I had the same viewpoint in '68 when I predicted pot would be decriminalized by '72.
I had the same viewpoint in '78 when I predicted pot would be legalized by '82. It was already decriminalized (at least in California) but it went the other way, didn't it? Seems silly to me, and I probably smoke about as much pot as Atahosske.
from an article in The Olympian yesterday:
Trotting out that hoary old "gateway drug" BS and twisting statistics. You know, masturbation is a shared trait among many rapists, maybe we should make that illegal too. What about alcohol and adult cocaine abusers?
Studies have proven that the 'gateway theory', that pot leads to harder drugs, is completely false. There is a gateway effect, however, but it is because the drug is illegal. Purchasers are forced to buy pot from drug dealers, who often have harder, more profitable drugs for sale; they are thus exposed to an opportunity they would not have if the drug was sold in a controlled manner like alcohol.
The 'message to our kids' argument is also wide of the mark. Pot is not a 'controlled substance', it is uncontrolled. The State gave up control by handing it over to the black market. Pot is actually easier to get for kids than truly controlled substances like alcohol, precisely because it isn't controlled.
So far, the message to our kids about pot is simply not credible: That it's a gateway drug (it's not), that it's really dangerous with any amount of use (it's not), etc. Kids simply don't buy these myths, and they shouldn't. Our legal system and official message therefore loses its credibility.
The message to our kids should be an honest one: Pot is a relatively mild drug when used in moderation, like alcohol. Like tobacco, it's probably not good for you.
If we really wanted to protect our kids, we would shield them from the very real physical danger of arrest for pot (this is, statistically and by far, the most dangerous aspect of using pot; the possibility of physical injury during arrest and incarceration). We would vote to prevent the state from destroying our kids futures because they smoked a joint and got caught. (Drug busts have far reaching effects: loss of the right to vote, ability to get many jobs, housing, cross international borders, fines, the negative influence of incarceration, etc).
Having said all of this, no one is arguing to make pot legal for kids, just as no one is arguing to let kids buy booze or cigarettes.
damn! wish i'd know that as it woulda saved at least an hour. hauling from the cave is easy as hell too. You mean I stood a 2 hour watch on that goddamn little ledge for no reason? Plenty of time for sunset pics whilst I was freezing my balls off.