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November 03, 2005
An Ounce of Victory (for Reason)
Okay, so the voters of Denver, Colorado decided that resident adults will be allowed to pursue their "Colorado Rocky Mountain High" as long as they possess less than an ounce of herb.
Good for them.
I don't see this so much as a nail in Prohibition's coffin, however, for the following reasons:
- State and federal prohibition laws will still be the ones enforced.
- Um, buying or growing the pot will still be illegal, as they would involve amounts greater than the ounce allowed.
- It has virtually no foreseeable impact on the black market.
Still, though, this vote is an important symbol of the awareness that is seeping into our consciousness — an awareness, that is, of cannabis prohibition's general ineffectiveness and counterproductive results.
Lest anyone misconstrue my words here: like John Norris Brown, I'm not advocating the use of cannabis (unless one suffers from migraines, anxiety/depression, AIDS, cancer/leukemia, multiple sclerosis, insomnia, high blood pressure, loss of appetite, et cetera). I am, however, pointing out the ridiculous inconsistencies in our legal and judicial treatment of this particular "substance" as compared with that of many others (alcohol and tobacco spring immediately to mind).
Miscellaneous | By joe lance | 12:04 PM