Meghan McCain Says Yes to Legalizing Marijuana

The Daily Beast ^ | Jun 11, 2012

[presidio9]

In the new book, America, You Sexy Bitch: A Love Letter to Freedom, Daily Beast columnist Meghan McCain and comedian Michael Ian Black take a road trip across America and write about their experiences. The excerpt below is from their visit to New Orleans, and what happens after Meghan and Michael light up.

Meghan McCain: -SNIP-

Let me put it right out there. Yes, I have smoked marijuana a few times in the past. The first time was on a trip to Amsterdam in college and I was surprised by how mild of an experience marijuana was (and in my experience still is). It is a plant that makes me mellow and giggly and, quite frankly, tired. Yet, depending on where you are in the United States, smoking is possession, and that is either a misdemeanor or a felony. Split that hair however you want, it’s still a crime.

That being said, I believe that marijuana should be legalized. This is not a decision I have come to quickly or lightly. Over the course of the last four years, in discussions with friends pro and con, I believe the legal ramifications of possessing marijuana are egregious. For one reason, I think it is a substance that does no more damage than alcohol does, and second, if we legalized marijuana in this country and taxed the hell out of it, our economic problems would at least be temporarily helped a great deal. In fact, you could even use the revenue stream to pay for universal health care if you wanted.

Mostly though, I do not completely understand the allure and taboo associated with marijuana. -SNIP-

[Lx]

I’d rather have mary jane legalized than these damn bath salts that people are doing that are making people eat peoples faces off.

I've never heard of people abusing bath salts which are Epsom salts so, what does 'bath salts' translate into drug wise? Is it like 'ice', is it another synonym for meth?

[JimRed]

Meghan McCain Says Yes to Legalizing Marijuana

So do a lot of FReepers.

[JustSayNoToNannies]

Meghan McCain Says Yes to Legalizing Marijuana

So do a lot of FReepers.

So do 56% of Americans: http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2890429/posts

[exit82]

The War on Drugs has been going on for 41 years—can we declare victory yet?

[JustSayNoToNannies]

How about simply ERASING state laws on marijuana and tossing the whole smelly pile onto the feds?

I'd rather follow the US Constitution - but then, I'm a conservative.

I’d rather have it illegal than allow the states to become the new drug cartels.

Nonsense. Are "wet" counties "alcohol cartels"?

[presidio9]

The War on Drugs has been going on for 41 years—can we declare victory yet?

Richard Nixon "declared war" on both drugs and cancer in 1971. We'll ignore the fact that the "War on Drugs" most libertarians object to was actually implemented by Ronald Reagan ten years later.

Last time I checked, cancer remains the second leading cause of death in 2012, just as it was 41 years ago. Based on your logic, I'm assuming you feel that we should give up on both "wars."

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

It is none of the government’s business what is growing in somebody’s garden.

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

I'd rather follow the US Constitution - but then, I'm a conservative.

I never said I was a conservative, and I have been here a while.

I'm not a government suck up and I hate pot smokers.

I'm sick of the forced monopolies on any level of government.

I'd rather have the crap illegal than let state and local bureaucrats feed off it.

[exit82]

Why does it take 41 years to win ANY war?

If it takes 41 years, you’re just playing at it.

No matter what the subject is.

[presidio9]

If it takes 41 years, you’re just playing at it.

No matter what the subject is.

I'll bite: What have we been doing wrong these last 41 years in the war on cancer, and how would you win it?

[exit82]

I'll bite: What have we been doing wrong these last 41 years in the war on cancer, and how would you win it?

You tell me. My brother died of cancer 19 years ago. and people are still dying of it.

If there was a "war on cancer" in reality, cancer would be a distant memory by now.

[presidio9]

You tell me. My brother died of cancer 19 years ago. and people are still dying of it.

It must really suck being the only person in the world who lost someone close to them due to cancer.

If there was a "war on cancer" in reality, cancer would be a distant memory by now.

Interesting fantasy. Can you elaborate a bit?

[exit82]

It must really suck being the only person in the world who lost someone close to them due to cancer.

Never said I was.

Interesting fantasy. Can you elaborate a bit?

