Time we Freed The Weed

Thanks again for promulgating sound advice. My own opinion regarding marijuana is analogous to yours. Personally, I loathe the stuff; nearly all of my friends adore it, but its odor, stuporous effects and trite subculture are abhorrent to both my senses and sensibilities. Yet the criminalization of this relatively innocuous drug has created innumerable felons of blameless innocents, enabled further extraordinary corruption and overreach of the repugnant U.S. criminal justice system and provided hardened criminals more opportunities than Capone and his ilk enjoyed during Prohibition. Philip Morris oughtn't be blamed alone - as much as I'd love to see marijuana legalized and cultivated by a cottage industry, I don't know that it'll ever happen so long as the pharmaceutical industry is so entrenched as perhaps the most powerful special interest group to control the political class. Truly - they've even more cash and sway than Big Oil, Big Tobacco (foreign or domestic), Israel, Pakistan or any single trans-national corporate entity.

Decriminalization of drug use in Portugal is a proven, resounding success - a confirmation of social theories that Libertarians, Progressives, Classical Liberals, et al. have been promoting for years. Thus far, I've heard no credible argument that an extrapolation of this policy couldn't be equally successful in other nations in Europe and the Americas.

One final point:

Majijuana makes you a danger to others!

Only if sloth and the purchase of junk foods is considered dangerous. Umbrella laws strictly prohibiting the use of any intoxicant whilst operating vehicles and/or heavy machinery ought apply here.

Legalization of pot was supported by conservatives like the late Bill Buckley and even former Secretary of State George Shultz. I'm predisposed to legalization in order to invoke the power to tax the substance and raise huge revenues for the States. Like the failed Alcohol Prohibition effort of the 30s, pot is used everywhere. Its legalization would conserve precious law enforcement and Court resources to handle real crimes.

Nah, I'm against any controlled substance legalization. The Feds have already said that their fed laws would still be in force anyway. It's a statement more than anything else and won't be taken seriously. If a person lights one up and says CA law says it's OK to a Fed officer, sorry you go to jail anyway. This was fun to read though, so you get a thumb for that!

Wow, you hit a nerve with this one. Very interesting approach, well done!

Thanks for the analysis. The only point I can see that was not included was we could also tax the crap out of it to help offset some of the potential problems.

I hope it passes. Imagine all the money we could save when we release the people in jail for pot related crimes. Not to mention getting rid of it being smuggled in from other countries. Add to that if things progress where we can start producing and selling it legally like alcohol. Personally I do not think I would be a user but I do not think it should be illegal. Some things would have to be regulated though so that others smoking would not infringe on others rights in public places. The smoke is considerably thicker than cigarette smoke and I sure would not want to have to walk through a cloud of it on the way into a restaurant. The other thing that needs to be worked out is being able to test if someone is high while driving. We can check for blood alcohol and have developed legal limits. but with Pot is there an acceptable level of high? I doubt it. Is there a test that can tell if you are high or just one that says you have smoked in the past month or whatever. Careful legislation is needed here, it's not a simple solution I will be interested to see how this goes

I whole-heartedly agree! There's enough logic here to defend even the most baked pothead in the world. Thanks for such a terse analysis.

"The only way to stop your own kids from doing stupid or dangerous things is to educate them and talk frankly about life - not through legislation"

Just wanted to say - right on & great review!

I saw it mentioned in another article that 40% of high school seniors have smoked pot and I wouldn't be surprised if it was higher. And then there's the issue of the overcrowded jails with people who are in there for marijuana related offenses. 

As a side note, you're also not the only one sick of smelling pot around San Francisco =P