Cannabis rights explained

Cannabis rights or marijuana rights (sometimes more specifically cannabis consumer rights or stoner rights) are individual civil rights[1] that vary by jurisdiction. The rights of people who consume cannabis include the right to be free from employment discrimination and housing discrimination.[2] [3] [4]

Anti-cannabis laws include civil infractions and fines, imprisonment, and even the death penalty.[5]

Legality

See main article: Legality of cannabis.

The use of cannabis for recreational purposes is prohibited in most countries. Many have adopted a policy of decriminalization to make simple possession a non-criminal offense (often similar to a minor traffic violation). Others have much more severe penalties such as some Asian and Middle Eastern countries where possession of even small amounts is punished by imprisonment for several years.[6]

Social movement

The movement around cannabis laws and rights has been growing since as early as the 1960s. Multiple organizations both for and against cannabis usage have been created and merged over the past 60 years as the country has changed and perception of marijuana rights has changed. One pro-marijuana group is NORML (The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws).[7] [8] The conversation about cannabis rights has shifted from picket signs declaring "Pot is fun," to being about health and social justice.[9] It's been noted that African-American communities may be suffering the most from the continued prohibition of cannabis, although consumption rates are approximately the same as white citizens. Arrests for African-Americans are 3.73 times higher in comparison.[10] Activists hope to see those numbers decrease with gained rights.

American history

See main article: Legalization of non-medical cannabis in the United States. Until the 20th century, there were no prohibitions in the U.S. against growing and consuming cannabis.[11] By the mid-20th century, possession of marijuana was a crime in every U.S. state (and most other countries). In 1996, the passing of Proposition 215 by California voters restored limited rights for medical cannabis patients in the state. Other states and countries have since joined California in guarding rights of cannabis consumers.[12]

In the United States, much is unclear about cannabis rights because despite state laws, cannabis remains federally illegal. Consequently, cannabis consumers do not belong to a protected class. Courts will address the issues surrounding housing and employment law, and disability discrimination.[2] [3]

State vs. federal

As of 2019 in the United States, eleven states and the District of Columbia have legalized medical and recreational cannabis, with 25 more states decriminalizing the drug.[13] Fourteen state and federal laws still classifies cannabis as illegal, placing cannabis as a "Schedule 1" drug. Being federally illegal, profits cannot be handled through federally-insured banks (including checks or deposits), so cannabis retailers are forced to use cash or remain vague about business practices.[14] [15]

Medical use

See main article: Medical cannabis.

In the United States, the use of cannabis for medical purposes is legal in 33 states, four (out of five) permanently inhabited U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia.[11] An additional 14 states have more restrictive laws allowing the use of low-THC products.[11] Cannabis remains illegal at the federal level by way of the Controlled Substances Act, under which cannabis is classified as a Schedule I drug with a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use. In December 2014, the Rohrabacher–Farr amendment was signed into law, prohibiting the Justice Department from prosecuting individuals acting in accordance with state medical cannabis laws.

An international argument for medical usage includes the right to health, as guaranteed by the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights. What determines "health" or "healthy" is disputed between individuals and governmental bodies.[16]

Indonesian history

There were around two million cannabis users in Indonesia in 2014, reported by the National Anti-Narcotics Agency (Badan Narkotika Nasional - BNN). This makes cannabis the most popular drug in Indonesia followed by amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) such as methamphetamine (shabu) and ecstasy.[17] Most of the cannabis is distributed by the western province of Indonesia called Aceh.[18] 37,923 people were imprisoned because of cannabis between 2009 and 2012. Twenty-six people were imprisoned, on average, each day.[19] Because cannabis is the most common drug, consuming of cannabis goes up to 66 percent than other drugs in the country. The death penalty is given to the people who grow cannabis, or a minimum fine of $550,000, based on the National Anti-Narcoticts (BNN) law.[20]

Religious use

See main article: Cannabis and religion.

Different religions have varying stances on the use of cannabis, historically and presently. In ancient history some religions used cannabis as an entheogen, particularly in the Indian subcontinent where the tradition continues on a more limited basis.

In the modern era Rastafari use cannabis as a sacred herb. Meanwhile, religions with prohibitions against intoxicants, such as Islam, Buddhism, Bahai, Latter-day Saints (Mormons), and others have opposed the use of cannabis by members, or in some cases opposed the liberalization of cannabis laws. Other groups, such as some Protestant and Jewish factions, have supported the use of medicinal cannabis.

See also

Further reading

References


Notes and References

  1. Web site: Legalizing marijuana is civil rights issue, California NAACP says . . July 7, 2010 . Membis, Liane . September 19, 2017 . September 8, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170908142858/http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/07/07/naacp.marijuana.support/index.html . live .
  2. Web site: The Effects of Marijuana Legalization on Employment Law . . February 18, 2016 . Liquori, Francesca . September 23, 2017 . November 12, 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191112030532/https://www.naag.org/publications/nagtri-journal/volume-1-number-2/the-effects-of-marijuana-legalization-on-employment-law.php . dead .
  3. Web site: Can your landlord 'just say no' to marijuana now that Prop 64 passed? . . November 24, 2016 . Nikolewski, Rob . September 23, 2017 . September 17, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170917032527/http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/business/real-estate/sd-fi-prop64-landlords-20161116-story.html . live .
  4. Web site: Coalition aims to protect cannabis consumers from random drug tests at work . The Cannifornian . February 15, 2017 . Edwards Staggs, Brooke . September 19, 2017 . March 1, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170301064954/http://www.thecannifornian.com/cannabis-business/coalition-aims-protect-cannabis-consumers-random-drug-tests-work/ . live .
  5. Web site: Man Given Death Sentence for Selling Weed . . January 26, 2017 . Meehan, Maureen . September 23, 2017 . January 26, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170126232223/http://hightimes.com/news/man-given-death-sentence-for-selling-weed/ . live .
  6. News: The 7 Countries With The Strictest Weed Laws. Powell. Burgess. 24 February 2018. High Times. 21 July 2018. November 26, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201126132111/https://hightimes.com/guides/countries-strictest-weed-laws/. live.
  7. Web site: National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws - NORML - Working to Reform Marijuana Laws. norml.org. 2019-05-08. April 19, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230419143517/https://norml.org/. live.
  8. Web site: The Long Marijuana-Rights Movement. Davis, Joshua. November 6, 2014 . April 20, 2023. April 20, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230420190750/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/the-long-marijuana-rights_b_6113894. live.
  9. News: Legalizing Marijuana, With a Focus on Social Justice, Unites 2020 Democrats. Gabriel. Trip. 2019-03-17. The New York Times. 2019-05-08. en-US. 0362-4331. November 10, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221110222750/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/17/us/politics/marijuana-legalize-democrats.html. live.
  10. Web site: Report: The War on Marijuana in Black and White. American Civil Liberties Union. en. 2019-05-08. April 12, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230412145042/https://www.aclu.org/report/report-war-marijuana-black-and-white. live.
  11. Book: A Rights-Based Approach to Social Policy Analysis: Evil or Miracle Drug? Who Decides and How? . 2016 . Gatenio Gabel, Shirley . Springer . 9783319244129 . April 20, 2023 . April 20, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230420190749/https://books.google.com/books?id=Rp_WCwAAQBAJ&q=cannabis+rights+groups&pg=PA60 . live .
  12. Web site: The Long Marijuana-Rights Movement . . November 6, 2014 . Clark Davis, Joshua . September 20, 2017 . April 20, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230420190750/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/the-long-marijuana-rights_b_6113894 . live .
  13. Web site: Map of Marijuana Legality by State. 2019-04-01. DISA Global Solutions. en. 2019-05-07. August 24, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200824052958/https://disa.com/map-of-marijuana-legality-by-state. live.
  14. News: Why marijuana retailers can't use banks. 2018-01-22. The Economist. 2019-05-07. 0013-0613. December 26, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221226054826/https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2018/01/22/why-marijuana-retailers-cant-use-banks. live.
  15. Web site: It's Legal To Sell Marijuana In Washington. But Try Telling That To A Bank.. NPR.org. en. 2019-05-07. March 18, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230318200139/https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2012/11/16/165245222/its-legal-to-sell-marijuana-in-washington-but-try-telling-that-to-a-bank. live.
  16. Bone. Melissa. Seddon. Toby. 2016-01-01. Human rights, public health and medicinal cannabis use. Critical Public Health. 26. 1. 51–61. 10.1080/09581596.2015.1038218. 0958-1596. 4662098. 26692654.
  17. Web site: LAPORAN AKHIR SURVEI NASIONAL PERKEMBANGAN PENYALAHGUNA NARKOBA TAHUN ANGGARAN 2014. BNN Pusat. id-ID. 2019-05-06. May 6, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190506211336/https://bnn.go.id/blog/siaranpers/laporan-akhir-survei-nasional-perkembangan-penyalahguna-narkoba-tahun-anggaran-2014/. live.
  18. Beschouwingen over het Indische muntstelsel, naar aanleiding van de brochure van den heer Mr. C.W. Mees, over het muntstelsel van Nederlandsch Indie, en het oordeel daarover in het Algemeen Handelsblad en de Nieuwe Rotterdamsche Courant. 10.1163/2214-8264_dutchpamphlets-kb3-kb33619.
  19. Web site: eBook Sabk Edisi 1 - Feb 2014. Scribd. en. 2019-05-06. May 6, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190506211344/https://id.scribd.com/doc/230918755/eBook-Sabk-Edisi-1-Feb-2014. live.
  20. Web site: English Version of the Indonesian Narcotics Law. idpc.net. en. 2019-05-06. February 15, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230215151802/https://idpc.net/publications/2009/11/indonesia-narcotics-law-september-2009-english. live.

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