Monday, October 26, 2009
Drugs United States "probably in the process now of legalizing marijuana."
Posted by Dan Savage on Mon, Oct 26, 2009 at 9:28 AM
So says George Will in what Raw Story is calling a "Walter Cronkite moment" in the war on drugs:
Appearing on ABC's This Week With George Stephanopoulos on Sunday, the Pulitzer-winning journalist and longtime icon of America's political right declared that with President Barack Obama's new policy which respects the states right to allow medical marijuana, the United States is "probably in the process now of legalizing marijuana." He added that if there were to be a serious effort to fight the increasingly violent, powerful Mexican drug cartels, "you'd legalize marijuana," the sale of which provides the gangs the vast majority of their funding...."We have legalized gambling in this country over two generations; it used to be considered a sin and a crime. We, with no national debate and no decision moment—we just did it—we legalized prostitution, as anyone who opens a telephone book and looks under 'escort' can tell you. And we may be doing... We're probably in the process now of legalizing marijuana."
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3
It's effectively legal here in Colorado already. Oh, the state is trying to figure out how to "regulate" it, but even that's starting to look like a lost cause.
5
Government and taxpayers need to be very selective about what should be punishable. Making any act or commodity illegal sets up criminal enterprises to make money from people who will do anyhting to get what they want. We jail more people than any country on earth and that costs vast sums of treasure and manpower that would be better spent on real crimes against people. Think of all the murders that go unsolved. All the thefts and armed robberies. There are real criminals that do harm to society and that should be our focus. We used to have so much money we could be wasteful. Not any more.
6
It's time to follow Mexico's lead and legalize all drugs. Make drug addiction a health problem and not a moral/ legal one.
I wonder how many people have to die in NIXON'S drug war before we finally end it?
I wonder how many people have to die in NIXON'S drug war before we finally end it?
10
I really hope the US legalizes weed, because it would appear as though Canada won't do it until then. Although it appears to be a bit easier in BC, what if us medicinal users need acceptance and understandin gin ther est of Canada as well. Good luck Obama your Norhtern cousins need it
11
But will it simply go the route of big tobacco? More chemicals, more corporate, advertisements everywhere...right now you can buy from your local mom-and-pop drug dealers. If it's legalized, will Wal-Mart and Phillip Morris take over the world of weed?
12
There's nothing stopping you from growing your own tobacco, @11. You don't even have to pay taxes on it.
But to answer your question: Yes, probably.
But to answer your question: Yes, probably.
13
But if we pull out of the war on drugs, all our brave soldiers' sacrifices will have been in vain...
14
Marijuana is going to be legalized like prostitution is legalized? So, like, not legalized at all?
15
So, reading between the lines, Will is telling us that it will one day soon be legal to gamble with prostitutes for weed?
16
It will be a huge throwback, one doesn't even need to look south of the border (Mexico) to see what will await this nation if this is even taken into consideration. Just look at Humboldt county in Ca as has been posted here on Slog:
http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archive…
And yet in spite of the labels (such as SFCH) people like Savage give to those who put a human face into what something like legalization of these drugs will cause in our communities and neighborhoods, you don't see people like him moving into such wondrous slices of paradise, one can only wonder why?
http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archive…
And yet in spite of the labels (such as SFCH) people like Savage give to those who put a human face into what something like legalization of these drugs will cause in our communities and neighborhoods, you don't see people like him moving into such wondrous slices of paradise, one can only wonder why?
18
Good.
I'm sick of paying taxes to investigate, arrest, prosecute, jail, and do all the other things for this failed War on Drugs.
It's something like 40 percent of our total tax burden in this county.
I'm sick of paying taxes to investigate, arrest, prosecute, jail, and do all the other things for this failed War on Drugs.
It's something like 40 percent of our total tax burden in this county.
19
@9 and @11:
I doubt it. People put up with chemicals in their cigarettes now because they're already hooked, and tobacco is a relic from times when nobody cared about that crap. Neo-hippies and closeted-stoner soccer moms will pay a premium for American-grown, organic dope directly from Whole Foods or a card table in the Pike Place Market. They won't stand for imported stuff or anything with additives.
I doubt it. People put up with chemicals in their cigarettes now because they're already hooked, and tobacco is a relic from times when nobody cared about that crap. Neo-hippies and closeted-stoner soccer moms will pay a premium for American-grown, organic dope directly from Whole Foods or a card table in the Pike Place Market. They won't stand for imported stuff or anything with additives.
21
Legalization won't happen under Obama. He's far too politically savvy to associate the first black presidency with the legalization of pot.
22
With alcohol legal it's just as easy to become a bum. Mankind needs to quit blaming the substances, and start teaching ethic's and futhermore the responsibilites associated with consuming controlled substances! They need to just leagalize eveything as crazy as it sounds, cause once pot is legalized, the cartel's are going to be pushing their hard drugs just that much more, and again people will find a way to purchase these hard drugs!
23
@21: I think this is actually one area where Obama's ethnic background is helpful in driving progressive policy. The "War on Drugs" is more aptly called the "War on Black People." It is a horrifically racist policy in its application (blacks make up 60% of drug convictions), and perhaps in concept too - Nixon may have declared the War on Drugs as part of his Southern Strategy. In the wake of the Civil Rights Act, Jim Crow states needed a new excuse to keep throwing uppity negroes in jail for no good reason.
24
Well, in all fairness, there wasn't any discussion, evidence or debate way back in 1937 when the drug first became illegal ... they just did it.
25
Sorry, Nova, but you're wrong. At the time, marijuana was primarily used by black people, and there was considerable discussion - almost all of it centered around banning it so the "darkies" wouldn't get high, go crazy, and rape all the white women. No joke.
26
Am I reading this right? From the excerpt, it sounds like George Will is actually calling for the legalization of weed. Which would be great; it's just that it's strange to see a Climate-Change-Denier take a reasonable stance on anything.
27
Valid medicinal value, it’s a victimless crime, the War on Drugs WAY too costly, too many arrests for simple possession, tax it and use the money to pay for health insurance and to reduce the deficit. Need I say more?
Woodstock Universe supports legalization for a variety of reasons. Check them out and vote in our poll "Should marijuana be legalized?" at http://woodstockuniverse.com
Current poll results: 96% for legalization and 4% opposed.
Add your vote. Poll runs through October.
Peace, love, music, one world,
RFWoodstock
Woodstock Universe supports legalization for a variety of reasons. Check them out and vote in our poll "Should marijuana be legalized?" at http://woodstockuniverse.com
Current poll results: 96% for legalization and 4% opposed.
Add your vote. Poll runs through October.
Peace, love, music, one world,
RFWoodstock
28
It's that simply, illegal drugs aren't going anywhere. It was the same with alcohol, why would you think i would be any different with illegal narcotics. With alcohol prohibiton it created an under groud black market that allowed al capone and others like him to violently profit. At least sell control and regulate illegal narcotics like you do alcohol and Tabbacco. Nixion just coined the phase WAR ON DRUGS, cause with certian narcotics illegal, it allowed them to dump ungodly amounts of money into goverment assetts. As oppossed to public assetts whereas politicain's profit nothing!
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