In re: Marijuana

Reference/Background story

http://www.cnn.com/2012/07/03/opinion/bloom-prison-spending/index.html?hpt=hp_c2

America’s prisons are overflowing. More Americans are incarcerated than in any other country. Most of these inmates are in jails and prisons because of drug possession-related offenses, which are essentially “non-violent” offenses (other than other criminal activity, like the violence associated with drug-related turf wars, which are most decidedly violent)

The author of the above article thinks we shouldn’t be putting so many people in prison for “non-violent” offenses. She has a point. I not sure she would agree that white-collar criminals (most of which are non-violent offenders) should not be sent to prison; some for a very long time. However, I have long held (like since my college years) that the solution to America’s drug problem would be to legalize the whole mess. Of course, in doing that, government should have the authority to regulate its content (to ensure that the buyer is getting what they are paying for and not some substitute). With that authority, the various levels of government then would have the authority to tax its sale (I propose that money go to paying for the damages and treatment programs that result from drug use.)

Now, it is not like there isn’t a precedent for this: Gasoline, alcohol, tobacco, firearms are all regulated to some extent and to some extent taxed (some more than others), if by nothing other than sales taxes. For example, certain firearms you think civilians couldn’t own (fully automatic weapons come to mind) … well, in most cases, they can … they just have to pay a hefty licensing fee for the privilege. Of course, few criminals pay such fees, but that is why they are called criminals … they are doing something illegal.

But when you think about it, from an individual liberty point of view as well as a law enforcement point of view, it makes sense to legalize “drugs”.

First of all, it would remove the insane profit to be had from dealing in illicit goods. Remove the profit, remove the incentive for violence. That is basic human psychology at work there.

Second of all: People have the right to be stupid, do stupid things, make stupid decisions, etc., etc., etc. There is nothing wrong with taxing stupidity. In fact, we do it all the time in this country. You buy something stupid, pay a tax. It is that simple.

Now, will it happen? Not on your life. Because too many people think they know what is good (or bad) for you and they will be damned if they will let you do something stupid. It is not right to let someone do something stupid, especially if it might hurt them or hurt someone else. Well, and I know those who read this will wince, but my view is if they hurt themselves, pox on them; if they hurt someone else … then that is why we have courts.

Anyway, just a random thought.