase. The sellers must increase the production of marijuana, then they can obtain more profits. Third, consumers also benefit from this decision. If marijuana is legalized, consumers do not need to worry about being arrested for possession of small amounts of marijuana. They are more free to buy and use it.
2.I am not familiar with American political culture, but I did learn something new. I never knew the use of marijuana was so strict, before I thought America was a pretty free country so that people had access to a lot of stuff including drugs. Besides, I found ordinary people were usually the “target” (who are forced to pay the most). I did not mean restriction of marijuana was a bad thing, but what I want to say is that the “big issues” should be dealt with first instead of such small problems (possession of a small amount of marijuana). It is good to restrict drugs because drugs is harmful to our health (it is not a good stuff). However, I believe there must be a more effective and better way to do it.
3. One way: I think the law related to the regulation of marijuana should be more specific. For example there should be exact numbers of marijuana that people cannot carry with them. Once beyond a certain weight, people will get specific punish. Another way: Just legalize the marijuana, it might be the best way. Government can receive more tax and people can stop argue. No matter how strict the regulation of marijuana is, people who want it can still figure out a way to get it . What the government can do is education, making people realize that marijuana is a bad stuff.

1/17/2016 07:05:35 pm

It's really awesome to see that you can provide simple suggestions that many politicians don't even discuss due to the stigma behind marijuana. The tax on the drug would bring in tremendous revenue, but the truth is that the government has been making and wasting money over the fight against a PLANT. There are poisonous plants that harm you severely in many parks and wouldn't be a single law restricting you from having it in your home garden. The sad part is that marijuana actually helps so many people, some who don't even suffer from serve illness. Too many would benefits could come from reform; except for law enforcement agencies, pharmaceutical addictive-pill pushers and correctional facilities.

It's so funny how certain laws, that start off as bogus ways to criminalize groups of people, are becoming modified and unwritten due to the misinformation they were established on. From the slaves becoming "free" to the people serving time being released for possession or sale of marijuana, what is the government say to them then? WHOOPS? Sorry for all of your lost time and horrible experience.

Chelsea Payaqui

1/17/2016 08:19:16 pm

I completely agree that the comparison between the punishments of drug crimes versus bigger crimes is drastic. I think it's ridiculous the amount of time that has to be paid for a petty crime like possession can be longer than someone who's gotten a speeding ticket. I think it just shows that the justice department has too many gaps and lapses in the way they execute their decisions.

Shawn Park

1/14/2016 06:08:12 pm

In the case for marijuana reform by Nathan Nadelmann and Kevin Sabet, the groups that would benefit most would be the state and minorities effected by current marijuana laws and regulation. The biggest issue with marijuana laws is the number of incarcerations the United States display over the smallest possession of marijuana. The incarcerations deeply effect the minorities of this country especially the African American and Latino groups. In this case, Kevin Sabet made the comparison to a speeding ticket and a marijuana arrest being treated equal, However as Nadelmann explained, this is not the case. A speeding ticket unless going over 100 miles per hour will not land you in jail. With Marijuana, it often leads to jail time and job loss because of the social implications of marijuana.In this case, you can clearly see the hypocrisy of the American political system. Alcohol and cigarettes have been proven to lead to health issues, addiction, and possibly death, but we do not have harsh regulations on these issues like marijuana. Sabet also brought up the issues of increased use if legalized, however marijuana is readily available whether in legal or illegal means to all age group and societal impacts are unknown until actions are taken for legalization. I believe that the federal government should have no say on how each states can handle marijuana laws and regulation. Like Colorado, we need to see how states can reform marijuana laws on their own. If we keep letting the federal government "reform" marijuana laws, we will be stuck in this guessing game debating social and economic gains and losses with no clear answer and same issues.

1/16/2016 12:19:11 pm

Very interesting on how you were able to make comparisons between small felonies that may or may happen to someone. It also gets me thinking on this subject a little bit by your analysis on the health issue when you compared it with the cigarettes, alcohol and it heath hazards.

1/17/2016 08:35:14 pm

Yes, I feel like once your name becomes associated with drugs, there is instant judgement that you have to face. To me, it seems like the justice system has been built to keep the minorities in a cycle in which they can’t escape. It’s like once you commit a crime, there’s no coming back from it.

1/17/2016 11:49:01 pm

I agree that it is very silly that the most dangerous thing about cannabis is being caught with it. This may land you in jail, and could go on your criminal record, severely hurting future career prospects. Instead, we must focus on educating people on the risks and benefits of cannabis, and have facilities and services available for those who are attempting to quit. Also, I would argue that prosecuting and jailing nonviolent cannabis offenders is a waste of taxpayer dollars, and is unnecessarily crowding the prison system. I agree that it makes no sense to allow alcohol to be legal, while also insisting that cannabis must remain illegal.

Chrissy Bishop

1/14/2016 07:04:20 pm

In regards to the Marijuana Reform, Ethan Nadelmann I don't see this as a situation that anyone could win in. The marijuana laws in the state of California keep changing and it's hard to keep track of all the changes. When Nadelmann speaks about political pressures does that also mean "we the people" pressure the Government into the legalization of marijuana? I've had friends get pulled over before and have had their car searched because the vehicle apparently smelt like marijuana, when my friend doesn't smoke at all. Maybe it was because he is mixed race half Mexican half White. Maybe it was because he was speeding, but the way he tells the story the cop never notified him of speeding. In some countries they have legalization of most drugs. Take Portugal for example in 2001 they became the first European country to officially abolish all criminal penalties for personal possession of drugs. With this people who are found guilty of possessing small amounts of drugs are sent to a panel of people who are there to help to find the appropriate treatment rather than jail time. Also they saw a drop in the amount of illegal drug use in teens and HIV contractions by 17% between 1999-2003. If they were to do the same thing here would it change? Or would it get worse? Is the war on drugs really changing anything? I don't know. Maybe time will tell. Maybe more and more people will want to vote on topics like these when the chance arises.

