Hey, Why Haven't All of My Friends Dropped Dead?

Over at Salon, occasional Reason contributor Maia Szalavitz suggests that perhaps launching a misinformation campaign about the health effects of marijuana is not the best way to build credibility with kids.

Comments

[Cliff]

Just another case of "junk science" in politics, the prohibitionists are not bothered by facts, actually the facts are just in the way of the war on some drugs.

[Warren]

Seems like every day a new leak springs up in the levee of pot prohibition. I'm beginning to permit myself a little optimism. I wouldn't be surprised if pot enjoyed the same legal status as tobacco and alcohol in five years time.

The important point here, is that the "Libertarians will never [insert goal here] as long as they keep pushing pot" crowd is exactly wrong. If I am right (and there's a first time for everything) the whole War On Drugs could come crashing down very soon. In ten years time it will be largely forgotten. That is why Libertarians (and even libertarians) need to make MORE noise about the evils of prohibition. We need to make enough of an impression that people will remember that we stood on principal, against the establishment, in favor of the free market, and were right all along.

[JMoore]

Why does it seem that libertarians direct all their energies toward marijuana prohibition? Is it because this drug is so benign? When will I hear of the great libertarian campaign to legalize cocaine?

[tomWright]

I have no idea what the article says, since Salon engages in anti-Norton/Symantec discrimination.

If I have to reconfigure my computer to see a site, stuff 'em.

Why is it leftists have no clue?
Oh yeah, they're leftists.

[TallDave]

"Reefer Madness" lives!

Sheesh.

[Solitudinarian]

Why does it seem that libertarians direct all their energies toward marijuana prohibition?

Beats the hell out of me, JMoore - you see any libertarians like that, smack 'em for me.

[Grant Gould]

Warren -- I wouldn't be surprised if pot enjoyed the same legal status as tobacco and alcohol in five years time.

What, you mean that tobacco and alcohol will be illegal, too? Or are you optimistic that, with the advent of medical marijuana, tobacco and alcohol will be available only with a doctor's prescription, no recreational use permitted?

[Cliff]

Warren;

"We need to make enough of an impression that people will remember that we stood on principal, against the establishment, in favor of the free market, and were right all along.

I have heard that if you take a stand on a justifiable principle, the majority will move towards you. I hope I am right.

[saw-whet]

JMoore - Legalize cocaine? Perhaps that staunch Libertarian William F. Buckley can answer your question.

Warren - Please. Stop it. I've told you that I've been waiting since 1972. It ain't gonna happen in our lifetimes.

[Lowdog]

Yeah, I don't know, Warren. I mean, how long have they been totally lying to people's faces on this issue? It would seem to me that if the gov't was going to finally give up their resistance to mj, as well as quit lying about it, it would have happened already.

And we're not talking little white lies, we're talking bold-face lies, right into the camera, right in your face. Why are more people not calling bullshit on them?

Look, the reason it's a big issue with me is that the war on some drugs is probably the biggest excuse the gov't uses to chip away at the rights of all citizens. If you can't see that and it doesn't make you extremely angry, I don't know what to say.

[The Great Ape]

When will I hear of the great libertarian campaign to legalize cocaine?

Baby steps, my friend. Baby steps.

[Cliff]

Lowdog;

"Look, the reason it's a big issue with me is that the war on some drugs is probably the biggest excuse the gov't uses to chip away at the rights of all citizens. If you can't see that and it doesn't make you extremely angry, I don't know what to say."

Your willingness to call it like it is, without mincing words, is very refreshing. I have believed for a long time that our collective rights were on the line when people were willing to "pull the zipper for the gipper" to get a job or insurance.

That started with Reagan's War on Some Drugs. I remember it well because I was in the service and the pee test was instituted during that time. In the early 80's most soldiers I knew (enlisted) smoked pot occassionally or more and they busted a gob of them during the 80's. Some good soldiers too, I might add.

Since then, our rights have been whittled down to suspicion or threat level being the threshold for searches.

Things just slid downhill from there to where we are at now.

[andy]

"Seems like every day a new leak springs up in the levee of pot prohibition. I'm beginning to permit myself a little optimism. I wouldn't be surprised if pot enjoyed the same legal status as tobacco and alcohol in five years time."

Damn, you must be smoking some good shit! How else could you be optimistic about the WoD? 😛

[Native NYer]

What I find amusing about the WoD iss that anyone with a sense of advennture, willingness to be a bad boy or just someone who thinks outside the box is now no longer eligible for politics annd law enforcement.

Maybe that's why government used to be able to do good things, and now all we get are a bunch of losers without an original idea in their heads?

[SteveInClearwater]

"When will I hear of the great libertarian campaign to legalize cocaine?"

SH: The demand for cocaine (in terms of actual users) is less than 1/10 of the demand for marijuana.

And by it's often disabling nature, the average user is less likely to be mentally and/or physically able to be involved in the process of changing policy.

[Captain Awesome]

"And by it's often disabling nature, the average user is less likely to be mentally and/or physically able to be involved in the process of changing policy."

Just like our fearless leader right now.

[thoreau]

Captain Awesome, what you wrote was awesome!