Why do moms and cops support legalizing marijuana?
“Legalized Pot’s Unlikely Supporters: Moms And Cops” (NPR, 25-Oct-2010)
California’s Proposition 19 to legalize marijuana, to be voted on Nov 2, would allow local and state government to tax and regulate all marijuana. Proposition 19 has some unlikely allies, including a group of former judges, prosecutors and cops.
“No one in the history of marijuana use has ever died of an overdose from marijuana,” says Stephen Downing, a retired deputy chief of the LAPD. Downing says marijuana is less harmful than alcohol or tobacco. And he says arresting people for possessing marijuana is a waste of time for police; he says instead, they should be solving violent crimes and targeting those controlling the black market.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=130755883
I think ya answered your own question there, bud.
It sounds like these people are just giving up.
and the worst are those female police officers who are also mothers. why I outta!
there is more to that story
http://votetaxcannabis2010.blogspot.com/
http://missionlocal.org/2010/09/local-marijuana-advocate-says-no-on-prop-19/
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=130755883
I was addicted to marijuana for many years – it’s not a nice drug. But you should have the right to make your own mistake.
Well, read the story and your own question. It’s all there.
Objectively, tobacco is more dangerous, so is alcohol, and we saw how much use Prohibition was… if people really want something they will get it anyway, illegally. It’s not anything like as addictive as tobacco, in fact. It’s a waste of police time trying to stop it. The state would also make money from regulating and taxing it, it would take sales out of the hands of drug dealers, less taxpayers’ money gets spent jailing people for it, people who want it don’t get sold just any old garbage…
In the Netherlands, it’s not been legalised but de-criminalised to a large extent in that possession of up to 1oz is officially ignored and licensed coffeeshops can sell it. Speaking as someone who has enjoyed their wares, it means you get high quality marijuana and a choice of different kinds – there are basically two species of the plant, only one of which gives a high. The other just knocks you out. The Netherlands has no more of a drug problem than anywhere else, which kills off all the arguments about it being a “gateway to other drugs” and probably also proves my point that anyone who really wants it will get it anyway. The main danger in Amsterdam is getting stoned and then falling into a canal! (Slightly amusing point – if you read Travel Advice for the Netherlands on the British Foreign Office web site, it points out that one problem to be aware of in Amsterdam is the danger of going out to a bar, getting drunk and falling in a canal as you try and walk back to your hotel.)
Dd man was spot on. Read your quote. it’s not that complicated.