It seems as though they already are legal for those with enough money -- at least to the point where the consequences are barely felt. If Paris Hilton were a poor black man, do you think the deal would be the same? The only fair way to address the disparity of justice between the haves and the haves-not (or the haves-plenty and the haves-less) is to make drugs legal for everyone. I don't think Paris Hilton should go to jail for snorting something up her nose that has no effect on me. Nor do I think the countless others whose names we do not know should go to jail for the same offense.
We have created a cottage industry based on the illegalization of drugs and it is funded primarily by a tax on the poorest and least-educated among us and I think it is despicable.
I tend to side with you on most issues or at least understand your perspective. On this one, however, I couldn't agree less.
ReplyDeleteLegalizing drugs would not eradicate black markets which would continue to and sell even in the presence of mainstream distribution.
With all of the destructtion that drugs bring to our society I really don't see any benefit in legalizing at all, let alone one that could outweigh all of the destruction.
I am curious, however, as to your perspective on Christine O'Donnell's heresy? Do you believe this to be an issue?
But can't the same be said for the destructive nature of alcohol? I don't want to downplay the negative consequences of drug abuse, but I think that if we legalize it, regulate it and slap an excise tax on it (so that abusers pay their own way for treatment), then we'll be in a much better position to address those consequences in a meaningful and impactful way.
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