1/14/2016 07:17:58 pm

When looking at the statement about Marijuana Reform by Ethan Nadelman, I can definitely see both differences on the state and federal laws. Under federal law, it's illegal to actually possess, use, buy, sell, or even cultivate marijuana. Many people claim they use cannabis for "medical use". But the Controlled Substances Act of 1970 classifies marijuana as a Schedule 1 drug. They claim it has a high potential abuse and that it has no acceptable medical use. The Federal Government criminalize marijuana under the In-state Converse Clause. In four states, Colorado, Washington, Alaska, and Oregon, the sale and possession of marijuana is legal for both medical and recreational use. There have been multiple arrests for people having marijuana on them. In my opinion it does kill brain cells, but it doesn't harm you. Other drugs including tobacco can really harm you and it does actually harm you to where it involves people's death caused by it...and they made THAT legal! But again I agree that marijuana doesn't have the same feelings and reactions in all people. So I do agree quite a bit with Nathan, if marijuana were legal it would not be anything compared to alcohol being legal. Also the arrests would decrease a lot by a big percentage. The incarceration increased with a big percentage of mostly African Americans & Hispanics for having marijuana. Unlike any other drugs, again, marijuana doesn't do much harm to you like tobacco and alcohol and those have lead to health issues and death. So I feel like they should change that.

1/14/2016 07:19:42 pm

Ethan*

1/17/2016 03:53:29 pm

This is how I feel on the subject as well. We all know you can't over dose on marijuana. Sure everyone reacts to it differently to it so it might feel as if your dying but you aren't. I'm wondering what the statistics are about white people versus African Americans and Hispanics incarcerated for carrying marijuana. But I'm sure it isn't even at all. If they do change it would it really do much? Sometimes I think people will still go to the streets for marijuana than to places that sell it if you have a special card or whatnot. Finding some dude on the street with weed is much easier than having to purchase some card or what not.

Andrew Luft

1/14/2016 07:22:44 pm

In the historically significant Supreme Court case of Dred Scott v. Sandford, which was “settled” in 1857, a decision was reached by the Supreme Court pertaining to both human rights and the ownership of property. Human rights in how African Americans, more specifically slaves, had none, and property in how it was unconstitutional to unlawfully take someone’s “possessions.” The beneficiary(s) of the decision was Sandford, but more symbolically white people, who according to the Constitution were inherently entitled to our Constitutional basic human rights. Also, in regards to the issue of property, corporations in our modern society have profited favorably from the premise of the case. These outcomes lead into the realization upon reflection, hindsight if you will that the Constitution has many grey areas, contradictions, and clauses to favor certain groups, primarily white property owners, since the founders of this “great” country were primarily white property owners who came to the U.S.A. from England where they were not as fortunate. So they came to this “new”, “uncivilized” land to start anew on the top of the totem pole, ironically forcefully and deceitfully taking the land from the Natives. So really the Constitution, though it appears to be just and fair is really just a pretty layer of snow thinly blanketing a mountain of garbage. However, this issue could be transformed by re-evaluating the fundamental flaws in the Constitution in order to formally acknowledge and uproot these deeply-seeded corrupt ideas in order to truly establish an ideal the original manuscript failed to remain in a state of integrity to. I would change the focus from the outcome to the process and flaws that led to the ruling as a means to show how our system truly hasn’t changed a whole lot, and ultimately wont until we address the root of the issue. Otherwise we will continue to only treat symptoms and the problem will continue to persist along new avenues and there will never be true justice, which the Constitution supposedly stands for.

1/14/2016 07:45:04 pm

Well said! I think with the brief activity and convo we had in class today in regards to this case... our group also agreed that none of this has really changed much and until we start at the roots of the issue, and reevaluate the situation of the Constitution and leave as is.. we will continue to have these issues. Which, is still very surprising to me, because we hear people talk about how corrupt the system is, in example, the the brutal killings as we watched in that video during class about white male cops killing unarmed african american males, with no punishment for their brutality, but yet, things haven't changed. Do we really have a voice? This is confusing to me.

1/16/2016 12:29:24 pm

Yes it is true and sad that many of the slaves and indigenes people who live here before the setters came to this land had no rights because many setters though that were above these people and today we can still see it, it has gotten better, but still occurs.

1/17/2016 07:24:25 pm

I love the "layer of snow" image you provided us with. It is so damn accurate and the whole country should feel the same. In almost every case that reaches a higher and higher court, the will always come back to the Constitution for hopes that we will understand the thought process of these "enlightened" writers of a different time. As vague as it is written; the document does carry some promise. It is the only glue that holds together all of the diverse states with ridiculously diverse ideas.

I'm surprised some states haven't gone to war with each other lately. Not too many topics as transparently wrong as slavery have been on the surface, because all the bad and wrong shit in the U.S. today are usually tied to something else that we or the governement might find essential.

