Politics

The Democratic Way of Prohibition, Redux

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I was all set to declare this letter to the Ventura County Star as the Lefty Prohibitionist Brainfart of the Day…..

Reasoning in favor of legalizing marijuana seems pretty strong to me, but there is a problem with Proposition 19. It cannot legalize marijuana because a federal law makes marijuana illegal. So, that is a stupid law, because it is not being enforced.

The history of the Prohibition period, 1918-1933, provides assurance that prohibition of marijuana cannot be enforced, just as laws against adultery cannot be enforced. The violations are so abundant as to make attempts at enforcement only a waste of dollars. Any morally justified law that cannot be enforced is a stupid law.

The answer to the stupidity is to get the law repealed, as Prohibition was repealed. It is bad enough to have a law flouted, because this breaks down respect for the rule of law, but for California to thumb its nose at the law of the land by voting approval of Proposition 19, would be a much more severe flouting of the rule of law. This I declare as a lifelong liberal.

— Gilbert S. Bahn

… when I encountered this lead pargaraph in The Huffington Post:

As a father of three children—Cooper 9, Greer 6, and Chase 3—I'm faced with the dilemma of discussing with them how marijuana is as safe as aspirin when they turn 18 years old. If Proposition 19 passes, the state of California is telling me that it's okay for my children to get loaded on drugs as often as once a week or every day and all day.

Though in fairness, it's really the names that seal the deal.

Got the munchies for some bad newspaper headlines to go with your Prohibitionism? Here ya go, kafacklers!

Prop. 19 Too Hazy to Get Our Support

Just Say 'No' to Faulty Prop. 19

Proposition 19 a Blurry Vision

A Word to the Wise: Prop. 19 Is One Toke Over the Line

Sweet Jesus!

BTW, with La Opinion and my hometown Long Beach Independent Press-Telegram now weighing in against, we now have at least 18 of the top 23 California dailies, and 22 of the top 34, on record about Prop. 19. All 22 are opposed.

Me on the Democratic way of Prohibition here.