12 Illegal Things That Should Be Legal in America
Most laws are made to protect Americans, but many will agree that some legal things should be illegal and vice versa. If anything, many illegal things proved perfectly acceptable in many of America’s biggest allies. We listed some unlawful things that should be lawful, including those so vague that they confuse average Americans almost daily.
Sitting on the sidewalk
We get that lying on the sidewalk might be uncomfortable for others, but if you are waiting for a cab and you’re tired, why not take a seat? There are many instances when a person might need to sit down for a short time, from having low blood sugar to wearing uncomfortable shoes. You shouldn’t think of it as a picnic but as a case of emergency, especially since many US cities are massive, and therefore, finding a park might take a while.
Prost..tution
It’s a profession that’s been known to humankind since the dawn of time. It might not be pretty, but it exists, and legalizing it could bring more safety to workers. The Netherlands legalized it and there are clear laws that help customers and service providers. It is not ideal, but it helps stop trafficking and other illegal activities that genuinely put people in harm’s way.
Legal drinking age
in the US, you can vote, but not drink before 21. However, not even that law is foolproof, so in some states, you can be 18 and drink on private property with or without parental supervision. If lawmakers believe that the drinking age should reflect the development of the human brain, the minimum drinking age should be at least 25. If not, why not join the rest of the world (or the majority of it) and make it 18?
Sharing passwords
We understand that streaming services want to profit as much as possible, but some laws sound ridiculous. Many streaming services rely on IP addresses, so if your child goes to college, they need to pay for the same streaming service despite using the same account just days ago. Why not limit accounts to five people and forget the IP addresses in the VPN era?
Importing medications
Prices of medications in the US are astronomical, and though there have been some improvements, they are still small compared to the number of illnesses. Allowing imports would reduce costs and potentially destroy the black market. The US recently opened its door to medication from Canada, and it might signal that it is ready to make changes that would be valuable for Americans, not just particular companies. Of course, with the FDA’s approval.
Marijuana
In some states, it is perfectly legal for recreational and medical reasons. In others, it is not. The laws are too confusing for regular folks who might find themselves in trouble over state laws, get tangled in legislation, and end up in jail. The decision should be on a federal level. If alcohol and cigarettes are legal and yet are known killers, many believe marijuana should get the same treatment.
Idling your car
Idling is leaving a vehicle’s engine running while the car is not in motion, including waiting for it to warm up. The law makes sense when you think about the environment, and while it makes no sense to want to idle your car in sunny Florida or California, in Illinois, for example, that time should be longer than 30 seconds, allowed by the law.
Poker with friends
Playing poker or any similar game is legal if you use chips instead of money. Some states are harsher than others. Yet, where’s the harm if you are having fun with your friends and want to make things more interesting? It is not like you are going to play on millions.
Using fake names online
The law does not allow people to falsely present themselves online because they might be up to no good. That’s reasonable enough, but there is another side to this story. Some people who escaped traumatizing events and restarted their lives might not be willing to expose themselves. Cyberbullying laws must exist, but not everyone using a fake name is a bully or a troublemaker in the making. Laws should be clearer and take various reasons for hiding into account.
Writing “disturbing” stories
Some states might find your fanfiction disturbing, which could land you in jail, even if it was in your diary. The reality is already so dark that many people express dissatisfaction through writing. If a person shows other signs they are planning to harm someone, that’s a different story. But writing should be legal, and we shouldn’t assume that people writing horror stories are all mass murderers.
Possessing permanent markers
Florida, California, and New York City are among the places where possessing permanent markers is illegal. The law was passed to protect big cities from graffiti, considered an act of vandalism. The scariest part about this law is that your arts and crafts project can land you in jail for a year. The law may not be wrong, but the punishment may be excessive.
Sharing food with those in need
Numerous states have laws restricting people from sharing food with homeless community members. In 2014, a 90-year-old World War II veteran was busted for giving out food to homeless people. The veteran had a nonprofit group that regularly distributed food in city parks until the law stopped him. These laws are expanding, so NPR wondered whether big cities believe that this will make homeless people disappear.
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