1/14/2016 07:38:11 pm

In the Marijuana reform case, I think that there are multiple situations in which different people would benefit from this and/or benefit right now as it stands. Right now, as I read above, possession of marijuana ( in small amounts) if being taken very seriously! They compared the possible punishment for possession of marijuana to getting a speeding ticket. Which clearly from the text, there is a lot more happening to those people who get caught with marijuana. For example, handcuffed, taken to the police station, or incarcerated. Right now, for these actions, the government is winning. They also mentioned that SO many Americans are under parole, or probation. So getting caught, and having to deal with the system, serving time, and paying for "wrong doings". On the other side of the fence if Marijuana were to be fully legalized, the government would benefit from taxes, and avid users of the medicinal drug would be able to use their medicine without too much worry about falling victim to huge punishment. Being around that environment for quite some time, I have seen some incidents first hand. Most of the time, but not all, the different races really did play a huge roll in this matter. I saw more of my mixed friends get into deep trouble, versus, my white (not so mixed) friends (lol) should I say, would get a slap on the wrist. I realized that even though we voted for this, that the restrictions that are held on us, are not followed. This could be easily transformed but just having better set rules and regulations. Specifics on how much one should be able to carry on them. If one is caught with more than that amount, EVERYONE KNOWS and HAS AGREED TO this one punishment. From there escalate, depending on how many "occurrences" happen with that individual rather than, throwing cuffs on them and taking them to the station or possibly incarcerated.

1/14/2016 08:01:45 pm

I cannot believe the cops are going to such lengths to put people in jail for this. Most of the time people are doing it to relive themselves of stress, or even if they're they should only be taken in if they were selling/distributing it illegally or to minors or something horrible like that! But most of the time people are getting placed in jail just for having it on you. It's ridiculous. Don't the cops have something better to do with their time?

1/14/2016 10:32:02 pm

It is true (unfortunately) that race plays a roll in whether someone gets in trouble or not in some areas for comminting identical crimes. I believe that it is too easy to become a police officer and there isn't enough screening done to prevent officers from making wrong decisions. A lot of people who have nowhere to go in life end up being police officers as a last resort and it results in issues. I have no problem with someone wanting to become a police officer, but harsher training would be beneficial in preventing police brutality, racisms, etc. Also, I do agree that having marijuana legal would benefit some people and not benefit some others. For example, if it does become legal, our children will be raised in a country where they will be surrounded by it which may result in early exposure, just like cigarettes and alcohol.

Loena

1/15/2016 12:05:47 am

I understand and totally agree, instead of arresting for such thing they should be arresting criminals who are doing such thing in this world. I would say its a waste of time taking them in and incarcerating those who have done nothing wrong.

1/17/2016 08:57:30 pm

I know what you mean by "the government is winning," but I really think that it is missing out on a huge opportunity. Pot could be taxed extensively, as it has to great effect in Colorado, generating revenue for the state government. Also, regulation would make pot itself (the product) and the business of producing and distributing it a lot safer for everybody.

1/14/2016 07:54:42 pm

In the Dred Scott v. Sandford case, Dred Scott was denied his freedom and wasn't able to present his case because he was black, and black people were not meant to have the same rights as white people during this time. Black people, and other minorities, suffered just so white people could gain power. They used them as property to do things they were too lazy to do like pick cotton and raise their kids. Black people could not be seen as actual people, so they were considered property. If they were acknowledged as the people that they actually are, they'd have to be given rights, like the right to vote. If they could vote then they'd get to vote in 10 out of 13 of the states at the time, which would have overruled any unfair decision. It really shocks me that Americans who are all about freedom, treated people like this in the past, and continue to do it today, to some extent. Black people's voices aren't as valued at white people. They get placed into the criminal justice system way more, and everyone knows that once you are placed in that system it is almost impossible to escape it's consequences. That information will always be on your record. The issue is still present today. The constitution was written in a way that used specific language that only focused on the rights of white, men of a certain age. We still use the same constitution that was used back then, and that constitution was only meant for a certain group, so maybe we could change the constitution to make it more diverse and edit out the bad things that haven't been working out. It is incredibly hard to do, but I believe it will help.

Charbel Mawad

1/14/2016 11:08:32 pm

I also stated how black people were treated as property and had their human rights taken away from them, even though in our Constitution it states how “all men are created equal”, not “all men except African Americans are created equal”. Strange right? Ergo, I don’t think we can really change the Constitution, but we can, in fact, keep referring to it’s words and enlighten more people and the world about the true meaning of “equal”.

1/17/2016 11:06:37 pm

I had the same feeling as you when reading Dred Scott v. Sandford case. I came from Vietnam and we only have one same color skin, so that I was so surprised to hear about “discrimination” because of skin color. Black people and all people of color have the right to be live equally. I hope that the day when all people are treated the same way is not too far from now.

1/14/2016 08:52:22 pm

The decision not to allow Dred Scott to be a free man benefits the power hungry egos of the people in power of that decision in which racism lingered within. They wanted to uphold their laws and they did that in their eyes, but at a terrible cost. They were too ignorant to see the bigger picture. It also benefits people who believe that slavery is wrong by giving them strong reasons and a definite example of the inhumanity of America. For example, this case influenced many people involved in the civil rights movement. Even though Dred Scott did not have justice, many other people were fueled by his case and fought for justice for others and succeeded. A harsh reality is learned by the Dred Scott case that In America, property is often valued over morality and justice. Also, freedom is not valued if it does not exist within laws that man created which does not make any sense to me. All people should be born free. This issue could have been transformed if the push and pull factors were more logical. If the court let Dred Scott be free, a push factor would have been that they would have violated, in their eyes, the law. A pull factor would have been that they would let a person have their freedom. What actually happened was that there were no push and pull factors to the court who made this terrible decision. They were narrow minded and only looked at the fact that they were going against their own created laws.

