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Lit_Match

So Little To Fear in Legal Marijuana
07-20-07|News & Observer|By Ray Warren

"We have nothing to fear but fear itself" -- President Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1933

Justice John Paul Stevens recently asked in a U.S. Supreme Court opinion "whether the fear of disapproval by those in the majority is silencing opponents of the war on drugs." The answer is a resounding "yes," though it's not at all clear that a majority actually agrees with current policies regarding marijuana regulation. Fear of being called "soft on drugs" is stifling rational debate about the relative merits of prohibition vs. regulation of a substance most regard as relatively innocuous.

Virtually everyone under the age 55 knows somebody who uses or has used marijuana. Many need only look in a mirror. Yet federal and state governments continue to treat marijuana possession as a serious crime. This is a wildly disproportionate response, fueled by fear, to an activity that is widespread among all classes of society.

As part of an organization seeking to reform prohibition-oriented marijuana laws, I witness this phenomenon daily. Legislators acknowledge privately that current policies are not working, but fret that voters will not accept reform. Citizens wink and nod at marijuana use by loved ones while supporting laws that could ruin their loved ones' lives. Everybody is afraid to question current policies.

Instead of acting like Chicken Little, perhaps we should ask ourselves exactly what would happen if marijuana was regulated like alcohol. That might make for calm and rational public policy decisions.

Far too many people have tried marijuana, or know somebody who has used it, for the public to really believe in the "Reefer Madness" stories circulated by government fear-mongers. As with alcohol, some people would abuse marijuana. But, also as with alcohol, most would adjust their consumption in a responsible manner.

EVERY DAY THE PAPERS ARE FULL OF STORIES OF MISERY wrought by overindulgence in alcohol -- a substance more toxic, and far more likely to induce violence or aggression, than marijuana. Yet prohibition is not considered a serious response to alcohol abuse. And in the real world, most people don't drink themselves into oblivion daily, despite the relative ease and low expense involved in doing so.

But if we regulated marijuana like alcohol, what message would that send to our children? Good question. What message do we send when we enact laws that punish a few unlucky individuals for doing what much of the population does without punishment?

We cannot engender respect for the law by criminalizing private behavior while quietly tolerating the flouting of the law. Experience with alcohol prohibition taught us that.

But isn't marijuana a "gateway" to other drugs? Not through its biochemical effects, as the Institute of Medicine noted in its White House-funded study. The "gateway" is the suppliers -- drug dealers who peddle other drugs as well. Put an attractive product in the same market basket as hard drugs and shoppers may sample the other products. Put marijuana where it belongs, in licensed and regulated outlets as we do with alcohol, and consumers won't see the drug dealers' other wares.

Bourbon is sold by legal venues where identification is checked, and proprietors have reason to follow rules in order to preserve their liquor licenses. The fact that marijuana is illegal creates a completely unregulated market where anything goes.

I'VE BEEN LICENSED TO PRACTICE LAW IN NORTH CAROLINA for nearly 25 years. I had the privilege of serving as a Superior Court judge for seven and one half of those years. I wouldn't know where to buy marijuana if I had to. And my own experience with it is limited to the casual exposure nearly every adult under 55 has had. But I've seen many lives ruined by misguided policies that treat the consumption of marijuana as a major threat to society.

If we really believe that our friends, family and neighbors are ruining their own lives and threatening the public safety, we should turn them in immediately. The fact that most of us do not do that is testament to the fact we really don't perceive marijuana as a threat to the public order.

Properly regulating and taxing marijuana for adult use would save millions of dollars in law enforcement, court costs and correction department spending. It would also bring in millions in tax revenues for education, roads and other critical needs, and shut a "gateway" to hard drugs.

Ignoring that opportunity based on hysterical fears about a substance few view as a threat to public order is true "reefer madness."

(Ray Warren is director of State Policies for the Marijuana Policy Project in Washington, D.C. He is a former member of the North Carolina House of Representatives and a former judge.)

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Donation links to NORML (The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws) | MPP (Marijuana Policy Project)

 

Hansje

hit the nail right on the head there. finally another voice of somebody with a grip on reality based on career experience. another reason to cut the government waste on marijuana prohibition. i don't care if the committees to find government waste and make the cuts are covered by this disguise, and the only area they actually make cuts in is anything up for grabs to end cannabis prohibition. how to bring about getting more law enforcement (guy was a judge) and more politicians (guy was rep. in NC) to concentrate on having a bit more free time and sanity by not having to deal with a losing prohibition situation? the convenience of free time because of regulated marijuana and public funds generated from regulation could benefit the salary scales of personnel. who is going to say no to more free time and more money over something most people don't give a rip about that much? it's not like the public is tripping over themselves to turn in people they know to the police. people like to keep such things private, and deal with matters in private.

