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New York Times Editorial: Feds Should Legalize Marijuana

By Jeralyn, Section Crime Policy
Posted on Sun Jul 27, 2014 at 08:59:00 AM EST
Tags: marijuana reform (all tags)
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The New York Times has taken a bold step. Its editorial board is calling for the legalization of marijuana -- Repeal Prohibition Again.

The Times will feature marijuana legalization all week in a series of articles, High Time. Here's the first article, Let the States Decide. [more....]

The editorial begins:

It took 13 years for the United States to come to its senses and end Prohibition, 13 years in which people kept drinking, otherwise law-abiding citizens became criminals and crime syndicates arose and flourished. It has been more than 40 years since Congress passed the current ban on marijuana, inflicting great harm on society just to prohibit a substance far less dangerous than alcohol.

The federal government should repeal the ban on marijuana.

As to the dangers:

Moderate use of marijuana does not appear to pose a risk for otherwise healthy adults. Claims that marijuana is a gateway to more dangerous drugs are as fanciful as the “Reefer Madness” images of murder, rape and suicide.

Thank you, New York Times.

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    New York Times Editorial: Feds Should Legalize Marijuana | 20 comments (20 topical)

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    They're about 4 decades late... (5.00 / 2) (#1)
    by unitron on Sun Jul 27, 2014 at 03:33:44 AM EST
    ...for their finally having decided it was safe to jump on the bandwagon to be called "bold".

    Amen... (none / 0) (#9)
    by kdog on Mon Jul 28, 2014 at 09:32:06 AM EST
    not bold...jumping on the bandwagon.

    But better late than never...welcome to the 21st Century NYT.  Sh*t welcome to the second half of the 20th!

    Parent

    I think a few more (5.00 / 1) (#2)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Jul 27, 2014 at 08:09:03 AM EST
    Old far+s are going to have to die off.  But fewer every year.

    In the context (5.00 / 1) (#13)
    by lentinel on Tue Jul 29, 2014 at 07:45:20 AM EST
    of the timidity and conservative creepy-crawly nature of both political parties, it is a bold step by the Times to come out for something so bloomin' obvious.

    Howevah: They weaken their case by wanting to exclude legal sales to people under 21.

    So, people under 21, old enough to be sent into the horrors of war, will continue to be prohibited from enjoying a smoke without the fear of being busted or hassled by the fuzz.

    And what if an enlightened parent wants to provide their "underage" child with a smoke - bio perhaps - rather than have them buying some stuff of unknown origin from some person lurking about? Are the parents vulnerable to arrest for corrupting a minor?

    Keeping it illegal for those under 21 ensures the continuation of a criminal class - and the perpetuation and cultivation of disrespect for and suspicion of authority.

    Maybe the latter is not a bad thing.
    Suspicion of authority and a healthy disrespect for it seems warranted.
    But - keeping pot illegal for those under 21 is nutty - and a pathetic hanging onto a nostalgic disapproval of those who wish to enjoy life.

    I agree... (5.00 / 1) (#15)
    by kdog on Tue Jul 29, 2014 at 08:25:17 AM EST
    17 for this, 18 for that, 21 for this...either you're an adult or you ain't, we need to make up our damn minds already.

    Parent
    The World is not Black and White (none / 0) (#16)
    by squeaky on Tue Jul 29, 2014 at 09:21:25 AM EST
    And that is a good thing.

    Parent
    True... (5.00 / 2) (#17)
    by kdog on Tue Jul 29, 2014 at 09:38:26 AM EST
    but the grey in this case is causing trouble and confusion, and it's unfair to 18-21 year olds who are expected to be adults on one hand and being infantilized at the same time.  I prefer 18 as the age of adulthood, but if society has it's heart set on 21 for booze and reefer, than we should raise the age to buy a gun or join the army to 21 to keep it consistent.

    Parent
    Trouble and Confusion (none / 0) (#18)
    by squeaky on Tue Jul 29, 2014 at 09:53:46 AM EST
    That is humanity.

    I prefer the chaos to a universal edict..  more to come once that type of control starts up.