Lorena

1/15/2016 01:03:59 am

I can feel the tone of your voice upset and agree with you because it is very inhumanity for that to happen Scott. Slavery is very wrong but Im glass this case is still remembered or brought up so everyone can realize that we are all the same and have freedom.

1/15/2016 10:48:47 pm

I agree with you. It is ridiculous how people have the assumption that because of the light color of their skin they have the right to say who is the smart, civilized race. To believe that anyone darker in color is dumb or undeserving of the title human, let alone the basic human rights everyone deserves is just sickening. Everyone, no matter of their race, gender, religion, etc., is equal and deserves equal respect.

1/16/2016 10:55:13 pm

It's interesting that you point out if Dred Scott was ruled free, the law would have been broken. Looking at his case in that perspective never occurred to me. I agree that our culture values things more than people, back from when slavery took place all the way up till now.

1/17/2016 05:24:32 pm

I can see where you are coming from. In our society today, we value materialistic objects over our morals and beliefs. In the case of Dred Scott, as you pointed out, the government put forth their ignorance and ignored the most important part of this case; which was the freedom of a man was being overlooked and looked at as property.

1/14/2016 09:13:11 pm

With regard to the statement of the Marijuana Reform by Ethan Nedelmann, there are three main issues to consider if marijuana were made legally available. First of all, how should be managed this law, either by the Federal or State government. The author claims that the discussion of where should people be focused about who makes the law it is just an excuse. This should be handled by the State government since this is a theme that concerns to the whole country; breaking the decisions and making it different in each state does not improve or make any difference. Second, there is this study where it shows that smoking marijuana is about 114 times safer than drinking alcohol, so in that case why alcohol is a legal drug and not marijuana which also has medicinal properties? I am not against or pro about legalizing marijuana because anyway people will still doing it. But if they don't want to prove marijuana because of the danger, they shouldn't allow alcohol either, but well that is impossible in these times. Being Marijuana an option for medicine, an even though if the law were approved with some restrictions, is the society that has to deal with it and fulfill. The final problem according to Ethan, is the case when there is more punishment for people who does marijuana than the ones who commit driving violation, but we just cant compare both because driving rules are traffic laws while Marijuana has been illegal 1% than the time is been in use. For most of human history, marijuana has been completely legal. It’s not a recently discovered plant, nor is it a long-standing law. However Marijuana has been prohibited to protect the citizens, but also racism, fear, and ignorant legislators are part of the charge against marijuana.

1/14/2016 10:05:37 pm

In Scott’s case he definitely does not benefit. Racism and being a slave deemed as also property limited his ability and rights greatly. The political insight I gained was just another story of racism at another level. This one in particular raised its heights all the way into the Supreme Court justices’ judgments. As well gave just as much insight that this country was obviously built upon ideals that greatly differ from today’s standards. One thing that I would transformed and want to see the outcome as would be if Scott wasn’t black or a slave but in the same scenario just altered a bit and to have him considered an indentured servant of some sort instead. A lot of possibilities could be changed if that was this case and not him a slave. Also maybe another factor I could think of that could shift a lot of the dynamics. What if slaves weren’t considered property, such that the term property didn’t go hand in hand with slave, but instead the term slave was considered pretty much a lifelong job. Then possibly all the aspects that would make this issue one of property, be transformed into one of persay money. Then the idea of whether a slave could buy oneself off of a slave owner, would that deem the person to be free. Lastly one thing that intrigues me a lot when thinking about the past is why we still have stuff written in such a way that doesn’t make sense to today’s standards yet we still uphold it.

1/14/2016 10:21:09 pm

Due to the discrepancy of whether marijuana should be legalized between the Federal government and state governments, we find ourselves in a predicament. It has been speculated that the Federal government would benefit from the legalization of marijuana due to decreased expenditure on the prosecution of marijuana related charges, increased regulation that could result in taxation-therefore increasing monetary gains, decreased incarceration for marijuana related charges-relieving prison impaction, and possibly even new opportunities for technological advancements in delivery method or detection. When looking over the Federal government’s FAQ regarding marijuana it is seemingly biased or skewed to their favor. There is an increasing population in the US that support the legalization of marijuana. State-wide we have 23 states that have legalized marijuana, however, Federally, it is still illegal. In fact, the drug scheduling of marijuana places it above drugs like ketamine, methamphetamine, and oxycodone. The political culture has made large attempts to villainize marijuana and it is reflected in their scheduling of this drug in the category of the most dangerous drugs. While widely used, it’s effects/benefits have some scientific standing. The way this drug is portrayed by the Federal government is mostly incongruent with the reality of the effects and possible medicinal uses of this drug. It is my opinion that that this movement will continue to pick up momentum as key legalized states show data on the benefits of legalization. As states become more in favor of legalization, the Federal government may/should choose to reevaluate its stance and make attempts to thoroughly examine the possible gains.