Already told you my reasoning.We put a man on the moon in eight years. You think because Nixon declared a war on cancer in 1971, that a real war was prosecuted. I disagree. Care to elaborate on why you think a "war" has been waged?

[presidio9]

Never said I was.

Then why mention it? As I pointed out earlier, the fact that cancer remains the #2 killer means that EVERYBODY has lost someone close to them to the disease. Attemting to identify yourself with the cause is something a dopey liberal might do.

Already told you my reasoning.We put a man on the moon in eight years.

Putting a man on the moon was a simple question of physics. We already knew how we were going to put a man on the moon 20 years before we did it. You do understand this right?

You think because Nixon declared a war on cancer in 1971, that a real war was prosecuted. I disagree. Care to elaborate on why you think a "war" has been waged?

Actually, its not my job to prove that an unwinnable war, declared 41 years ago, was waged. My point was that such a war can go on indefinately. It was your job to explain how we could be waging in a war on cancer in a fashion that we might likely win. You are unable to do so, because men much smarter than you or I have been hard at work fighting the war on cancer, unsucessfully, for 41 years.

On the other hand, great advances have been made. I don't remember (and, frankly, I don't care) how long ago your brother supposedly died of cancer, but it is extremely likely that if he were diagnosed today his prognosis would be quite a bit more optimistic.

BTW, the War on Cancer was just the first example that came to mind. It took us 54 years to win the Cold War. Communism is only one form of cancer. Medical science has identified more than 200 strains that can manifest in the human body.

[eak3]

i have no idea what bath salts are. I hadn’t even heard of them till this Miami story broke.

[JustSayNoToNannies]

How about simply ERASING state laws on marijuana and tossing the whole smelly pile onto the feds?

I'd rather follow the US Constitution - but then, I'm a conservative.

I’d rather have it illegal than allow the states to become the new drug cartels.

Nonsense. Are "wet" counties "alcohol cartels"?

It is none of the government’s business what is growing in somebody’s garden.

Not sure how that addresses either of my points - but I agree. It is also none of the government’s business what somebody harvests from his garden and sells to somebody else.

[JustSayNoToNannies]

How about simply ERASING state laws on marijuana and tossing the whole smelly pile onto the feds?

I'd rather follow the US Constitution - but then, I'm a conservative.

I never said I was a conservative, and I have been here a while.

If you're not a conservative, why are you posting to a conservative Web site?

I'm not a government suck up and I hate pot smokers.

I don't care for tobacco smokers as a group - but as a conservative I'm against banning their drug of choice.

I'm sick of the forced monopolies on any level of government.

I'm against forced monopolies. Not sure how that's relevant to the subject at hand - if it's about licensing, that shouldn't be so onerous as to result in monopolies.

I'd rather have the crap illegal than let state and local bureaucrats feed off it.

By that logic, we should ban everything that state and local governments tax. You're certainly no conservative.

[JustSayNoToNannies]

The War on Drugs has been going on for 41 years—can we declare victory yet?

Richard Nixon "declared war" on both drugs and cancer in 1971. We'll ignore the fact that the "War on Drugs" most libertarians object to was actually implemented by Ronald Reagan ten years later.

Last time I checked, cancer remains the second leading cause of death in 2012, just as it was 41 years ago. Based on your logic, I'm assuming you feel that we should give up on both "wars."

If we'd spent the last 41 years applying exactly the same failed treatment to cancer and expecting it to start working eventually - as we've done in the War On Drugs - then I'd agree we should give up on that war on cancer.

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

I don’t think marijuana or tobacco consumption is any of the government’s business.

You are full of $hit...

I don’t want the government involved in the drug trade on any level.

I want the Marines in Mexico killing the narcoterrorists, not in Syria where we have no national interest.

You’re a conservative?

I am so glad I never claimed to be one!

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

if it's about licensing, that shouldn't be so onerous as to result in monopolies.

I am against gun licensing.

I also think if you register with the government as a pot user, you shouldn't be able to get a driver's license unless you pay a hell of a lot for the insurance liability.

Stupid is as stupid does...

You are a "conservative." Yeah...