This article was originally published on the Marijuana Patients Organization site on November 20, 2013.
First, let me start by stating ‘I am not in favor of the legalization of marijuana rather decriminalization’. As a society looking to protect itself, it is important to never encourage the stupidification of that society. Furthermore, I do not believe there is actually a ‘war on drugs’ in the United States and let me explain why.
My summers as a younger man some times consisted of Pine Knob Auditorium, watching rock concerts. Smoking ganga was often in plain view and certainly within the scent range of police officers, yet nothing ever happened. Our county commissioner and former prosecutor would get pulled over every few years for DWI or drug possession but still continued to warn us about the dangers of drug use. He is still in public office today with the same message and habits.
Governmental propaganda makes you believe that drugs are bad, yet the punishment is always given to the seller, usually never the user, and every year the number of users grows. Battleships patrol South America not rock concerts. If we really wanted to send a message there would be no thing as simple possession, throw the book at them.
As we move down the road of more sensible drug policies, that we all agree necessary, we should examine any current legislation carefully and ask if it would fit in that larger utopia of drug reform. A utopia we all know is right but too scared to say out loud.
Regulation is another form of prohibition. Without addressing the issue of demand, attacking the supply has proven to fuel the demand. Restrictive legislation should be ignored entirely.
As more communities decriminalize marijuana, slowly, government can implement better policies to deter use. Any regulation (restrictive) at a state level will only contribute to the so-called ‘war on drugs’ and the stupidifying of our society.