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美国大麻合法化引发各方不满
- Authors
美国大麻合法化是自禁酒令结束以来对非法物质做出的最大政策变化，但几乎没有人取得了绝对的成功。
双语精读
The legalization of cannabis in the United States -- the biggest change in policy for an illegal substance since Prohibition ended -- has been an unqualified success for approximately no one.
美国大麻合法化是自禁酒令结束以来对非法物质做出的最大政策变化，但几乎没有人取得了绝对的成功。
The drug is widely available for commercial purchase, many marijuana-related charges have been dropped, and stoner culture has become more aligned with designer smoking paraphernalia featured on Goop than the bumbling spaciness of Cheech and Chong.
大麻已广泛用于商业销售，许多与大麻有关的指控已被撤销，"瘾君子 "文化更多地向时尚网站 Goop 上的设计师品牌吸烟用具看齐，而不是像喜剧电影《切奇与钟》那样笨拙滑稽。
Despite its wide availability, cannabis is still illegal under federal law.
尽管大麻随处可得，但根据联邦法律，大麻仍然是非法的。
Since 1970, it's been listed as a Schedule I drug, meaning the government believes it carries a high likelihood of abuse and no medical value. Starting in the 1970s, states began passing laws lowering penalties for cannabis possession and allowing it for medical purposes and, eventually, recreational use.
自1970年以来，大麻一直被列为I类药物，意思是政府认为它具有很高的滥用可能性，而且没有医疗价值。从20世纪70年代开始，各州开始通过法律，降低对持有大麻的处罚，并允许将其用于医疗目的，最终也允许用于娱乐。
In 2013, U.S. Deputy Attorney General James M. Cole issued a memo declaring that the Justice Department would not strictly enforce federal marijuana laws in states that legalized it.
2013年，美国司法部副部长詹姆斯·M.科尔发布了一份备忘录，宣布司法部将不在大麻合法化的州严格执行联邦大麻法律。
Americans were eager to buy marijuana as states launched legalization programs, but in most states, cannabis hasn't proved to be a great legal business.
随着各州推出大麻合法化计划，美国人热切地想要购买大麻，但在大多数州，事实证明大麻并不是赚钱的合法生意。
Because cannabis is still illegal at the federal level, many entrepreneurs don't benefit from many of the tax breaks that other businesses do, meaning the industry essentially pays billions in extra taxes, according to an analysis by a cannabis-research firm.
根据一家大麻研究公司的分析，因为大麻在联邦一级仍然是非法的，所以许多大麻企业家并没有从其他企业能享受的许多税收减免中受益，这意味着该行业实际上需要额外缴纳数十亿美元的税款。
One promise of legalization was its potential benefit to Black and Latino communities, who were disproportionately affected by the War on Drugs, but as of 2017, members of these communities accounted for single-digit percentages of state-sanctioned cannabis entrepreneurs.
大麻合法化的一个承诺是将为黑人和拉丁裔族群带来潜在益处，这些族群在禁毒战争中受到的影响尤为严重，但在 2017 年，这些族群的成员在州政府批准的大麻企业家中所占比例仅为个位数。
Because legal weed is sometimes more expensive than old-school dealer prices, plenty of people simply stick with the unregulated underground. In states like New York, the gap between what's legal and what's enforced has allowed illicit stores to pop up among the legitimate ones.
由于合法的大麻有时比老式毒品贩子的价格更贵，因此许多人干脆继续买不受监管的地下大麻。在像纽约这样的州，法律规定与法律执行之间的差距使得非法商店在合法商店中大量出现。
In the 12 states where even medical marijuana is illegal, the only cannabis products legally available are a handful of medications that have been approved by the FDA, all for a narrow set of indications, such as vomiting among chemotherapy patients, AIDS-related anorexia, and certain kinds of seizures.
