My thoughts on Proposition 19

[kaysho]

October in California is the start of two seasons: the rainy season and the proposition season.  The first is a result of Mother Nature.  The second is a result of our penchant to want to vote on everything.  I happen to think both are pretty much all wet, but that's another story.

At the top of the ballot this year will be Proposition 19, which

Comments

[kaysho]

The use of any recreational drugs (with the possible exception of caffeine) is rarely viewed in a truly positive light. Studies have shown that, given photos of the same person, just in one case holding a beer in his hand and in the other unencumbered, people will have a more positive impression of the one without the beer. And beer is legal and accepted. Same for someone, say, holding a cigarette. For weed, doubly so, since its illegality adds an extra social stigma.

If marijuana becomes legal, two things will likely happen: more people will try it (the few who might give it up because it's not "cool" any more will be outweighed by more who will give it a go because its illegality was the only thing stopping them), and some of those new users will have trouble with it. Then again, far more of those new users may very well discover that it's pretty darn nice and fully within their control, so they will get a net benefit.

But just because something has the potential for harm doesn't mean we ban it. I mean, when fuel prices went up, many people got motorcycles to try to save money, and there was a rash of fatal motorcycle crashes as novice riders did things they shouldn't have. We didn't ban motorcycles. :)