Covered at Reason 24/7: California Lieutenant Governor Says War on Drugs is an "Abject Failure"

Credit: Reason

It is refreshing but depressingly rare for a politician to speak out against the war on drugs. However, California Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom has done just that, saying that the war on drugs is an "abject failure" and that most politicians are secretly in favor of legalizing marijuana. Newsom has called for marijuana to be taxed and regulated.  

From the Huffington Post:

California Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom stopped by HuffPost Live Monday morning to discuss his new book Citizenville: How to Take the Town Square Digital and Reinvent Government. And unsurprisingly, the conversation quickly turned to one of the Golden State's hottest issues: marijuana.

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Comments

[Ken Shultz]

I'd hate to have to agree with Gavin Newsom about anything, so let's just say that Gavin Newsom agrees with me.

[Kool]

And great. Now I have to agree with both Gavin AND Ken!
Seriously though, if the majority of pols want it legalized and we're over the 50% mark for the general populace, what's keeping it illegal? the media? the "pothead" mockery from puritans (both conservative and nannyist)? the WOD beneficiaries and thus the unions controlling said pols?

[sarcasmic]

Yes.

[Ken Shultz]

"Seriously though, if the majority of pols want it legalized and we're over the 50% mark for the general populace, what's keeping it illegal? the media?"

They have nothing whatsoever to fear from the Republicans in California.

They've been running against manufactured Republican opposition for years--and doing whatever they want.

There's no one stopping the Democrat leadership from doing whatever they want. They can't blame it on the Republicans--but they'll do it anyway.

Maybe no one will notice that this is California we're talking about, and the Republican Party to the Democrats here is a little something like the communist boogeyman hiding under your bed was back in the 1950s.

[Doctor Whom]

My liberal friends blame the private-prison industry. If I didn't know any better, I'd almost start to think that they refuse to blame government for anything, no matter what the facts are.

[np]

Thing is, we don't even have an actual private prison industry. That's like saying the military industrial complex is private because we use private contractors.

An actual privatized industry would be against and lobby against the WoD because they'd have to rely on people directly and somewhat voluntarily funding them i.e. if we could choose in our 1040s exactly where our tax money goes in detail. But they'd still have the obligation of housing all those the justice system sends their way. In this case it would be in thier interest of profit to keep their prisons small and/or under-utilized.

[califernian]

My liberal friends blame the private-prison industry. If I didn't know any better, I'd almost start to think that they refuse to blame government for anything, no matter what the facts are.

That *is* blaming government.

[deified]

Interestingly, opposed Prop 19 which would've legalized in California in 2010.

Prop 19 lost by 3.5 percentage points. Now, I suspect I know why Newsom opposed it in 2010: he was afraid of losing billions in federal dollars.

So, on the one hand, I can see why RealPolitik forced him to be a vag in 2010. But it still strikes me as odious that he wants points for courage in 2012.

A politician sees a parade marching by and appoints himself Grand Marshall.

Cunts.

[Bones]

A politician sees a parade marching by and appoints himself Grand Marshall.

This describes Chuck Schumer at the Albany St. Patty's Day Parade a couple years ago. Dickbag carried a bullhorn saying "Let's hear it for the Irish everybody!" Bagpipes, drums, and firetrucks be damned, this motherfucker found a way to be the loudest part of a friggin' St. Patrick's Day parade.

[CatoTheElder]

What's keeping it illegal?

A little public choice theory analysis is instructive.

Obviously, there are well funded special interests in maintaining the WOD: attorneys, prosecutors, politicians, marijuana importers, distributors, and retailers, prison guards, law enforcement, money launderers, etc., etc. They are highly motivated because their livelihoods depend on the WOD. Many of these special interests are in the ruling elite.

Opposing them are dopesmokers and libertarians along with a few liberty-minded conservatives. Legalization proponents are neither well-funded nor elite. Dopesmokers may comprise a larger group than WOD proponents, but its members suffer from cannabis amotivational syndrome. The libertarian group is too small and disorganized to amount to much.