1/14/2016 10:22:54 pm

The article that really caught my attention was the one that discussed Marijuana. It is very interesting to me how marijuana is treated in most states. I do not understand how alcohol and tobacco, when are known and proven to cause health problems, and death, but are legal while marijuana isn't. Marijuana is actually known for its benefits to certain health conditions and it is not known for causing deaths directly related to marijuana. The people who benefit from keeping marijuana legal are the states that arrest and give people fat fines for having possession of marijuana. Also, there are definitely people who overdue everything and become dependent on marijuana to relax or sleep. People argue that it isn't addictive, but all i know is that i know some people who have used marijuana daily and couldn't get off of it without withdrawal symptoms. It is definitely different for everyone though. What i learned about Americas political culture is that we are taught from a young age how marijuana is bad for you and that it is a drug. As the years go by though, it has become such a common thing that it isn't even seen as "illegal." So many people use it and its only a matter of time before it becomes legal. I feel that once it becomes legal, everyone will be more comfortable with it, even those who are against using marijuana or being close to people who use it. It will become a normal thing for people just like alcohol. I think the push factors to make this legal would be a good because less people would keep getting arrested or fined for petty possessions. This way the people will be happy and wont have to spend time going to court. The pull factors should outweigh the everything because if marijuana becomes legal i am assuming it will end up being taxed which would be huge amounts of money for America. What do you guys think?

1/14/2016 10:57:32 pm

What do I think? Well first off, I have to agree with you when you say how people take marijuana to relax and get high, when in fact they have no medical condition. However, since it’s a plant and has no tobacco, or nicotine, I don’t think it is addictive itself, but the feeling it gives you is definitely “addictive”.

1/14/2016 10:30:44 pm

In looking at Dred Scott v. Sandford case, people who have the power to make law benefits the most from it. They think their laws are reasonable because slavery seems to be normal to them. They lived in a time when black people are considered “territory”. Also, some people who are not black or do not have to suffer from slavery benefit from this case as well. It brings them the right to sell and buy slaves to make money and gain other privileges. Having read this case, the sad reality is exposed in the naked eyes. At that time, people were not treated equally, and they did not even have the basic choice to be free or to have their own freedom. The court – who is on behalf of justice – does not always make a good decision. The decision they made in this case was criticized badly by community. However, one good thing is that it helps Abraham Lincoln, who is against slavery, to be appointed as the resident. This issue was already be transformed in 1865 when slavery is deleted, and in 1868, people who used to be slave were given the right to become citizens. However, people should always remember at Dred Scott v. Sandford case to see how unfair it was at that time and to be inspired to solve discrimination problem which is still exist nowadays. Moreover, people should keep in mind that the court is not always true; they have to know that is right and what is wrong, and be strong enough to stand for their rights as well as other people. .

Nancy Park

1/17/2016 05:42:01 pm

The ruling of the Dred Scott case was unjust in today's eyes. Yes, it seemed okay back in that century. However, the reality is, we follow that same Constitution they followed when they made the ruling.

We follow the laws that were written by white males who wrote it for the "white males." The Constitution was never changed as the nation progressed. How is it that a document that once seemed so unethical, suddenly became fair to all the citizens of today's generation?

Even today, it may not be as apparent, but we see remnants of injustice that followed from the old days. White supremacist ideals are still present. We still see racism and different forms of the same injustices today.

1/14/2016 10:45:09 pm

“Black man has no rights that a white man was bound to respect.” This quote that I heard for the first time in class today made me feel uneasy. First off, I’m Middle Eastern, and my nephews happen to be mixed (half black and half middle eastern/white). So, I first thought about them when hearing that and how unfair, unjust, hateful, unnecessary, cruel, etc. that comment is. The 1857 Dredd Scott decision served as an eye-opener to Northerners who believed that slavery was tolerable as long as it stayed in the South. Basically, black people were not intended to have rights and the Supreme Court decided in a 7:2 split that blacks could not vote in some states. If the decision took away any power Congress once had to regulate slavery in new territories, these once-skeptics reasoned, slavery could quickly expand into much of the western United States. And once slavery expanded into the territories, it could spread quickly into the once-free states. For many Northerners who had remained silent on the issue, this very real possibility was too scary to ignore. Suddenly many Northerners who had not previously been against the South and against slavery began to realize that if they did not stop slavery now, they might never again have the chance. This growing fear in the North helped further contribute to the Civil War. Clearly Scott v. Sandford was not an easily forgotten case. That it still raised such strong emotions well into the Civil War shows that it helped bring on the war by hardening the positions of each side to the point where both were willing to fight over the issue of slavery. The North realized that if it did not act swiftly, the Southern states might take the precedent of the Scott case as a justification for expanding slavery into new territories and free states alike. The South recognized the threat of the Republican party and knew that the party had gained a considerable amount of support as a result of the Northern paranoia in the aftermath of the decision. In the years following the case, Americans realized that these two mindsets, both quick to defend their side, both distrustful of the other side, could not coexist in the same nation. The white slave owners and hateful white people who did not want anything to do with black people and especially their right to vote benefitted from this decision. In 2016, we would not see this type of political issue in particular. Why is that? Well, I believe that black people over the years have shown themselves in many things, such as sports, media, movies, politics (black President…). Although some might still have that inner hatred and racism towards them, it is not as bad as, well, during the times of Dredd Scott. That’s how the issue has transformed in my opinion, but to change the dynamic, I would personally think of myself being in Dredd Scott’s position, and how terrible, humiliated, embarrassed, angry, and sad I would have felt.

1/14/2016 11:04:06 pm

If we were to reform marijuana prohibition laws I think that the people as well as government would benefit. Like others have mentioned, if it were legal then government has the choice to place a tax on marijuana. They would receive economic benefits through that and also by opening more dispensaries giving a boost in jobs and consumption. Since government seems to love capitalism, this would be a plus. If law enforcement is so worried of people getting "out of control" through its use, then at least by making it legal they can set up their own terms for the people to abide to. I know it isn't that simple and not everyone would follow them anyways, but it provides a cushion. The people would benefit by no longer having to worry about being incarcerated just because they're in possession. A lot of people have legitimate reasons as to why they use: anxiety, depression, insomnia. Honestly I think there will always be a stigma against marijuana because "drugs are bad." But in reality, how is this drug any different than us taking perception drugs? The only difference is that this one has a stigma attached. Every drug can be abused and has its own effects on people and if we were all just informed on it, then maybe it'd be more acceptable to society. Maybe it's because I'm so used to seeing people smoking around me that I think nothing of it, but I hadn't realized that being in possession was taken so seriously to the extent of getting fired and going to jail. I think it's ridiculous for it to be treated at such a high extremity.