在连医用大麻都是非法的12个州，能合法获得的大麻产品只有少数几种获得美国食品药监局批准的药物，都是针对范围很窄的一些适应症，如化疗患者的呕吐、艾滋病相关的厌食症、某些类型的癫痫发作。
Active clinical trials to study cannabis are few and far between, which means that the drug currently has no clear pathways to be federally approved for other indications.
积极研究大麻的临床试验寥寥无几，这意味着这种药物目前没有明确的途径可以被联邦政府批准用于其他适应症。
词汇预习
currently [高考]
美[ˈkɜːrəntli] | 英[ˈkʌrəntli]
adv. 现在；通常；当前
legally [高考]
美[ˈliɡlɪ] | 英['li:ɡəlɪ]
adv. 合法地；法律上地
recreational [高考]
美[ˌrekriˈeɪʃənl] | 英[ˌrekriˈeɪʃənl]
adj. 娱乐的；消遣的
essentially [高考]
美[ɪˈsenʃəli] | 英[ɪˈsenʃəli]
adv. 本质上；本来
substance [高考]
美[ˈsʌbstəns] | 英[ˈsʌbstəns]
n. 实质；物质；财产；内容；重要性
availability [高考]
美[əˌveɪlə'bɪləti] | 英[əˌveɪlə'bɪləti]
n. 有效；有用；有益；可得到的人(或物)；可用性
potential [高考]
美[pəˈtenʃl] | 英[pəˈtenʃl]
adj. 潜在的；可能的 n. 潜力；潜能 n. 电位；电势
eventually [高考]
美[ɪˈventʃuəli] | 英[ɪˈventʃuəli]
adv. 最后；终于
purchase [高考]
美[ˈpɜːrtʃəs] | 英[ˈpɜːtʃəs]
vt. 购买 n. 购买；购买的物品
commercial [高考]
美[kəˈmɜːrʃl] | 英[kəˈmɜːʃl]
adj. 商业的 n. 商业广告
eager [高考]
美[ˈiːɡər] | 英[ˈiːɡə(r)]
adj. 热切的；渴望的
narrow [高考]
美[ˈnæroʊ] | 英[ˈnærəʊ]
adj. 有限的；狭窄的；精密的；度量小的 n. 海峡；隘路；狭窄部份 v. 变窄
analysis [高考]
美[əˈnæləsɪs] | 英[əˈnæləsɪs]
n. 分析；解析
legal [高考]
美[ˈliːɡl] | 英[ˈliːɡl]
adj. 法定的；法律的；合法的
illegal [高考]
美[ɪˈliːɡl] | 英[ɪˈliːɡl]
adj. 非法的；不合法的 n. 非法移民
possession [高考]
美[pəˈzeʃn] | 英[pəˈzeʃn]
n. 拥有；财产；所有；殖民地
federal [高考]
美[ˈfedərəl] | 英[ˈfedərəl]
adj. 联邦制的；联邦政府的；同盟的 n. 联邦主义者；同盟盟友
tax [高考]
美[tæks] | 英[tæks]
n. 税；负担 v. 斥责；课税；使 ... 负重荷
approximately [高考]
美[əˈprɑːksɪmətli] | 英[əˈprɒksɪmətli]
adv. 大约；近似地
handful [高考]
美[ˈhændfʊl] | 英[ˈhændfʊl]
n. 一把；少数，少量； 难以控制的人（或事物）
weed [高考]
美[wiːd] | 英[wiːd]
n.杂草；水草；烟草；烟叶 v.除草；清除；淘汰
AIDS [高考]
美[eɪdz] | 英[eɪdz]
abbr. 爱滋病；获得性免疫功能丧失综合症(Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome)
benefit from [高考]
美[ˈbɛnəfɪt frʌm] | 英[ˈbenifit frɔm]
得益于； 从 ... 得到好处
means [高考]
美[miːnz] | 英[miːnz]
n. 方法；手段；收入；财产 v. 意思是，意味（动词mean的第三人称单数）
gap [高考]
美[ɡæp] | 英[ɡæp]
n. 缺口；裂缝；差距；空白
enforce [高考]
美[ɪnˈfɔːrs] | 英[ɪnˈfɔːs]
vt. 强迫；强制；实施；执行；加强
where [高考]
