Talk Left has a series of articles today regarding marijuana and the War on Drugs(c)(tm).
The first article is regarding the insane number of arrests for marijuana use/possession in this country - nearly 700,000 last year, or broken down, one every 45 seconds. The crazy thing is, of that number, just under 615,000 were arrested and charged merely with possessio, with only about 83,000 or so charged with sale/manufacture. Remember this the next time there is a terrorist attack and we are scratching our heads wondering why we can't stop these things in advance.
The other article is regarding a proposed $100 million to $150 million on what I predict will be ineffectual commercials such as:
The effort launches with a pair of 30-second spots. In "Pool," a toddler carries an inflatable raft to a swimming pool and places it in the water. As she teeters on the edge, a voiceover says: "Just tell her parents you weren't watching her because you were getting stoned. They'll understand."The other ad, "Pick Up," shows a group of young boys leaving a baseball field. One sits on the curb, waiting to be picked up, as day turns to dusk. The voiceover says, "Just tell your little brother that you forgot to pick him up because you were getting stoned. He'll understand."
$150 million for drug commercials? Is there any evidence that these things actually work on any kind of level? (Would the money not be better spent on, say, drug treatment and counseling?)
I find it hard to believe, with medical marijuana laws being ratified across the nation via popular ballot initiative, that there aren't more intelligent and intellectual voices being lent to rethinking the war on drugs.
As far as I can tell, the one conservative who stands out on this is William F. Buckley Jr. (I'm sure there are others, but I am not seeing them much). A handful of credible liberals stand out as well. But what is needed is a movement to push DC to rethink the War on Drugs. What is needed is a War on the War on Drugs.
Either way, there is no credible argument for marijuana prohibition (at least, that can't apply to alcohol as well). Other drugs should also be a matter of personal freedom so long as the individuals are not breaking other laws (ie, driving under the influence or other criminal acts).
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