New Hampshire’s marijuana policy is stuck in the 1950’s; let’s face it. Possession of any amount is subject to incarceration of one year in jail.

Hardly a punishment fit for the crime, and for some reason there is no buzz about the blatant miscarriage of justice going on.

For those who merely intend to sell under an ounce of marijuana, I hope you’re ready to pay the possible $25,000 fine the state has the ability to levy on you.

The drug is now legal in four states for recreational purposes (Washington, Oregon, Colorado, and Alaska) as well as Washington D.C. Popular support for marijuana legalization has grown from only 16% in 1990 to 55% in a recent poll by CNN.

Let’s take a look at the situation and use it to see how ridiculous the illegalization of marijuana is. Alcohol is legal throughout the United States and until 1987 some states still had the drinking age at 18 years old.

Let’s start with the obvious comparison, in 2013 the CDC reported that over 37,000 deaths could be attributed to alcohol, meanwhile they had zero deaths on hand caused by marijuana.

Marijuana is not a drug that will kill you, even with long-term use. There are studies on both sides of the debate, each trying to establish both positive and negative long-term effects of marijuana.

To say that one side has been dominant is a complete lie, and the most truthful summary is that the long-term effects of marijuana have yet to be dominantly concluded.

What is obvious, though, is that long-term use of marijuana does not carry with the high-risk of debilitating conditions such as liver failure, lung cancer, or obesity (which are caused from alcohol, tobacco products, and many foods).

Obviously inhaling any smoke carries the risk of causing cancer, but society has obviously accepted this risk with the legalization of many substances such as cigarettes, cigars, hookah, and salvia.

In a society that stresses freedoms and liberties, marijuana has been sitting on the back burner for too long in New Hampshire.

With the state motto “Live Free or Die”, it’s time to take action and push for legalization when you get the chance.

At the Congressional debates, I watched as Annie Kuster and Marilinda Garcia fought fervently on every issue.

The two things they agreed on all debate were their outfits and keeping marijuana illegal in New Hampshire.

We need to push back on people who push aside the issue and won’t talk about it. It is an issue worth being discussed.

Wherever people need to hide and be afraid of being caught for recreationally and responsibly enjoying a substance, there’s a problem. If people want to enjoy a substance in their own home that is not extremely detrimental to their health or the health of others around them, they have that right. No matter how small the injustice, it’s worth being discussed and if something can be done to fix it, it ought to be done. The House in New Hampshire has passed multiple bills dealing with marijuana. Let the Senate and Governor know we want attention being payed to them.