resurrectionsong

January 12, 2004

Stoners for Economic Growth

All joking aside (at very least because I don't actually use drugs of any kind (except acohol, of course)), where I normally have little use for Alternet (other than to find points of disagreement), my view on drug policy does have a tendency to mirror that of their writers. In fact, quite a while back, I wrote about the subject in reference to an article in The Guardian.

The Modulator takes a look at the same subject today.

Oddly, my opinion on this subject began to change around the same time I moved positions on the death penalty. I know that this is one of those subjects where I diverge from many of my conservative friends, but it's a topic that is worthy of more consideration.

Posted by zombyboy at January 12, 2004 02:14 PM | TrackBack

Comments

As much as I, for personal reasons, am opposed to drugs in general, I simply can't continue to oppose the legalization of marijuana anymore. The arguments for it are legion. The arguments against it are laughable. You can consider this an opinion reversed over time, much the way my position on the death penalty has reversed and my position on abortion is in the process of reversing.

Posted by: StumpJumper at January 12, 2004 02:50 PM

Oddly, way back when I actually did use drugs on an irregular basis, I was far more opposed to legalization now that I'm clean. That's opposition was one of the things that made me reconsider--it signalled an internal inconsistency that made me wonder whether I was supporting existing laws because I really agreed with them or because I hadn't truly analyzed my own opinions on the subject.

Posted by: zombyboy at January 12, 2004 02:55 PM

I've long said that my opposition to the legalization of drugs was based on emotion and was not consistent with my libertarian ideals. My emotions regarding the issue have changed significantly over time, especially recently.

Posted by: StumpJumper at January 12, 2004 02:58 PM

I think marijuana should remain criminalized for recreational use, but should be tested in clinical trials for medicinal uses - under government supervision - and, if effective, licensed as a prescription-only pharmaceutical.

Also, I would remove all hard time for simple possession offenses, while keeping in place criminal prosecution for those who traffick in the stuff.

As much as I would like to believe that legal marijuana will solve all our problems with drug abuse, I don't think it will. I think it will exacerbate the problem. I've had quite a few discussions with hard-core legalization advocates, and most really want *all* drugs to be legalized. Marijuana is just the first step for them. I'm sorry, but I don't think we as a nation want to go down that road.

And anyone who uses the netherlands as an example is comparing apples to oranges. U.S. does not equal Netherlands.

Posted by: bryan at January 12, 2004 06:20 PM

Green should be legalized mainly because it doesnt harm your health, it doesnt effect your thinking like other drugs(alcohol, coke etc). Smoking green makes you feel different then being sobber does, but the feeling doesnt make you lose control of reality, it doesnt impaire your judgement it just makes you feel better. If weed was legalized so many kids would be out of rehab, jail and other things. If you have cancer you can smoke green, legally but otherwise you cant..but you CAN smoke it when you have cancer because it makes you feel better...so why cant a depressed person smoke green if it makes the, not want to hurt themselves or others?
Anyways, my point is that weed isnt like other drugs its not addictive, it doesnt harm your body, cause cancer, make your judgement a damn bitch..it just makes you feel better..so what? ppl. take meds. to feel better..why not smoke a blunt to feel better? its the same thing..plus you cant overdose on it..so whats the big deal?
LiL oNe

Posted by: Amanda-LiL OnE at June 14, 2004 12:23 PM