I like Steven Greenhut's logic in today's editorial. One anti-marijuana argument that is often used is that marijuana is a "gateway" drug that leads users to harder, more harmful drugs. Taking Steven's argument to the next step, if marijuana and methamphetamine are both illegal, then why not switch to the harder drug for more "bang for the buck" with no telltale smell, smaller & easier to hide, and no "paraphernalia?" I've been convinced for a long time that legalizing pot would actually reduce the number of users who "graduate" to harder drugs, and do more to keep it away from children.
Pot legalization effort defies stereotypes Page 1 of 2 | UTSanDiego.com:
Greenhut also notes that Humbolt County residents are against legalization because they recognize that if it does become legal, they will then have a lot of competition from legal growers, and most likely lose a lot of revenue. I'm convinced that similarly the "anti drug -industrial complex" are tkehe main foes of legalization. Whenever the subject of legalization is discussed the advocates are usually regular citizens. However usually the only opposition to it are people who's income and livelihood depend upon keeping marijuana illegal. Who are they? They are the "drug enforcers" including police, DEA, FBI, Coast Guard, Homeland Security, Border Patrol, Judges, Baliffs, Court Reporters, Prosecutors, Public Defenders, Prison Guards, Prison builders etc. I'm sure all of these people believe they are serving their country and are doing an important job. They are all also paid well and are respected by their community. So when they argue against legalization, they are believed by their neighbors.
Every time the police catch a drug operation, they always cite an exaggerated "street value" of the confiscated drugs. Always noticeably absent from those reports is the cost the Government expended in investigating, arresting, prosecuting, and imprisoning the criminals. My "back of the envelope" calculations estimate that the cost for us to fight the drug war is way more than 10 times the value of the drugs moving through the illegal channels, and possibly 100 times more than the value of the drugs confiscated.