SkyTripper

Of course the above article is true and hits the nail right on the head...so-to-speak.
Unfortunately, there just isn't enough debate or discussion on this subject on a large-scale with the public anymore.
The status quo continues year after year and the beat goes on and that is just fine with the government and the politicians.
The media continues to only report on anything negative regarding marijuana and absolutely NOTHING regarding realistic debate and any changes in current policies.
Medical marijuana occasionally gains further attention as another state acquires the needed votes to achieve something that the feds refuse to acknowledge no matter what the people say.
Yes, I am glad that 12 states now have medical marijuana laws which is progress from the mentality of years ago on the subject and a belief that there was no medical value whatsoever in SMOKING marijuana.
But the fact that this natural substance helps so many ailments and just CANNOT compare with pills and is orally administered in such a way that the pharm. companies, politicians and many others deem as "not acceptable" is ridiculous!
The pharm. companies are just too powerful and continue to pour way too much money into the political arena to forever PREVENT the legitimacy of this plant since they have too much to lose and little to gain.
You throw in the mix ALL the jobs created and dependent on the continuing illegality of marijuana.....(probation officers, rehabs, drug testing companies, lawyers, etc. etc. etc.) and it is very clear that the continuation of the status quo.....IS GOOD for BUSINESS.....and nobody wants to "rock the boat."
Underneath this ridiculous facade of control, fear and punishment upon the American people.....yes...the MAJORITY of Americans are well aware of ALL that marijuana IS, was and will always be.......a generally benign and safe alternative to alcohol and most other "drugs" out there.
Recreational use SHOULD far outweigh that of alcohol by now as a "social lubricant." Coffeehouses like those in Amsterdam SHOULD be EVERYWHERE as well as people toking happily in our parks, throwing frisbees alongside the healthnuts jogging so freely along.
The MAJORITY of people in America today under the age of 65 have smoked pot themselves or been around it at some point and are all well aware of the fact that the laws ARE unjust, unfair, unconstitutional and soooooo STUPID at this point.......but what can you do?
Full blown legalization, regulation of marijuana IS the way to go.....but I personally, doubt that will happen anymore.
If anything......I can envision the possibility of tougher times ahead for all forms of "non-conformity" with this issue and other ones which have to do with personal choice in this country.
As long as the people of America keep burying their heads in the sand and remain divided with absolutely no unity or the will and desire to band together.....oppression will flourish and a more totalitarian rule shall follow.
If a one-world government is sought and that is the long-range agenda ......CONTROL begins with your own.

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SkyTripper

Buzzby

For someone who mostly hangs out with pot smokers, it probably looks that way. It's not. While 80% of voters surveyed are in favor of medical marijuana, less than a third favor the legalization of marijuana for recreational purposes.

Don't be fooled into complacency thinking that most people want marijuana legalized but our evil government somehow won't act on their desires. Politicians tend to support what their constituents want. If we want to see marijuana legalized, we need to work for it, not sit back and say "it'll probably never happen". Only 0.2% of cannabis users have made the effort to join and support even one of the three major pro-legalization organizations. With that kind of apathy from the people who would benefit most from legalization, how can we expect non-users to give a damn?

80% of voters polled favor medical marijuana, but they're not writing to their representatives demanding it. Why should they? It's so far down their list of priorities that it never surfaces. The legalization of recreational marijuana, for the third who favor it, is even further down the list.

The public needs to be educated and prodded to consider these issues very important. The public needs the truth poured on them over and over again to counteract the lies that are constantly being broadcast by the forces of prohibition. That takes money and organization. Think about it. The ONDCP has a budget of $120,000,000 to spend on TV ads alone. The three major pro-legalization organizations have a combined budget of $18 million, and half of that comes from a few billionaires, not ordinary cannabis consumers.

If cannabis users were to contribute 1% of what they spend on weed and paraphernalia to the legalization cause, it would have $400,000,000 to spend every year to educate the public and effectively lobby our representatives. Currently there is only one full-time paid lobbyist in Washington pushing our cause.

If you really want to see marijuana legalized, click one (or more) of these links, join, contribute, learn all you can about what you as an individual can do, and do it!

National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML)

Marijuana Policy Project (MPP)

Drug Policy Alliance (DPA)

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Murdock

Nope, couldn't disagree more, it's corporate and foreign interest that the beltway is loyal to. It's sad, but I think you hold on to ideals that have actually no longer exist. Back before we had sold our soul to foreign interest, back before the days of the mega corporation.. Maybe then you were right, but now it's a different world. The Saudi royal family has far more influence than the farmer in Idaho. And the board of directors for Smith Klein has a helluva lot more influence than the constituents of Memphis..

Complete agreement here. And nothing will change it either. The environment, health care, foreign policy, economy, education. All have been and will continue to be higher priority than Marijuana law reform, no matter what.

What you're asking for is an effort that would bring in nearly enough money to run a Presidential campaign. I'm sorry but that's simply not reality. Especially when you consider that much of that money is spent by people who have a vested interest in keeping marijuana illegal.

Perhaps it's not apathy but a realization that the government honestly no longer listens to the voice of the people until and unless it reaches near riot level chorus, and marijuana will never by virtue of it being a low level and low grade "war" reach that type of critical mass.

Beyond that, do you honestly think that the government would bite the hand that feeds by going against the big Pharma lobby? The Prison industrial complex? The DEA?

Hardly...

 

Buzzby

The last time I checked, our representatives were still elected by American voters, not appointed by corporations or foreign governments. Some politicians are willing to sell their favors to special interests, but they draw the line at not getting reelected. If a large enough number of constituents demand something, it gets done.

Aim high. If you ask for $400 and only get $200, it's still a hell of a lot better than $18.

Which marijuana consumers have a vested interest in keeping marijuana illegal? Dealers and growers are a tiny part of the marijuana consumer community.

It's apathy. Nothing ever happens unless people invest the effort to make it happen. That's what's happening now. 98.2% of marijuana consumers flop on the couch, hit the bong, and, employing your rationalization, say, "Fuck it! Things will never change. Let's just get high."

Yes I do. We elect them. We pay their salaries. Our representatives can only operate within the constraints that we put on them.

Thanks for illuminating the position of the typical pothead. You, and people like you, are the reason the legalization of marijuana is such a slow process. You can't win when you give up without a fight.

National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML)

Marijuana Policy Project (MPP)

Drug Policy Alliance (DPA)