Its incredible the amount of money we spend locking up people who wouldn't be dangerous to society if their desires weren't illegal. It's illegality that makes drug use dangerous, not always the use itself. Hard to understand for some, but easy to prove. Apparently 500 economists and other smart people are suggesting that congress look at the facts. It's mildly utopian, but these persons share the same religion as congress, the religion of the free market, which like most religions, is one we praise with our lips, although our hearts are elsewhere. Maybe they'll be convincing. Hard to get my parish on board. Apparently one of my predecessors had the munchies just a little too often.
One economist remarked:
"If we banned Ben & Jerry's ice cream, there'd be drive-by shootings over Ben & Jerry's." We'd have a militarized sugar industry.
Another economist said, "We're split down the middle on everything, but you don't see us split down the middle on drug prohibition. It's a case where it's clear that the costs of prohibition exceed the benefits."
Comments