美[wer] | 英[weə(r)]
adv. 在哪里；在那个地方 conj. 在 ... 地方
would [高考]
美[wʊd , wəd] | 英[wʊd , wəd]
aux. 将；可能；大概；总会；愿意；will的过去式
strictly [四级]
美[ˈstrɪktli] | 英[ˈstrɪktli]
adv. 严格地；完全地
dealer [四级]
美[ˈdiːlər] | 英[ˈdiːlə(r)]
n. 商人；经销商；发牌者；毒品贩子
likelihood [四级]
美[ˈlaɪklihʊd] | 英[ˈlaɪklihʊd]
n. 可能性
clinical [四级]
美[ˈklɪnɪkl] | 英[ˈklɪnɪkl]
adj. 临床的；冷静的
stick with [四级]
美[stɪk wɪð] | 英[stik wið]
坚持做
legitimate [六级]
美[lɪˈdʒɪtɪmət] | 英[lɪˈdʒɪtɪmət]
adj. 合法的；世袭的；婚生的；正当的；合理的 vt. 使合法；授权；宣布 ... 为合法
according [专四]
美[ə'kɔrdɪŋ] | 英[ə'kɔːdɪŋ]
adj. 相符的；相应的；一致的 v. 给予；符合，一致；正式协议（accord的现在分词）
illicit [专八]
美[ɪˈlɪsɪt] | 英[ɪˈlɪsɪt]
adj. 非法的；违禁的；不正当的
disproportionately [考研]
美[ˌdɪsprə'pɔʃənətlɪ] | 英[ˌdɪsprə'pɔ:ʃənətlɪ]
adv. 不成比例地
federally [考研]
美[ ˈfedərəli] | 英[ˈfedərəli]
adv. 同盟地；联邦地；联邦政府地
don [托福]
美[dɑn] | 英[dɒn]
n. 先生（西班牙用语）；(牛津、剑桥大学的)指导教师 v. 穿上
memo [托福]
美[ˈmemoʊ] | 英[ˈmeməʊ]
n. 备忘录
重点讲解
The legalization of cannabis in the United States -- the biggest change in policy for an illegal substance since Prohibition ended -- has been an unqualified success for approximately no one.
美国大麻合法化是自禁酒令结束以来对非法物质做出的最大政策变化，但几乎没有人取得了绝对的成功。
unqualified adj.
1. 不合格的；没资格的
【例】He was unqualified for his job as a senior manager.
他担任高级经理职务不够格。
2. 完全的；无条件的
【例】unqualified assent/support
完全同意/无条件支持
drop v. 停止；终止
【例】We should drop the subject.
我们不要再谈这个话题了。
I dropped Spanish after graduating.
我毕业之后就把西班牙语丢了/就没再学西语了。
The drug is widely available for commercial purchase, many marijuana-related charges have been dropped, and stoner culture has become more aligned with designer smoking paraphernalia featured on Goop than the bumbling spaciness of Cheech and Chong.
大麻已广泛用于商业销售，许多与大麻有关的指控已被撤销，"瘾君子 "文化更多地向时尚网站 Goop 上的设计师品牌吸烟用具看齐，而不是像喜剧电影《切奇与钟》那样笨拙滑稽。
unqualified adj.
1. 不合格的；没资格的
【例】He was unqualified for his job as a senior manager.
他担任高级经理职务不够格。
2. 完全的；无条件的
【例】unqualified assent/support
完全同意/无条件支持
drop v. 停止；终止
【例】We should drop the subject.
我们不要再谈这个话题了。
I dropped Spanish after graduating.
我毕业之后就把西班牙语丢了/就没再学西语了。
Despite its wide availability, cannabis is still illegal under federal law.
尽管大麻随处可得，但根据联邦法律，大麻仍然是非法的。
penalty n. 处罚；惩罚
【例】the penalty for cheating in the exam
考试作弊的处罚
You can terminate the contract without penalty.
你可以解除合同，不用交罚款。
【拓展】penalize v. 处罚；惩罚
【近义词】punishment n. 惩罚
Since 1970, it's been listed as a Schedule I drug, meaning the government believes it carries a high likelihood of abuse and no medical value. Starting in the 1970s, states began passing laws lowering penalties for cannabis possession and allowing it for medical purposes and, eventually, recreational use.
自1970年以来，大麻一直被列为I类药物，意思是政府认为它具有很高的滥用可能性，而且没有医疗价值。从20世纪70年代开始，各州开始通过法律，降低对持有大麻的处罚，并允许将其用于医疗目的，最终也允许用于娱乐。
penalty n. 处罚；惩罚
【例】the penalty for cheating in the exam
考试作弊的处罚
You can terminate the contract without penalty.
你可以解除合同，不用交罚款。
【拓展】penalize v. 处罚；惩罚
【近义词】punishment n. 惩罚
In 2013, U.S. Deputy Attorney General James M. Cole issued a memo declaring that the Justice Department would not strictly enforce federal marijuana laws in states that legalized it.
2013年，美国司法部副部长詹姆斯·M.科尔发布了一份备忘录，宣布司法部将不在大麻合法化的州严格执行联邦大麻法律。
penalty n. 处罚；惩罚
【例】the penalty for cheating in the exam
考试作弊的处罚
You can terminate the contract without penalty.
你可以解除合同，不用交罚款。
【拓展】penalize v. 处罚；惩罚
【近义词】punishment n. 惩罚
Americans were eager to buy marijuana as states launched legalization programs, but in most states, cannabis hasn't proved to be a great legal business.
随着各州推出大麻合法化计划，美国人热切地想要购买大麻，但在大多数州，事实证明大麻并不是赚钱的合法生意。
tax break 税收减免或优惠
【例】be eligible for the tax break
符合税收减免的资格
【拓展】tax cut/return/credit
减税/退税/税收专项扣除
customs/duty/tariff n. 关税/进口关税/进口保护税
Because cannabis is still illegal at the federal level, many entrepreneurs don't benefit from many of the tax breaks that other businesses do, meaning the industry essentially pays billions in extra taxes, according to an analysis by a cannabis-research firm.
根据一家大麻研究公司的分析，因为大麻在联邦一级仍然是非法的，所以许多大麻企业家并没有从其他企业能享受的许多税收减免中受益，这意味着该行业实际上需要额外缴纳数十亿美元的税款。
tax break 税收减免或优惠
【例】be eligible for the tax break
符合税收减免的资格
【拓展】tax cut/return/credit
减税/退税/税收专项扣除
customs/duty/tariff n. 关税/进口关税/进口保护税
One promise of legalization was its potential benefit to Black and Latino communities, who were disproportionately affected by the War on Drugs, but as of 2017, members of these communities accounted for single-digit percentages of state-sanctioned cannabis entrepreneurs.
大麻合法化的一个承诺是将为黑人和拉丁裔族群带来潜在益处，这些族群在禁毒战争中受到的影响尤为严重，但在 2017 年，这些族群的成员在州政府批准的大麻企业家中所占比例仅为个位数。
as of
1. 在某个时间点
【例】as of now 目前
2. 从……开始
【例】As of next month, all the prices will go up.
从下个月开始，所有东西涨价。
【近义词】starting from 从……开始
3. 到……为止；截至
【例】the sales data as of the end of last month
截至上月末的销售数据
legitimate adj. 正当的；合法的
【例】a legitimate conclusion合理的结论
a legitimate mother 亲生儿子
【近义词】lawful/legal/licit adj. 合法的
Because legal weed is sometimes more expensive than old-school dealer prices, plenty of people simply stick with the unregulated underground. In states like New York, the gap between what's legal and what's enforced has allowed illicit stores to pop up among the legitimate ones.
