Why Legalizing Marijuana Makes Sense

[kpete]

Source: TIME Magazine

Why Legalizing Marijuana Makes Sense



For the past several years, I've been harboring a fantasy, a last political crusade for the baby-boom generation. We, who started on the path of righteousness, marching for civil rights and against the war in Vietnam, need to find an appropriately high-minded approach to life's exit ramp. In this case, I mean the high-minded part literally. And so, a deal: give us drugs, after a certain age — say, 80 — all drugs, any drugs we want. In return, we will give you our driver's licenses. (I mean, can you imagine how terrifying a nation of decrepit, solipsistic 90-year-old boomers behind the wheel would be?) We'll let you proceed with your lives — much of which will be spent paying for our retirement, in any case — without having to hear us complain about our every ache and reflux. We'll be too busy exploring altered states of consciousness. I even have a slogan for the campaign: "Tune in, turn on, drop dead."

A fantasy, I suppose. But, beneath the furious roil of the economic crisis, a national conversation has quietly begun about the irrationality of our drug laws. It is going on in state legislatures, like New York's, where the draconian Rockefeller drug laws are up for review; in other states, from California to Massachusetts, various forms of marijuana decriminalization are being enacted. And it has reached the floor of Congress, where Senators Jim Webb and Arlen Specter have proposed a major prison-reform package, which would directly address drug-sentencing policy. (See pictures of stoner cinema.)

There are also more puckish signs of a zeitgeist shift. A few weeks ago, the White House decided to stage a forum in which the President would answer questions submitted by the public; 92,000 people responded — and most of them seemed obsessed with the legalization of marijuana. The two most popular questions about "green jobs and energy," for example, were about pot. The President dismissed the outpouring — appropriately, I guess — as online ballot-stuffing and dismissed the legalization question with a simple: "No." (Read: "Can Marijuana Help Rescue California's Economy?")

This was a rare instance of Barack Obama reacting reflexively, without attempting to think creatively, about a serious policy question. He was, in fact, taking the traditional path of least resistance: an unexpected answer on marijuana would have launched a tabloid firestorm, diverting attention from the budget fight and all those bailouts. In fact, the default fate of any politician who publicly considers the legalization of marijuana is to be cast into the outer darkness. Such a person is assumed to be stoned all the time, unworthy of being taken seriously. Such a person would be lacerated by the assorted boozehounds and pill poppers of talk radio. The hypocrisy inherent in the American conversation about stimulants is staggering.

Read more: http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1889021,00.html

[polichick]

1. It's high time! ;)

[CrownPrinceBandar]

2. Time Magazine? WOW.

[Jeep789]

3. Might be helpful to remind Obama that if he had been caught

for some of the drugs he has acknowledged partaking in, he might very well have ended up in prison instead of the White House. If we are to be a just nation, this hypocrisy must stop.

That said, Obama never made this a campaign promise and doing so would almost assuredly have prevented his election. At least, the debate is beginning to turn toward the light.

[PetrusMonsFormicarum]

4. States will do it first

The tipping point is not that far off.

Of course Obama said "no", even though he issued instructions that the Feds not hassle medical marijuana providers who are operating within the bounds of the law. He knows that decriminalization and legalization will best be implemented at the local level. Although I would imagine that the greatest resistance legalization faces is the "easy money" aspect so appealing to local law enforcement. Perhaps they'll change their tunes when Fed money for "The War on Drugs" dries up.

[The Wizard]

5. Legalization would reduce enforcement expenses to

nothing, and prison costs would be diminished.
It wouldn't do much for the economy as it's a weed that anyone can grow. The only thing causing the high costs now associated with it is the risk of criminal prosecution. Legalization would give users a few more bucks to spend on other things like gambling and prostitution.

[RaleighNCDUer]

6. Anybody 'can' grow it, but that doesn't mean anybody 'would'.

Millions live in cramped apartments where it is not practical to grow your own, particularly if you can pick up a pack at the corner store. I would not be surprised if the home-growers actually decrease with legalization, just as the bathtub gin makers gave it up with the repeal of the 18th amendment. It's just not worth the hassle.

[LooseWilly]

7. I'm always surprised that this is something that is still argued about.

Go to Amsterdam, where it's legal. Spend a couple of days there.

There's really no rational argument for keeping marijuana illegal. It's absurd. It's idiocratic.
The only possible answer is that the gun and body armor and such like manufacturers need the business they get from police who need all that equipment to paramilitarize themselves enough to fight the "war".
Hell, here in California, most of the people I know will let you smoke pot in the house but make you go outside to smoke tobacco.


:shrug:

[HPSteam]

8. Doping,TAXING, Smoking, TAXING

BUT if it saves just one "child" they say to any and all of their tried & failed projects,Laws,policies,taxes,lies etc..etc. When they (dems) see the PROFITS to be had in Marketing,TAXING,Growing,TAXING,Cross-Cloning,TAXING,Distribution (all rights reserved buy the FEDERALIES of course) Sales,Supplies,TAXING,Exporting and good jobs with dare i say,a whole new Field with Growth Potential four our West Coast States. And best of all we already have the work force (illegals) for those new jobs that will be TAXED at a fair rate.GOD, my head hurts, to much to fast.And who knows, pot today, poppy tomorrow? I THINK I JUST SOLD MYSELF. HPS

[Oldenuff]

9. k&r

It is past time to do something positive about this topic.