[R C Dean]

most politicians are secretly in favor of legalizing marijuana.

I don't give a fuck what policies they secretly support. I only care about what they vote for, over and over and over again. Until they vote against the drug war, they are pro-WOD scum.

[Kool]

^^that

[Ken Shultz]

California is a one-party state!

The Democrats have next to nothing to fear from speaking their minds and doing what they want.

Gavin Newsom is a penis.

[Ken Shultz]

Believe me, we'd love to get rid of the Drug Laws!

We don't care about the police unions or the prison guards' union--not really.

It's just the Republicans holding us back, really. We only have control of the governor's mansion, every other important office in the state, and we have the legislature under our thumb...

But what can we do?

Gavin Newsom is such a penis!

[Doctor Whom]

Amen. It sounds like a replay of the nineties, when my liberal friends assured me that Bubba Jesus was secretly against all of the bills that he signed into law.

[Capt Ace Rimmer]

Talk is good. Things are changing. Keep the pressure up from every possible angle.

[MP]

THE LOVE BOAT...oops, sorry, wrong Gavin.

[BakedPenguin]

"Weeeeeeeiner flavorum!

[EDG reppin' LBC]

Now, if my head were veal, which I know it is not. If my head were veal, how much would it be worth?

I love that show.

[BakedPenguin]

Oh yeah? I'm crushing your head, mister guy.

[Fist of Etiquette]

Abject failure because too many unshot dogs and not enough LEO armored personnel carriers.

[Ken Shultz]

"Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom has done just that, saying that the war on drugs is an "abject failure" and that most politicians are secretly in favor of legalizing marijuana."

The man is Number Two in what amounts to a one-party state.

Why does he have to be secret about anything?

Do something about it, you Democrat clods!

Just so everybody knows, the Democratic leadership in California secretly think everything else they say and do in public is complete bullshit, too!

[Bobarian]

A California politician in favor of more taxes and regulations?

Completely unheard of!

[Sevo]

Ken Shultz| 3.12.13 @ 11:14AM |#
"I'd hate to have to agree with Gavin Newsom about anything, so let's just say that Gavin Newsom agrees with me."

He does this week; it got the camera-whore some 'air time'. If, next week, he 'drops by' a different site, the story stands a good chance of changing.
He's a lying hypocrite; nothing more.

[juliabraon]

like Marjorie explained I'm impressed that someone can get paid $6637 in a few weeks on the computer. have you read this link

http://fly38.com

[Ken Shultz]

Marjorie is an effing idiot.

I know because I used to bang her sister.

[Bobarian]

You never banged ol Marj?

Why not? She used to show her tits on the internet and give me the rest of the money.

[kinnath]

So when can I buy my federally-subsidized, organically-grown, non-GMO weed man?

[R C Dean]

If your grower is on food stamps, right now?

[kinnath]

touche

[Sevo]

kinnath| 3.12.13 @ 11:48AM |#
"So when can I buy my federally-subsidized, organically-grown, non-GMO weed man?"

As soon as Newsom figures out how to get press coverage out of it.
BTW, that gasbag was SF mayor for some period of time until it became obvious his failures were going to show up soon. His rep was simple; he can't shut up and it is very dangerous to get between him and a camera.

[Bones]

He's the turd that banned bottled water and then was caught with a car full of it, IIRC.

[wareagle]

when Newsom comes out with equal force against govt's war on poverty, I will listen to him. These govt "wars" on social things are nothing more than jobs and graft programs, so I'm going to insist on his being consistent.

Of course, nothing stops CA from putting its money where Newsom's mouth is. Otherwise, it's a politician speaking for no reason greater than being able to hear the sound of his own voice.

[Brandybuck]

California is rapidly running out of money, and businesses are standing in line at the borders to leave the state. The Dummicrats need something to tax, and tax quickly! Enter Marijuana stage left.

[califernian]

Of all politicians in this state Gavin Newsome is the least likely to want an end to the drug war. He is 100% in favor of total state control over every decision you make.