In a post today, Andrew Sullivan ran a series of emails from his readers who support the legalization of marijuana. All of them hold steady, highly regarded jobs (including a solider, a marketing professional, an author, and a teacher), but when they’re not working, partake in the use of marajuana. Seemingly, none of them spend many hours a day using it, rather only in social situations. Just your average hard working American, not some pothead. They’re all short, so it’s well worth the read.
Later all, another Sullivan reader submitted a dissent, arguing that all the people in the former emails were supporting murderers and terrorists by doing what they do. I think he brings up a good point. As there are few places in the country you can get marijuana legally (and then only for medical use), it’s reasonable (and based on fact) to assume a lot of the marijuana sold in the U.S. comes from criminal enterprises. Of course, I know what the response would be, “legalize it, grow it here, tax it, and cut off the criminals.” It’s an oft used argument for legalization, and there is merit to it.
My own views on marijuana are mixed. I’ve never used it, for the same reason I’ve never used cigarettes: I’m asthmatic. Therefore, I also hold mixed views on cigarettes. On one hand, my libertarian side says, “no cigarette bans.” On the other hand, I am able to enjoy my time in bars without choaking. On a third hand, I’m not just going to ignore the social scene if I’m not in a place with a ban, so I suck it up, so to speak.
So my concerns with marijuana are primarly health related ones, rather than moralistic ones. Back in the days of primary school, I was let know how so very bad and evil pot was. It was a gateway drug, see? Further investigation into the effects of marijuana and reading first hand accounts of actual users has led me to believe that this just isn’t true.
However, if it were to come down to a referendum, I’d probably vote for legalization.
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