Former Police Chief: Legalize Pot, Now

[marmar]

via AlterNet:



San Francisco Chronicle / By Joseph D. McNamara

Former Police Chief: Legalize Pot, Now
As San Jose's retired chief of police and a cop with 35 years experience on the front lines in the war on marijuana, I'm voting yes on Prop. 19.

September 12, 2010 |


California voters have a chance on this November's ballot to bring common sense to law enforcement by legalizing marijuana for adults. As San Jose's retired chief of police and a cop with 35 years experience on the front lines in the war on marijuana, I'm voting yes.

I've seen the prohibition's terrible impact at close range.

Like an increasing number of law enforcers, I have learned that most bad things about marijuana -- especially the violence made inevitable by an obscenely profitable black market -- are caused by the prohibition, not by the plant. Legal marijuana is long overdue, but leading up to November, wrongheaded opponents will implore Californians with the same old mistaken arguments to stay the course. Prohibition advocates will promote fear, and they will ignore the vast bulk of law enforcement and medical experience on marijuana. People should not be fooled by cannabis opponents' appeal to prejudices and emotions when they argue:

1. Regulating cannabis will result in an explosion of use by young people.

On the contrary, pot smoking may decrease. Experience and research show that the United States has among the world's harshest marijuana laws, yet our consumption rate leads the world and is twice that of the Netherlands, where cannabis sales to adults have been allowed for decades. Prohibition doesn't keep marijuana away from young people. Annual U.S. government surveys consistently show that more than 80 percent of teenagers say that marijuana is "easy" or "very easy" to obtain. In a recent study from Columbia University, teenagers said it is easier to get illegal marijuana than age-regulated alcohol. Under today's laws, pot-dealing criminals getting rich on marijuana Prohibition don't ask for ID, but licensed dealers selling alcohol do.

2. Legalizing marijuana will just add one more harmful legal substance to the mix.

Marijuana is already in the mix. No one can dispute that marijuana already is widely available. At least 1 in 10 Californians consumed it in the past year, despite expensive government efforts. The November ballot's Proposition 19: The Regulate, Control and Tax Cannabis Act of 2010 acknowledges this reality and enables us to manage the cannabis market. Furthermore, taxing legal cannabis sales will provide steady funding for local governments that may help avoid layoffs of police and teachers. ......(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.alternet.org/drugs/148149/former_police_chief%3A_legalize_pot%2C_now/

[d_r]

1. I thought he made some good points

[reggie the dog]

2. sounds good to me man

[Uncle Joe]

3. I believe this police chief touched on a side benefit from the legalization of Marijuana.

The same professional politicians who recklessly caused huge budget deficits predictably are taking an irresponsible position of opposing the "evil" of cannabis legalization, just as they opposed California voters' decision a decade ago to legalize medical marijuana. The California Police Chiefs Association, of which I have been a member for 34 years, is also in opposition. Personally, I have never even smoked a cigarette, let alone taken a hit from a bong, and while I have great respect for the police chiefs, I wouldn't want to live in a country where it is a crime to behave contrary to the way cops think we should.

I believe community/police relations would greatly improve and the men/women in blue would be held in higher esteem if much of the public weren't unjustly made to feel like criminals.

I also believe a sizable percentage of police abuse; is generated or magnified by the fear and natural antagonism from this estrangement between the police and a very large percentage of the American People, Mexico is the extreme of this dynamic.

If only one out of ten Americans smoked pot and had it in their homes, (I believe the % is even higher) that would be well over 30 million Americans untrusting or nervous at best of having the police in their personal domains.

Thanks for the thread, marmar.

[yurbud]

6. and most cops have probably used at one time or another and know the law is bullshit

[El Prezidente Kaboom]

4. Marijuana users and Other Herb Smokers are ready and willing to pay sales and sin taxes.

It's 2010. Reefer Madness is over. It's a new age. Hemp and marijuana can transform our economy. About time the American people get with it!

[slay]

5. Yes we are

gladly. I can't drink alcohol due to stomach problems so I choose to smoke marijuana sometimes. The real problem with that is that I could go to jail, be fined, and face general harassment over my choice. Right now who knows where my money goes - I would much rather it go to taxes to create jobs, improve schools, a myriad of great things marijuana tax money could help with.

You're so right - it's 2010 - time to end this madness and legalize it!

[Bennyboy]

7. Smoking Pot leads to....

LOUD MUSIC!

[FlyByNight]

8. If pot is legalized...

...how will the prison-industrial complex survive?

:sarcasm:

[Uncle Joe]

10. If anything should be illegal, that would be

for profit prisons.

There should be no profit motive for imprisoning the American People.

[Tsiyu]

9. Kicking for the chief

i love sensible cops...