Decriminalize marijuana users

[Guest Urbanhog]

Found this letter from R. KEITH STROUP, the Executive director of Washington's NORML, to the editor of "The Washington Times":

 

Decriminalize marijuana users

 

Florida drug czar Jim McDonough may be gloating prematurely when he declares that the recent national elections were a "broad-based rejection of the drug normalization campaign begun in the mid-1990s" ("They just said no," Op-Ed, Tuesday).

 

This fall's statewide marijuana policy initiatives in Nevada and Arizona were defeated because they included provisions that went beyond the point most Americans support. They called for legalizing the sale of small amounts of marijuana in Nevada, and providing free medical marijuana to patients in Arizona. However, polling continues to demonstrate that a voter initiative would enjoy majority support if it focused on the core issue of whether we should stop treating responsible marijuana smokers as criminals.

 

A recent Zogby poll found 61 percent of the American public opposes arresting and jailing marijuana smokers, while only 31 percent supports current drug policies. A new Time/CNN poll found 72 percent of the public favors a fine only — no jail — for marijuana smokers.

Contrary to Mr. McDonough's allegations, it is not "smoke and mirrors" to report that the FBI says there were 724,000 Americans arrested on marijuana charges last year, and that 89 percent of those arrests were for simple possession. Most marijuana smokers are good, productive citizens who contribute in a positive way to their communities. By treating them as criminals, we are needlessly destroying the lives and careers of our own citizens, and wasting law enforcement resources that should be focused on serious and violent crimes, including terrorism.

 

In the long run, it will be impossible for the drug warriors to maintain criminal penalties for the responsible use of marijuana by adults, because a solid majority of the American public now opposes criminalizing marijuana smokers. In a democracy, the laws must eventually reflect the will of the majority.

 

R. KEITH STROUP

Executive director

NORML

Washington

 

source: http://www.washtimes.com/op-ed/20021202-2097280.htm#4

[Tom]

In the long run, it will be impossible for the drug warriors to maintain criminal penalties for the responsible use of marijuana by adults, because a solid majority of the American public now opposes criminalizing marijuana smokers. In a democracy, the laws must eventually reflect the will of the majority.

 

Just keeps comming back to how we vote, doesn't it.

 

[Brainstorm]

It certainly does Tom, a lot also depends on the wording of the questions on referendums(sp) such as these.

 

For example, in our last referendum asking if Aus wants to become a republic - in my opinion the question should have been exactly that "yes" or "no" to becoming a republic, instead of yes or no to a particular method of electing a republic head of state!

 

I think all referendum questions should only ask about the main issue, then once that's decided you can go back and sort out all the side issues, wether in a referendum or probably using other methods such as public debate.

 

If we ever have a referendum on mj use here in aus, I hope the question will be something simple like "decriminalise marijuana" yes,no. then let the pollies, lawyers, etc work out the details of the nitty gritty stuff.

 

I think that referendum questions are often set up to fail because of the way they are worded.