April 14, 2010
Judge Tom
1

Should personal use of marijuana be legal?

That is the question voters in California will be asked at the state’s general election on November 2, 2010. Enough valid signatures were filed with the Secretary of State to qualify for the ballot.

Under current California law, possession of an ounce of marijuana or less is a misdemeanor punishable by a $100 fine. If the ballot measure passes in November, possession of an ounce would be legal for anyone at least 21 years old. It would also be legal to grow limited amounts in your home for personal use.

Photo by Katherine Hitt

Opponents of the measure argue that legalizing recreational use of the drug will increase impaired driving, crashes, injuries and fatalities. Activists in support of the change counter that taxing marijuana sales will help the state with it’s budget problems.

What are your thoughts about this? Do you consider marijuana as a safe recreational drug, with little risk of addiction? Or do you think it is a “gateway” drug to more addictive substances such as cocaine or heroin? If you were a parent, would you like to see this proposal in California pass? Why or why not?

Update: In October, 2018, Canada became the second country to legalize recreational use of marijuana. Uruguay led the way in 2017.

Read more about juvenile possession of marijuana.

Judge Tom

The Author Judge Tom

Judge Tom is the founder and moderator of AsktheJudge.info. He is a retired juvenile judge and spent 23 years on the bench. He has written several books for lawyers and judges as well as teens and parents including 'Teen Cyberbullying Investigated' (Free Spirit Publishing) and 'Every Vote Matters: the Power of Your Voice, from Student Elections to the Supreme Court' (Free Spirit Publishing). In 2020, the American Bar Association published "Cyberbullying Law," the nation's first case-law book written for lawyers, judges and law students. When he's not answering teens' questions, Judge Tom volunteers with the American Red Cross and can be found hiking, traveling and reading.

Find great resources in our

Teen Help Network

Leave A Comment

1 Comment

  • Benjamin
    May 29, 2010 4:54 pm count( 0 )

    There are no recorded fatalities caused by Marijuana consumption…
    There is also incredibly limited physical dependence, withdrawal effects are lack of appetite or nausea. Therefore, any addiction is psychological, and someone who develops a psychological dependence to Marijuana could very well develop psychological dependence for anything that would alleviate their stress or whatever they smoke for.

    Hence, I think it should be legalized. Plus, the tax revenue generated would be immensely useful.
    (Also, I’m 14…)
    Thanks, Benjamin, for your thoughts.