Here's Dem congressman Polis.
Posted on 03/31/2011 7:50:40 PM PDT by governsleastgovernsbest
On his MSNBC show this evening, Cenk Uygur argued in favor of decriminalizing marijuana since, 74 years after the feds made it illegal, people continue to smoke it, or as Cenk put it, the War on Drugs is unwinnable.
Yo, Cenk: Cain killed Abel more than 5,000 years ago. Murder has been illegal ever since, and yet people continue to commit it. By that logic, since the War on Homicide is also unwinnable, should we decriminalize murder?
Be sure to view the video here. Not only will you hear Cenk make his nonsensical argument, you'll see Dem Rep. Jared Polis. On the one hand, the congressman went on to make a number of better arguments in favor of decriminalization. On the other, not to be unkind, but the man from Colorado looks like he's been on a few Rocky Mountain highs himself.
(Excerpt) Read more at newsbusters.org ...
Here's Dem congressman Polis.
Cenk Uygur makes worst argument ever in favor of legalizing marijuana. Loco weed ping to Today show list.
So, he who governs least governs best — except when it comes to mirroring 19th century attitudes towards intoxicants???
If you can't see that difference, I can't help you.
/johnny
“The difference between murder and cannabis use is that murder is using force against another. Cannabis use is voluntary.”
Well put. Also, cannabis doesn’t kill people.
Back when I was young and stupid, I used to think legalization would “cure all ills.” Well, I’ve seen 35 years of folks getting high, with mixed results, but before I descend into the pit of “alcohol is worse” or “tobacco causes cancer,” I have another idea...
It’s called the Tenth Amendment, and connected with that is Article 1, Section 8. Leave drug laws to the several states. If you want to legalize it, knock yourself out. If you want to hold folks in prison for years, well, if that’s what the community wants, do it. See which works best and what the outcomes are for each. Keep the federal government out of it completely. Let the states act as little laboratories of innovation. Frankly, after seeing what I’ve seen, I would imagine that eventually folks would settle on keeping weed illegal, but without some way of seeing what would happen if it was legal, we’ll be having with circular argument over and over until they slip me into that cold earth.
The fact that MJ is illegal now, has no bearing on whether I use it or not, and I don’t. If it were legal tomorrow, I wouldn’t start using just because it became legal.
But Nanny Staters who wish to control other’s lives are ready and willing to kill freedom and liberty.
But I am a stickler for logic.
It's easy to see why murder was banned. It's not so easy to find out exactly why cannabis was banned 70-odd years ago.
/johnny
Fair point. I should have included first line from my NewsBusters article: “When it comes to marijuana, I’m a libertarian.”
Amen, brother, preach it! Following the Constitution fixes LOTS of problems.
/johnny
I wouldn’t have criticized Cenk if he had argued that smoking pot should be legalized because it’s a voluntary act that basically only affects the person who uses it. But his argument that it should be legal because people continue to violate the law against it makes no sense, and I was just making the reductio ad absurdum illustration.
So true, laws only restrict bad behavior. They don’t eliminate it.
By this type of “logic,” there should be no law.
Those who advocate legal use of psychoactive drugs need a better argument than this. It is not sensible.
Another great posting. I once supported the drug war and thought that Libertarians who opposed it were nuts. But they turned out to be right.
Paper, timber, and synthetic fabrics, come to mind. Also pure racism was used to sell the lie.
"Psychoactive drugs" covers a lot of territory. The most widely used psychoactive drug is caffeine.
Walk into a Morphine Shop.... tell the “doctor” your butt has a boil.... and of course (100% rate of morphine prescriptions to patients, shockingly)... and wa la... “Medical Morphine”
Now its the kids, turn... you wouldn’t deny “healthcare” to kids would you??
....
Stupidest thing ever.
“It’s not so easy to find out exactly why cannabis was banned 70-odd years ago.”
I understand. It makes people stupid, irrational, and irresponsible.
These aren’t victimless crimes.
The first puff or the first week don’t make you nutty, but prolonged and/or intense use does.
This is fine if you live on your own private island; but you don’t. So we are subject to your deliberately induced stupidity, irrationality, and irresponsibility if you decide you want to smoke pot.
Some think that’s not a big deal. Having been on the receiving end of intense abuse from a paranoid regular pot smoker, I do think it’s a big deal. I therefore oppose legalizing recreational pot use.
“”Psychoactive drugs” covers a lot of territory. The most widely used psychoactive drug is caffeine.”
Fair enough, I’ll narrow it to say “recreational drugs that make people stupider, less rational, paranoid, crazy, or lethargic, or makes them hallucinate.”
Abuse and/or harassment is already unlawful, and is the use of force against another. Have the person arrested for abuse/harassment. Problem solved. No need to outlaw a plant that has many other uses.
/johnny
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