1/16/2016 11:01:56 pm

I agree. I remember in elementary school, we were taught "say no to drugs." The only reason why it's okay to take over the counter drugs is because a doctor, who went to medical school and knows all about the effects and benefits of medicine, is prescribing it to us. Pharmacists, who also went through a lot of school, are there to tell us how to use our medicine. Doctors and pharmacists have a good stigma, while street drugs do not.

Lawrence Erispe

1/14/2016 11:05:24 pm

In the case of the legalization of Marijuana, the people benefiting from the decisions being made would be the people using marijuana for both medicinal or recreational usage, the state government will benefit as well because marijuana will be taxed, and the state as whole will benefit maybe in less crime as legalizing marijuana will take the criminal element out of it(drug dealing). The realities about American political culture learned was that even though the state government can change the laws or create new laws that go against the federal laws, the federal laws will basically override them. I also learned that reforming federal laws at a state level will inevitably help change the federal laws. What I mean, is that if every state legalized marijuana, eventually the federal government will sort of be pressured to legalize marijuana at a federal level. As Ethan Nadelmann stated in the article “...reforming state laws is an essential part of the political process by which federal and international marijuana prohibition laws will ultimately be reformed and repealed.” I agree with his statement as well as Kevin Sabet’s when he said that the reforming of the state laws should be within the confines of the federal law. I would have to agree more the Nadelmann. that to help change the federal laws there has to be political pressure from the states. I would change the dynamics of this issue leading by example. Have one state legalize marijuana and set an example of how it benefits the state in having less crime and bringing more tax revenue to the state, that way others states will see that and maybe pressure the federal government.

josue monnroy

1/14/2016 11:12:00 pm

In response to the statement made by Ethan Nadelmann, we Fail to realize that people will use marijuana regardless if it being legal or not so why not legalize it? Starting in the state level and eventually climbing up to then federal, we need to look at the bigger picture and think about all the revenue that it will bring to the state benefiting all of its residents. More money equals more jobs and more jobs will keep more people occupied and that should bring down the crime rate by enabling criminals and drug dealers to make a profit out of illegally dealing out in the streets. We will also save a lot of money by not incarcerating people for using marijuana and police will focus their valuable time in more important issues and matters that really need to be taken care off, we will also stop profiting drug cartels and they will stop smuggling marijuana over the border and whipping down countless lives with them in the process.
If It has been proven that alcohol or cigarettes are more likable to cause death than marijuana then what are we afraid off? Prior to legalization we should also enforce regulation similar to the ones regarding the use of alcohol and tobacco. The state needs to legalize marijuana and show the people that it can truly be beneficial for our economy with the pros outweighing the pros then states will decide to follow the same steps towards legalization and soon our political leaders will realize that marijuana isn’t as bad as we all have it categorized.

1/17/2016 05:35:25 pm

You bring up many valid points as to why we should legalize marijuana. It's so crazy that this nation thrives on the tobacco company while they know there are many harmful consequences that follow. However, legalizing marijuana, which doesn't have any proven negative health issues, is such a big deal.

One of the points you brought up about the decrease in incarceration for drug dealing stood out to me. It is almost as if the government wants to incarcerate people! Instead of finding a way to reduce the amount of the incarcerated for possession of marijuana or the distribution of it, they want to keep it as an illegal act.

Maria Garcia

1/14/2016 11:30:31 pm

The document that caught my attention the most was the one about reforming Marijuana laws by Ethan Nadelmann. As of now, the only people benefitting from the Marijuana laws is the federal government every time someone is arrested and fined for possession and use of Marijuana. If Marijuana were legalized, the government, company owners, and citizens would all benefit from it. The government would receive more money in taxes from the buying and selling of Marijuana. It would also bring in a larger consumption of foods and goods. Not only does this benefit the government but it would also benefit store company owners. The US citizens would have a huge benefit from the legalization of Marijuana. Like Nadelmann states, Marijuana can help out with many things such as some major illnesses, anxiety, depression, and so on. From personal experience in my family, Marijuana really does help with these issues. It can have sort of a calming effect. I've seen family members goes from extremely angry to completely chill just from smoking. Another benefit for citizens (and the government) would be that more jobs would be created due to shops and businesses set up for selling Marijuana. All these things people could benefit from and yet the government decides to treat Marijuana and this dangerous drug that people should be arrested for if caught with it in their possession. Marijuana is less dangerous and have less dangerous side effects than actually legalized things such as alcohol and cigarettes. The government just likes to control the things and people can and can't do no matter how irrational it is.

1/14/2016 11:32:28 pm

Although the Dred Scott case occurred in 1857, there are a few qualities of injustices that have carried on to today's society. The ruling of the case was beneficial to the white male in that period of time. Everyone was less of a human unless they were a white male. It revealed racism, slavery, and how unjust the American nation once was and still might be today.

