Pot: Making the Poor Poorer?

Here is a story that makes one reconsider some views.  Interestingly, I have changed my views on this subject before.  Back in the early 90s, I was opposed to the talk of legalization because the Republican Party was opposed.  There were some arguments about it being a gateway drug that sounded quite reasonable to me.  However, early in George W. Bush's presidency, I left the Republican Party.  The smaller, less-intrusive government I had expected if ever the Republicans held the House, Senate, and Presidency did not appear.  In fact, the reverse was true with a Medicare Drug benefit and a Department of Homeland Security.  It was at this point I encountered a talk radio host - Brian Wilson, I think - with strong libertarian leanings.  He pointed out that in order for the Federal Government to control alcohol, the Constitution had to be amended.  Where was the amendment for marijuana?  Cocaine?  Heroin?  He was not promoting drug use, merely demanding that the government stay within the bounds of the Constitution.  To expand those bounds requires an amendment.  Wow, that was powerful and really kind of obvious.  In fact, it was so obvious that I had to do more rethinking of my political beliefs.  After that, I was not so much for legalization as for federal decriminalization, which still has not happened.  However, the Feds have mostly ignored marijuana crimes in states that legalized it.  In the aftermath of multi-state legalization, we have some data, which is not good.  Marijuana legalization has had a disproportionate impact on the poorest citizens, increasing the likelihood that they will not escape poverty.  Is this evidence that marijuana should be recriminalized?  Perhaps.  However, I am still in favor of national decriminalization because the Constitution does not provide authority - except under the crazy interpretation of the commerce clause - to outlaw substances.  If the commerce clause wasn't good enough to use to outlaw alcohol then it isn't good enough to outlaw anything else.  Amend the Constitution or leave it to the states.  In a few more years, the data from the several states will give a much better indication of the costs and benefits of legalization.  Other states can continue to have pot illegal or not.  If states can decide on things like gambling and prostitution, why not pot?

 

People have a right to ruin their lives, just not at taxpayer expense.  Don't smoke pot.