Tulsa, Oklahoma, Will Foster was arrested for growing several marijuana plants on his property. He insisted that the marijuana was for personal use because of his arthritis pains. To reduce jail time, Foster was willing to plead guilty but his offered was denied. In January of 1997, Foster was sentence to ninety-three years in prison and fined sixty-five thousands dollars (Lawler 39). Take a look at this situation and ask yourself whether or not this was justified? In the Eighth Amendment of the United States Constitution, it states: "Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted." In the case of Will Foster and many other victimized citizens of the United States, marijuana laws have proven themselves to be unfair and unconstitutional. .
Marijuana should be made legal for the public to enjoy in peace. Like alcohol and tobacco, marijuana should be regulated so that people who want to smoke it can. By legalizing marijuana, our economy can benefit in different ways as well as solve many issues that we have in our country and world. Legalizing marijuana can help with our overcrowding prison problem. It can also help provide us a cleaner environment because of what hemp can replace. Hemp can be used to make paper rather that cutting down rain forest trees to make paper. Enforcing marijuana laws only prevents our society from obtaining benefits in the aspects of: socially, economically, industrially, and medically. Marijuana laws also violate people's Constitutional rights; it takes away basic freedom that we are promised by the Constitution. .
As citizens of this country, we elect representatives and entrust them to form and shape our society for the better. We also entrust our government to protect and grant us of Constitutional rights, which we are all entitled to.