Reply #6: I agree, the 'jury' IS the 'law'...

[AnArmyVeteran]

But I also know to go through a trial process is a big gamble and a huge expense. But if everyone requested jury trials it would freeze our court systems. I know if I was on a jury with a marijuana possession charge against a defendant, I would automatically rule 'not guilty' (with very few exceptions). When you are a juror, you ARE (in effect) the 'law'. It's called 'jury nullification' because a jury has the right to reject the letter of the law in reaching its decision.

Look at the amount of money we could save if pot was legalized. It would save billions by being able to reduce the costs associated with drug enforcement and it would reduce the cost of incarcerating huge numbers of 'dangerous' pot smokers. It would also save lives because it would reduce the number of people killed in the so-called war on drugs.

Side Story: When my Mom became older she became very frail. Her appetite was almost nil. Marijuana would have greatly increased her appetite and helped her to maintain her weight and give her a healthier life. I told her how crazy it was that doctors (where she lived) couldn't prescribe medicinal marijuana to help with her appetite, but yet prescribe all kinds of other dangerous drugs. But because of the stigma attached to pot use my Mom probably wouldn't have used it anyway.

I believe one of the biggest reasons why marijuana hasn't been legalized is that the big drug companies can't get a monopoly over the sale of pot. Since anyone can easily grow it in their backyards or in their houses, businesses couldn't profit off of it. You can bet your life that if big business could get exclusive rights to market and sell pot, it would be legalized overnight.