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Christopher Ingraham writes in the Washington Post that many countries are taking a close look at what's happening in Colorado and Washington state to learn lessons that can be applied to their own situations and so far, the news coming out of Colorado and Washington is overwhelmingly positive. Dire consequences predicted by reform opponents have failed to materialize. If anything, societal and economic indicators are moving in a positive direction post-legalization. Colorado marijuana tax revenues for fiscal year 2014-2015 are on track to surpass projections.
Lisa Sanchez, a program manager at México Unido Contra la Delincuencia, a Mexican non-profit devoted to promoting "security, legality and justice", underscored how legalization efforts in the U.S. are having powerful ripple effects across the globe: events in Colorado and Washington have "created political space for Latin American countries to have a real debate [about drug policy]". She noted that motivations for reform in Latin America are somewhat different than U.S. motivations - one main driver is a need to address the epidemic of violence on those countries that is fuelled directly by prohibitionist drug war policies. Mexico's president has given signs he's open to changes in that country's marijuana laws to help combat cartel violence. Sandeep Chawla, former deputy director of the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime, notes that one of the main obstacles to meaningful reform is layers of entrenched drug control bureaucracies at the international and national levels - just in the U.S., think of the DEA, ONDCP and NIDA, among others - for whom a relaxation of drug control laws represents an undermining of their reason for existence: "if you create a bureaucracy to solve a particular problem, when the problem is solved that bureaucracy is out of a job".
(Score: 1) by JimmyCrackCorn on Wednesday October 22 2014, @02:57AM
As a red card holder, and a dope smoker, i ask you to understand something that may be important.
Now that i can buy and smoke, eat and ingest cannabis legaly it has changed my habits.
Cannabis no longer erodes my income or my time for acquiring.
I have an easier time enjoying my high and not high time.
I am better off financially, socially, and healthier too.
And, most of all is that the rule of law is not invalidated from some stupid law that simply invalidated the rule of law.
(Score: 2) by velex on Wednesday October 22 2014, @03:37AM
I'm glad to hear it. Reports like yours are encouraging.
I was musing outside earlier that I can openly enjoy two chemicals that are destroying my health without feeling the slightest bit of guilt (unless I'm too hung over tomorrow to go into work): alcohol and tobacco. No stigma at all at committing suicide in slow motion.
Yet, were I to somehow gain access to marijuana, howley fucking goddamn shit, I'd better not let ANYONE know, and I'd better keep it discrete as fucking possible.
And, most of all is that the rule of law is not invalidated from some stupid law that simply invalidated the rule of law.
I think this is the salient point. The 9th and 10th amendments imply that everyone has the right to grow and smoke or eat or whatever cannabis. If not, than surely the states should have the say, not the Masters of the Universe.
My state has a medical program. Unfortunately, all it means is that you become a target for being pulled over while driving and being convicted of DUI based on a piss test. If not that, your home is invaded and constantly harassed by inspectors making sure your grow cage meets security requirements. I might be able to qualify, but the $500 per year sin tax is a bit hard to swallow for all those services my state government has to offer me.
Be excellent. Party on, dude.
(Score: 1) by JimmyCrackCorn on Wednesday October 22 2014, @04:08AM
Wow. Great reply.
You caught my salient statement with aplumb . Or something. It is great to not fear our laws. And, it is great to harbor no ill will toward our paid "protect and serve" segment. The Best part of life for me is to appreciate. Now that i can without paranoidia it is only better may the force be with you!!!