Prohibiting Marijuana Fails As A Deterrence

[greenbuddha]

US CA: PUB LTE: Prohibiting Pot Fails As A Deterrence

 

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URL: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v13/n194/a07.html

Newshawk: http://www.drugwarfacts.org

Votes: 1

Pubdate: Fri, 03 May 2013

Source: San Diego Union Tribune (CA)

Copyright: 2013 Union-Tribune Publishing Co.

Contact: letters@utsandiego.com

Website: http://www.utsandiego.com/

Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/386

Note: Seldom prints LTEs from outside it's circulation area.

Author: Rob Cohen

Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v13/n185/a07.html

 

PROHIBITING POT FAILS AS A DETERRENCE

 

Conservatism in its truest sense believes in governing in a common-sense manner. It allows for social experimentation over time to determine what the norms of society should be. It's a slower and more deliberative process. If something that has been accepted for years has over time shown not to be effective, a true conservative will gladly accept the new norm.

 

Marijuana use is a great example of this. We have come a long way from the "reefer madness" days, and, over time, marijuana use, while not necessarily accepted in law, has been accepted by society. It's use has never been more prevalent.

 

We now see that the "war on drugs" especially as it pertains to marijuana has been a failure. It's time for the laws to reflect that failure and to change toward legalization of its use - specifically, for medical use. There is overwhelming evidence of the benefits to those suffering physical pain from cancer and other diseases. California and other states have recognized this but the federal government is intransigent about changing its tune. When Laura Duffy and the other federal prosecutors threaten local officers, elected or not, if they implement local ordinances regarding marijuana availability, they abuse their power as representatives of the public at large.

 

While I agree with you that there should be a discussion in Washington regarding this issue, I am surprised that a "conservative" newspaper would still maintain its opposition to legalization. I would think that you would want to see less government interference in people's lives, especially when, in the instance of medical use of marijuana, society has spoken.

 

- - Rob Cohen, San Diego

MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom