“boutique conservatives”
Interesting term.
When I first heard William F. Buckley explain why he was for legalization I was aghast. How could a “conservative” be for legalization? He was, however, correct. Prohibition created Al Capone and dangerous homemade alcohol.
The mass murders going on in Mexico right now (and crossing the border) are the result of our demand being high and supply being artificially lowered by prohibition, just as it was in the 1920’s.
Buckley, and others, are correct in pointing out that legalization would first bring an end to pot as a source of revenue for the drug cartels but it would also allow states to regulate sales, quality and distribution, just as they do for alcohol. In other words, there would be more control on pot than there is right now.
Had a border agent, whom I personally trust, tell me last year that 75% of the working capital drug gangs have comes from marijuana. It’s their bread and butter. It finances the bribes, the guns, the war. Drug gangs LOVE marijuana prohibition.
Those ol'boys'd been doing their stuff with or without a govenrment subsidy!