由于合法的大麻有时比老式毒品贩子的价格更贵，因此许多人干脆继续买不受监管的地下大麻。在像纽约这样的州，法律规定与法律执行之间的差距使得非法商店在合法商店中大量出现。
as of
1. 在某个时间点
【例】as of now 目前
2. 从……开始
【例】As of next month, all the prices will go up.
从下个月开始，所有东西涨价。
【近义词】starting from 从……开始
3. 到……为止；截至
【例】the sales data as of the end of last month
截至上月末的销售数据
legitimate adj. 正当的；合法的
【例】a legitimate conclusion合理的结论
a legitimate mother 亲生儿子
【近义词】lawful/legal/licit adj. 合法的
In the 12 states where even medical marijuana is illegal, the only cannabis products legally available are a handful of medications that have been approved by the FDA, all for a narrow set of indications, such as vomiting among chemotherapy patients, AIDS-related anorexia, and certain kinds of seizures.
在连医用大麻都是非法的12个州，能合法获得的大麻产品只有少数几种获得美国食品药监局批准的药物，都是针对范围很窄的一些适应症，如化疗患者的呕吐、艾滋病相关的厌食症、某些类型的癫痫发作。
indication n. 表明；表示；适应症；指征
【例】The primary indication for prescribing this medication is severe pain.
开具这种药物的主要指征是剧烈疼痛。
【反义词】contraindication n. 禁忌
【例】Pregnancy is a contraindication for the use of certain medications.
一些药孕妇禁用。
few and far between 稀疏的；稀少的
【例】In this remote part of the country, gas stations are few and far between.
在这个国家的偏远地区，加油站非常稀少。
Opportunities like this are few and far between.
像这样的机会非常少见。
【近义词】scarce/scant adj. 稀少的
Active clinical trials to study cannabis are few and far between, which means that the drug currently has no clear pathways to be federally approved for other indications.
积极研究大麻的临床试验寥寥无几，这意味着这种药物目前没有明确的途径可以被联邦政府批准用于其他适应症。
indication n. 表明；表示；适应症；指征
【例】The primary indication for prescribing this medication is severe pain.
开具这种药物的主要指征是剧烈疼痛。
【反义词】contraindication n. 禁忌
【例】Pregnancy is a contraindication for the use of certain medications.
一些药孕妇禁用。
few and far between 稀疏的；稀少的
【例】In this remote part of the country, gas stations are few and far between.
在这个国家的偏远地区，加油站非常稀少。
Opportunities like this are few and far between.
像这样的机会非常少见。
【近义词】scarce/scant adj. 稀少的
课后练习
What does the author think about the cannabis legalization?
A. It has been universally considered as a success.
B. It has made cannabis less available for purchasers.
C. It has not been beneficial to many groups of people.
D. It has led to the increase of marijuana-related charges.
What action did U.S. Deputy Attorney General James M. Cole take in 2013?
A. He loosened the federal marijuana laws in some states.
B. He increased federal enforcement of marijuana laws in states.
C. He legalized marijuana at some states and at the federal level.
D. He passed a law allowing recreational cannabis use nationally.
What has been the experience of legal marijuana businesses in most states?
A. They have seen significant profits since legalization.
B. They have employed many Black and Latino workers.
C. They have replaced the underground cannabis market.
D. They have struggled to become successful legal enterprises.
In the 12 states where medical marijuana is illegal, ____.
A. cannabis is freely available for a wide range of medical conditions
B. medical cannabis have been obtained illegally for recreational use
C. active clinical trials have found no evidence to expand cannabis indications
D. only FDA-approved cannabis medications are available for specific conditions