This case revealed, to me especially, how unjust our system is. We follow the laws of the land (the Constitution), in today's society, where there is so much diversity in comparison to the beginning of our nation. The old documents written by the Forefathers were written for the white males and for no one else. It is based off of men who were in position of authority and with property. This nation thrives from capitalism and it is very apparent in who they were representing. Any other race were neglected in the documents written and even today, we see how that affects the justice system.

We see it every day. A black individual is killed by a white individual, but justice isn't served. If the situation was flipped, the black person would probably be sentenced to the maximum extent.

It really comes down to awareness and spreading the awareness. We can't do much to change the ways of the system unless everyone was aware and wanted to see the change.
Many people don't look into the Constitution much but we follow the laws written by men who cared for none other but their "own." The laws stand today, but how could we change that?

1/17/2016 11:56:02 pm

You make a good point that people should be spreading awareness so there can be more change. If people would be more knowledgeable then they would make a bigger effort to make changes. You make good points, like are system is really unjust and we see it all the time.

1/14/2016 11:36:52 pm

The marijuana reform caught my attention the most because I learned from it especially after reading post on people agreeing that marijuana should be legalized, because I was raised learning that marijuana is bad for you and being told it does not help you cure. I now see that different people can benefit from this , although I have seen many misuse marijuana, or maybe it's because of my age and I would see irresponsible kids doing it. I don't have a lot of knowledge of marijuana but i do agree with Ethan that getting pulled over with small amounts and getting charged is a waste of time. Although, I have witnessed police officers pulling over cars who have marijuana with them and make them throw away or even take the marijuana away. Which I think is a better solution instead of punishing them for having it. I do think people should be punished if they miss use the marijuana but if it truly cures you then others should not mess it up for those who actually need it. Also, I never knew government would benefit from taxes from legalizing marijuana!! I strongly believe that it will legalize pretty soon from the looks of it almost everyone is doing it, and if it fails people will still be doing it. Doctors should really do more test on those who go in and ask for it just because "their back hurts" so that others will take the cannabis card seriously.

josue monroy

1/17/2016 09:59:25 pm

We are all raised with the same mentality, we categorize marijuana to be bad same as any other drug that’s why a lot of people are still skeptical about legalizing it, but We will all definitely benefit from legalizing it and taxing it, thousands of dollars in sales every year will most definitely benefit our economy

Jesmane Sanches

1/18/2016 12:01:53 am

I agree that we could definitely benefit from legalizing it, especially if we use the commercial strain meant for industrial uses. Utilizing hemp for fabrics and cutting back on deforestation with paper made from marijuana is good for environment.

1/14/2016 11:36:53 pm

If marijuana would be completely legal, its clear that the government benefits from that. There would be millions of dollars in revenue and it will help the states and the country. It would also provide with more jobs. Right now its legal in a few states to medicinal purposes and the states are getting a lot of money already. imagine if they do it legal for everyone to use just like alcohol, more people will use it and more money they make. What i learned form the article is that there are even bigger international laws for marijuana. there are state laws, federal laws and even international laws. I think that if i could change the dynamics, i would totally legalize it because its proven that no body has ever died of using marijuana. in the contrary to alcohol, where there are a lot of deaths because of its use. It also helps medically for the people that are sick. Its proven that it helps cancer patients. its also a natural herb and you cannot overdose of it.

1/17/2016 08:26:39 pm

It is true that the government does tax the crap out of marijuana in clubs. This is why I believe that if marijuana is legalized to an extent people will still get their weed from their local dealer. Not only is it cheaper you also aren't "donating" to a club. You're helping a buddy out really. It is true that marijuana does help patients. My mother had brest cancer when she would go through treatment after the cemo she would smoke a little bit so she could sleep or eat just make the pain stop. I wish this was available for everyone who needs it .

1/14/2016 11:49:02 pm

Looking at the case of Scott v. Sandford, mainly white males were the ones who benefitted from this. For example, this case deemed that slaves were just straight up property. Nothing else. They could not sue, because they are just property. They did not have rights, because they are just property. This also builds up on the idea that the white male is the supreme being of all. It supports the idea that African American men and women weren't citizens, or even people at all, and that they can be owned by the common white citizen. The realities that I learned about American "White" Culture from this excerpt is really already most of what I know. The thought that white males are the superior beings of the world. "Blacks" or negros are just property, they aren't anything. They even consider them 3/5ths of a person somewhat, just so their state would have more power. In general, whites have this misconception that they are the only race that exists in the world and that they are the high and mighty citizens of the galaxy. Everyone and everything else is inferior to them.
Instead of addressing this issue, I believe that this issue can never be resolved honestly. Racism will always find its way into our civilization. When we look at that one person and think about them negatively, therein already lies some racist thoughts. The only solution I have is to not be so extreme in these racial prejudices. There will always be stigma for everyone. Asians are good at math/bad drivers. Blacks are ghetto. Mexicans are dirty... and the list goes on. Stigma even exists for white males. But in history, Asians never sought genocide or mass racism to the point of killing, neither did Blacks. The main difference they all have from the white Americans is the fact that they did not take their racial prejudices to the point where people are being murdered mercilessly.

1/17/2016 10:01:07 pm

I agree that racism will always exist so it is up to the people of each race that is discriminated upon to be the best they can. Do not let racism bring you down and succeed in whatever endeavor you choose. I feel the issue of racism will never be resolved as well, but can be mitigated with education. If more people are educated, then hopefully more people will be less closed-minded and more accepting of people different from them.

Kerem Celik

1/18/2016 12:25:12 am

I do agree with the statement that those being discriminated against should try their hardest to uphold good values and not act like their stereotype, but I also think that it is up to us as a society to change how we think and portray minority groups. For example, in popular culture and media, the notion of the "thug" mentality creates a "should-be" mindset for kids growing up in mostly inner-city neighborhoods.

