Legalize marijuana, tax it and regulate it.
That's what's recommended in a new report prepared for the UK-based Beckley Foundation in anticipation of a UN review of drug policy. Says the Guardian:
A report on cannabis prepared for next year's UN drug policy review will suggest that a "regulated market" would cause less harm than the current international prohibition. The report, which is likely to reopen the debate about cannabis laws, suggests that controls such as taxation, minimum age requirements and labelling could be explored.
The Global Cannabis Commission report, which will be launched today at a conference in the House of Lords, has reached conclusions which its authors suggest "challenge the received wisdom concerning cannabis". It was carried out for the Beckley foundation, a UN-accredited NGO, for the 2009 UN strategic drug policy review.
There are, according to the report, now more than 160 million users of the drug worldwide. "Although cannabis can have a negative impact on health, including mental health, in terms of relative harms it is considerably less harmful than alcohol or tobacco," according to the report. "Historically, there have only been two deaths worldwide attributed to cannabis, whereas alcohol and tobacco together are responsible for an estimated 150,000 deaths per annum in the UK alone."
That sounds remarkably sensible. Even from the perspective of those who would "protect" society from dangerous drugs, marijuana prohibition has never made much sense. It's a mild intoxicant with fewer links to problematic behavior than (perfectly legal) alcohol, and it grows in virtually any conditions, making its interdiction extraordinarily difficult. Even if you don't agree that individuals have a right to engage in whatever consensual behavior they wish, restricting marijuana seems like a poor allocation of law-enforcement resources.
I'll take a look at the specifics of the report once it's available.
Comments
I've read the report and it does make a lot of sense. In fact it states much of that which anti-prohibitionists have been saying for years. But, don't get your hopes too high. The DEA will waste whatever amount of taxpayers dollars necessary to bully and bribe the UN to keep cannabis illegal. We the taxpayers will idly sit by. While the DEA gets away with continuing the counter productive war on cannabis users. What would the prohibitionists do for jobs if cannabis was legalized? Because, 85% of all illicit drug use is done with cannabis.
I've read the report and it does make a lot of sense. In fact it states much of that which anti-prohibitionists have been saying for years. But, don't get your hopes too high. The DEA will waste whatever amount of taxpayers dollars necessary to bully and bribe the UN to keep cannabis illegal. We the taxpayers will idly sit by. While the DEA gets away with continuing the counter productive war on cannabis users. What would the prohibitionists do for jobs if cannabis was legalized? Because, 85% of all illicit drug use is done with cannabis.
thought you would find this of interest and be in agreement.
Love, Mom
Yep, prohibiting weed increases alcohol use and alcohol related violence, including fetal alcohol syndrome. Smart move. To say nothing of the money wasted fighting weed, and the tax revenue not only lost but redirected to violent gangs slaughtering their way thru Mexico and elsewhere. Not to mention the intense cynicism, bitterness,and division that this wanton discrimination fosters in this country.
lets legalize pot and sell it from state govt.contoled outlets.this is how they sell alachol in nh.and other states.we are loosing billions of dollars a year housing non criminal offenders in ourprision system in this country.all the polls that say you should not make pot legal are missing the point.we could use the monies collected thru a pot tax just like the cigeratte tax and make this money dedicated to paying down the national debt.the so called folks who say dont legalize gambling ie:casinos,pot,cigerattes,etc.are gonna have to come out of the closet sometime.you go to a casino in ms.and you will see cars from the same places who allways say no to everything.when you release all those who are being punished for simple possession of weed,give them a oppertunity to either go in the military,peace corps etc.that way you wont see the unemployment numbers go to 10+++%
if a real survey is done on the ammount of folks that have smoked pot the non beleivers would be in shock
also when you can buy it legal you put the dealers/drug lords out of bussiness just like proabition
legalize pot now
oh yeah im a 70 yr old redneck
Wow! it really seems like we're closer than we've ever been before, as far as cannabis legalization is concerned in this country?
Even here in GA, which is probably one of the most hard nosed, prohibition minded states in the country!
People really seem to be wrapping their brains around the possibility of cannabis legalization.
It's even slowly working it's way into the main stream media, which has seemed to go from total anti-pot propagandist, to eh...maybe it's not as bad as we all were told it was in grade school.
I totally believe that the truthful science, together with good media PR is the key to hammering this thing home.
On a personal note, I want to see another nation wide poll done, to count heads (so to speak) and find out just how many cannabis users their really are...here in the good ol' USA...IDK? but I'd be willing to bet it's a staggering figure!
What was it again?...oh yea, FOR THE PEOPLE, OF THE PEOPLE & BY THE PEOPLE...and I think we've got the federal agents out numbered!!!
PEOPLE! we ALL have a voice...let's use them!!!
=) I have been reading numerous reports on the legalization of Marijuana both for and against the legalization for the past 3 weeks. I have decided that the legalization of Marijuana would be in the publics best interest. =) GO LEGALIZATION!
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