[mysterio]

That tells you how powerful the drug traffickers are—that they can keep the issue out of the “debate.”

The issue is not part of the debate because both sides are scared that they might not be draconian enough to appease the drug warriors. So they don't talk about the failed drug war at all.

[investigateworld]

Forty years ago, using slide rules and vacuum tube technology, we put people on the Moon.

There simply is no real interest in D.C., or your local state capitol in stopping the flow, just that the right people control it.

[Sirloin]

The issue is not part of the debate because both sides are scared that they might not be draconian enough to appease the drug warriors.

You got it. We should legalize pot and be done with it. Doing so would cut a significant portion of the drug gangs incentive to protect their territory and would generate some much needed tax revenue.

I live in the Pacific NW area of the country. Many, many people partake of marijuana around here. I live in a very affluent suburb of Portland and I'm surprised how many people, once they have a drink or two in them, will own up to smoking pot once in a while. And these aren't blue collar types making 40k a year, these are business leaders and people who have a strong entrepreneurial drive.

Keeping pot illegal doesn't seem rational. Instead, it seems to be a way to punish people that the drug warriors don't like.