Albert Einstein
Who are We to Question Albert Einstein?
Many social debates are a matter of perspective, of opinion. However there are those iconic figures throughout history where we all simply stare in awe of their brilliance. Albert Einstein revolutionized quantum physics, which in turn, revolutionized philosophy and the definition of the humanity and the universe.
Albert Einstein was around before and during the government’s all out war on marijuana. Always a forward thinker, he did not agree with the United States war on cannabis. Specifically in regards to marijuana and hemp he said “The prestige of government has undoubtedly been lowered considerably by the prohibition law. For nothing is more destructive of respect for the government and the law of the land than passing laws which cannot be enforced. It is an open secret that the dangerous increase of crime in this country is closely connected with this.”
Of course, over 70 years after making the statement we are only finally starting to see a change in marijuana policy. Seventeen states have now passed laws permitting medical marijuana with some more enacting decriminalization measures. As always, we seem to ignore our experts and force their brilliance into a narrow scope. Einstein changed humanity and was much more than a man proficient at formulas and quantum physics. The man changed how we view space, time (space and time are now viewed as one entity because of his work) and humanity, yet we ignored his feelings on a civil rights and cannabis.
No article can do enough justice on Albert Einstein, especially a brief one such as this. However, when we feel that marijuana advocacy is a new phenomenon it is comforting to know that is not the case. This battle has been going on for decades, with recent victories showing we are winning the debate. Einstein may not have even smoked marijuana, but in a day and age where politicians insist on forcing their ideology on us, it is refreshing to hear from advocates of personal rights.
Medical Marijuana Causes Crime? Not so Fast says Study
One of the most popular criticisms by opponents of medical marijuana has to do with a perceived increase in local crime. Politicians and outraged community members frequently claim that marijuana dispensaries will increase local crime. Often, they seem reluctant to even accept the idea that this may not be the case even though nobody really knows the impact of dispensaries on crime as legalized marijuana is only in its infancy.
A new study recently published shows that the presence of dispensaries does not increase crime, at least in the Sacramento area. The July issue of the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs includes the results from a study conducted by University of California researchers. In Sacramento, there was no evidence that indicated that violent or property crime rose in neighborhoods with a higher concentration of marijuana dispensaries. Nancy Kepple, who was in charge of the research said the study was a “good first step” but cautioned that it “was not designed to address the bigger picture of how these dispensaries might be affecting neighborhoods.”
While the results are encouraging more research is clearly needed in other regions. Could this just be a phenomenon in Sacramento or will future research produce similar results? It may be important to realize that criminals are everywhere and that a marijuana dispensary may not be anymore motivating than robbing a bank. If someone is looking for an illegal quick money grab, perhaps the type of business is not their primary motivation. Many businesses keep cash on hand but we have not tried to shut down or drastically limit jewelry or department stores. Even if future research shows that marijuana dispensaries are attracting criminal activity, there will not be a level playing field until caregivers have access to banks. In short, dispensaries have no other discourse other than stockpiling cash. Since they likely will not have the same protection of a bank vault, criminals may target a dispensary simply because they know the money cannot be placed in a bank.
Social progression can be compared to Albert Einstein’s theory of relativity. Though this article will not attempt to dissect the entire theory, the basic premise of Einstein’s idea is that time and space are relative and not fixed. The speed of an object will appear slower for someone already in motion as opposed to someone standing still. If an individual’s thoughts are not progressing, but rather staying still, then new ideas will pass them by at a much higher speed than someone already moving forward. Opponents of reform may have a difficult time interpreting the changing world in front of them.