    Parent

    We already got edicts bro... (none / 0) (#19)
    by kdog on Tue Jul 29, 2014 at 10:13:28 AM EST
    a whole lotta edicts! A universal age of adulthood would simplify the edicts actually, replacing three or four edicts with one.

    Sh*t I'm down with no drinking age...seems to work for other countries, and they seem to have less binge drinking problems.  18 is only my compromise offer;)
     

    Parent

    Sex, Marriage, War, Work, Etc (none / 0) (#20)
    by squeaky on Tue Jul 29, 2014 at 10:24:24 AM EST
    There is quite a lot of categories that cover coming of age.

    I think that the range of contradictions in the US (and the world) over the many categories and what age people are responsible, is not a bad thing.

    FWIW:

    The research has turned up some surprises, among them the discovery of striking changes taking place during the teen years. These findings have altered long-held assumptions about the timing of brain maturation. In key ways, the brain doesn't look like that of an adult until the early 20s.


    Parent
    Teen Sex and Booze and Tobacco too? (none / 0) (#14)
    by squeaky on Tue Jul 29, 2014 at 08:24:37 AM EST


    Parent
    It's about time (none / 0) (#3)
    by Jack203 on Sun Jul 27, 2014 at 10:31:56 AM EST
    I don't like marijuana, but it is a no-brainer to legalize.  I advocate "high" taxes on them though.  (Sorry couldn't resist).  

    Should be for over 21 and same penalties for driving under the influence.

    -Increase money wasted on court and prison costs
    -Increase government revenue through taxes
    -Weaken Mexican cartels

    The road to marijuana legalization is actually one thing our government is doing right at the moment.  Let's keep it going.

    The consensus on (none / 0) (#4)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Jul 27, 2014 at 10:55:25 AM EST
    Press the Meat was that it should be decriminalized federally and tossed to the states.  I guess that is pretty much the poi position of the times too.

    That actually makes sense to me.  It will follow the same course as alcohol and for the same reason.  I live in one of the last dry counties.  I just went to the liquor stor a mile away and spent my tax dollars there.  
    Like I said, some more people are going to have to die off.

    Parent

    The seven most ridiculous things (none / 0) (#5)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Jul 27, 2014 at 01:37:31 PM EST
    said on the Meet The Press Pot Discussion

    The panelists (5.00 / 3) (#7)
    by KeysDan on Sun Jul 27, 2014 at 03:18:59 PM EST
    think they are serious deliberants, but they clearly demonstrate they are not, with their first words.   Combined, they register the I.Q. of mayonnaise.

    Parent
    Missed that, but This Week was bad enough (none / 0) (#6)
    by ruffian on Sun Jul 27, 2014 at 02:09:23 PM EST
    Above you said more old f**ts have to die off...I really think what has to happen is for MSM news panels to be able to get through a discussion without making stupid 'high' jokes, like they are 13 yr olds.  Ugh.

    Parent
    So glad I am too busy right now (none / 0) (#8)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Jul 27, 2014 at 04:34:16 PM EST
    While equally grateful you watched this for me.  Someone has to keep an eye on the pathetic spinmeisters.

    Certainly one of the things I did not need to see or hear today was Bobo extrapolating on the kindnesses the world receives when we replace our wars with new ones once they have arrived at their freshness date.

    If Bobo experienced one hellfire missile up close and personal it would remedy so many things.

    Parent

    ''up close and personal" (none / 0) (#10)
    by KeysDan on Mon Jul 28, 2014 at 09:47:41 AM EST
    ---when will we ever know?

    WTF? (none / 0) (#11)
    by squeaky on Mon Jul 28, 2014 at 10:42:27 AM EST
    Either he enjoyed it, in a masochistic way, or it shows how far these lapdogs will go to suck up to Politicians so as not to offend them.

    Amazing...

    Parent

    Gives a whole new meaning... (none / 0) (#12)
    by unitron on Tue Jul 29, 2014 at 02:14:27 AM EST
    ...to the phrase "one hellfire missile up close and personal".

    Parent
    New York Times Editorial: Feds Should Legalize Marijuana | 20 comments (20 topical)

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