1

Reforming the Criminal Justice

Student's Name

Institutional Affiliation

Course Code and Name

Professor's Name

Date

1
 2

Reforming the Criminal Justice

The contemporary challenges and issues concerning the criminal justice system have led

to a growing push for more reform. The core point of my study contends that reforming the

criminal justice system will become imperative in a contemporary society aimed at providing

equal justice, lower recidivism levels, and concentrating on rehabilitation instead of retribution.

Therefore, I shall discuss a significant source supporting this argument in this essay. The chosen

source is "Reflections on criminal justice reform: “Challenges and Opportunities” by Lattimore,

in the American Journal of Criminal Justice.

Position Paper: The Legalization of Recreational Marijuana

Opening Paragraph

I am fully convinced that the legalization of recreational marijuana is a move that is in

line with what society should be doing. The prohibition of marijuana can’t be proven as valid,

and its legalization brings many advantages, such as lessening the burden on criminal justice and

the creation of more job opportunities. I support such a policy change, bringing individual liberty

and contributing to the country’s economic progress. This point of view makes us ponder the

consequences of policies on people’s psycho-spiritual condition, which correspond to the ideals

of the 14th Amendment (Cornell Law School, n.d.). We help establish justice by supporting

legalizing marijuana and recognizing the probable advantages in individual liberties and

economics.

2nd and 3rd Paragraphs

The criminalization of marijuana is based on the 14th Amendment of the Constitution,

which provides for equal protection under the law, and it disproportionately affects some
 3

communities. Selective drug enforcement leads to discrimination against racial and social

groups, which contradicts the fundamental fairness provisions that are enshrined in our

constitution.

Examining section 2.2 bullet 3, paragraph 4 within this context is vital. This means, “It

shall be deemed illegal to get or have a substance that has not been authorized.’ The word “get”

implies obtaining or possessing a substance and asserts the act of obtaining and possession

following it. It is important to provide an elaborate analysis of the multi-dimensional meaning of

the word “get” related to drug-related laws to get the entire picture of the legal regulation.

The notion of “use” is as complicated as the second term. However, it goes beyond plain

ownership of the drug, and one is expected to be aware of what defines the actual “use” of the

illegal drug. Does it include anything related to using, distributing, or consuming? It is important

to have clarity in this aspect because it is essential for the correct application of the law.

However, the phrase “unauthorized” brings in a certain element of subjectivity to it. Who

can approve the procurement and use of a particular substance? This would involve looking into

regulatory bodies, legal frames, and authorization criteria. For an accurate interpretation, the

term “unauthorized” can have different meanings depending on legal, medical, or other relevant

perspectives, and thus a wide examination is required.

All Paragraphs

In this paper position, I argue for the legalization of recreational Marijuana using a

Critical analysis informed by Carleton and Snodgrass’s work on Moral injury after abortion and

informed by the principles of the 14th amendment, which advocates for equal treatment. The first

part asserts that legalization will be beneficial for society through the grant of individual rights
 4

and the creation of economic opportunities. The subsequent paragraphs address the constitutional

issue and how fair are the prohibition laws on marijuana in correlation with the constitution.

4th Paragraph

I would be remiss if I did not recognize the potential and real harms of marijuana use – it

can cause or exacerbate health problems for some users, and it creates difficulties for police.

Critics should voice those concerns, but I believe they can be mitigated by responsible

regulation, and, in any case, they are outweighed by the benefits of ending prohibition.

Conclusion

But beyond those issues, I consider what nationwide legalization would mean for our

society as I make my decision. Ending prohibition is the right thing to do: It would align federal

law with principles of individual freedom and equal protection and fix the problems our current

system has caused. It would mean a windfall in tax revenue and less pressure on our jails and

courts. It would be a boon to communities and to our economy. In short, viewed in the context of

the enormous issues we sometimes tackle, the question of selling a bud of marijuana for a few

bucks emerges from the smoke as a simple policy choice.

 5

References

Cornell Law School. (n.d.). 14th amendment.

https://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/amendmentxiv