Because, you know, policy that harms more than it heals, laws that create criminals instead of mitigating criminality, is a little bit stupid.
It took 13 years for the United States to come to its senses and end Prohibition, 13 years in which people kept drinking, otherwise law-abiding citizens became criminals and crime syndicates arose and flourished. It has been more than 40 years since Congress passed the current ban on marijuana, inflicting great harm on society just to prohibit a substance far less dangerous than alcohol.
The federal government should repeal the ban on marijuana.
It seems silly to call them brave – but, I think, that among other compliments are deserved.
If you want to hear the sound of American idiocy, at a pub I overheard a person talking about how, fair or not, non-violent drug offenders were in jail for a reason. While drinking alcohol that would have made him a criminal back during prohibition.
At least the nation’s voters had some input in starting Prohibition. All these drug laws were imposed by the government.
Further, they restrict personal freedom, block free trade, and result in a nanny state. Conservatives should be fighting to legalize drugs.
(Most conservatives will do drugs if they feel like it, and justify it however. They certainly will drink and smoke, and damn anyone who doesn’t like that.)
Bloody fucking late, NYT.
I’m just wondering:
Is the logic for having it at the state level really any different from having it at the federal level? Why does it make a difference who is doing the criminalizing?