1/17/2016 10:21:25 pm

Its sad to think that at one point there was so much racism and segregation here at home also known “the land of the free” you brought up a really good point because till this day a lot of us still experience racism, but I believe that racism is nowhere near as bad as what it used to be, we have come a long ways and thanks to all those brave people who gave their lives to make this a better country we now live in a much better generation.

1/15/2016 11:04:35 pm

Personally, I believe that marijuana is a virtually harmless drug, unlike alcohol, that has been proven to be harmless, and is illegal for all of the wrong reasons. I find it ridiculous how marijuana, despite being decriminalized in many states, can still land people in trouble due to its federal status. Ethan's statement about legalization needing to be handled on a per-state basis, with eventual pressure to the federal government, I believe to be true. The pharmaceutical lobbyists, as well as police unions provide to much pressure for cannabis to be legalized federally. I think that government officials do realize the potential benefits of cannabis legalization, but they are in such a position where they are unable to change much due to pressure from both sides. Legalization would result in many benefits - namely, decrease in crime (esp. among minorities), increased tax revenue for local and state governments, and a safer alternative to alcohol. The state of Colorado, after legalizing marijuana, has seen all of these benefits, and more, all over. Even the original prohibition of marijuana was based on scare tactics and portrayal of weed as 'devil's tobacco.' This caused many laws to come into place that have remained intact since. I find the argument that cannabis legalization will lead to an increase in use to be false, mainly due to the fact that weed is readily available everywhere in the United States. Legalization will remove a large portion of revenue for organized crime, and will also aid the fight against cartels in Mexico, because importation from Mexico will no longer be needed.

1/16/2016 04:24:32 am

Thank you for bringing up the term “devil’s tobacco” because it shows how ignorant people can be. Cigarettes have proven to be far more harmful than marijuana. That phrase seems to be a warning more than anything to scare people into a certain way of thinking about marijuana. I am not even a frequent user myself, but I even know that marijuana is by far the most harmless banded substance in America. I completely agree with you.

1/18/2016 12:23:09 am

Yes, that term brings up the anti-mairjuana campaigns in 1930, spearheaded by Harry J. Anslinger. These campaigns were spread via fear and used movies depicting marijuana as drugs that cause people (specifcally Mexicans and African-Americans) to become insane and rape people (specifically white women). This led to marijuana becoming illegal and those laws have stayed intact since.

1/17/2016 08:38:24 pm

Marijuana Reform:
The benefactors of the current situation with marijuana illegality are primarily law enforcement agencies and private detainment facilities. The courts get revenue by charging citizens for criminal offences, especially ones like marijuana possession. Police departments also get a cut, and cops can fill their quotas by making easy arrests like marijuana and paraphernalia possession. Less directly, illegal marijuana growers are also benefiting, because they escape the burden of taxation and regulation by flying under the radar. They don’t have to be concerned with the safety of their product or the fairness of their distribution scheme. Growers don’t have to offer their dealers pension plans or fair wages or anything like that. Still other beneficiaries are existing legal industries, such as the tobacco industry, which don’t have to compete with pot among law-abiding smokers who might otherwise smoke pot.
What this situation reveals about American culture and politics is a very stigmatizing aversion to pot, which is seen as a “dirty hippy” drug. Comparatively, powdered cocaine is barely criminalized at all, because the punishments for being caught with a much-less-potent drug like crack cocaine turn out to be, ounce-for-ounce, a lot harsher. It’s not really the effects of the drugs that American people hate or fear, it is the culture of those people they associate them with.
An interesting way to change the dynamics of the pot legality issue could be to publish the names of every public figure who has ever used cannabis recreationally. This would make obvious to the public how widespread cannabis really is, under the radar, and soften the rhetoric about how bad the drug is, when the public can see how many respectable public figures have used it. Its ubiquitous usage in all groups would likely strengthen the call for its regulation, also, because the inevitability of its continuing popularity would be obvious.

1/17/2016 09:54:40 pm

Your suggestion is good, but I disagree because celebrities and politics will not work in this case. This is like bandwagon propaganda suggesting that "if we do it and we're cool, why don't you do it?" I believe that it will have the opposite affect than what it was intended for. I feel the best way to legalize marijuana is for states to start legalizing it and eventually pressure the federal government.

1/17/2016 11:57:20 pm

In the Dred Scott case the only people who benefit from his ruling are the white, male property owners who sought to exploit and batter the African American community whether they were free or slaves. They go out of their ways to make convoluted explanations for why they can hurt and control African American bodies and how they’re more human than any human. The reality of American political culture is that the policy, laws and administrative regulations weren’t made with the consideration of people who aren’t already in power in mind. They were meant to maintain the status quo and ensuring that there is some type of political scapegoat to use as labor or to utilize when fear mongering the white public. The issue could be transformed with reformation of immigration policy and societal reflection on who is and what it means to be an immigrant or non-citizen. This chiefly because white people were also immigrants who came on boats, just like they claimed Dred Scott did. White settlers were just as much foreign to the Americas as were Africans.

WEEK 2

States Rights/Federalism - Historical & Contemporary Context

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WEEK 2

States Rights/Federalism - Historical & Contemporary Context

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THE BEAUTYOF BLACKCREATION

ABOUT USJOURNALS​​SUBMISSIONS

THE BEAUTY

OF BLACK

CREATION

ABOUT US

JOURNALS

SUBMISSIONS