Posted on 05/17/2015 6:21:56 AM PDT by Kaslin
Bill Bennett, a great American and a great Republican was all over television promoting his new book Going to Pot co-written with Robert A. White. This is a topic I have followed for years and previously written about so I thought I would read the book and hope for an interview with Dr. Bennett. I was unable to land the big fish, but did interview his co-writer for an hour discussing the issue of whether the legalization of marijuana should continue.
I have previously written that the experiment of legalization should go forward in Colorado and Washington and let us see the effects. One of the weaknesses I found in the book and in my discussion with Mr. White is that it is far too early to draw conclusions. Mr. White referred me to a series of articles available on their website (goingtopotbook.com) which were from the Colorado Springs Gazette. I read over 50 pages of columns and came away with the thinking that a lot of what was promised by the politicians in favor of legalization did not come to fruition. Not to be too snarky, but wow what a concept – supporters of an initiative misleading the voters.
A lot this was how much tax would be collected from legalization. There are two clear reasons why more money was not collected and they both go back to the government. First, is that many more people in Colorado are going the medical marijuana route because they do not have to pay the taxes that the other users do going to a regular pot store. Second, there is a burgeoning black market in Colorado again caused by too-high taxes imposed on legal use. What the state of Colorado does not know is how defined the black market was before legalization.
There were two points in the book that we kept going back to in the interview. Repeatedly, the book focuses on the harmful effects of marijuana on individuals 12-17 years old. I brought that fact up to Mr. White and said that the law does not legalize use for kids. I also reminded him what my personal research had concluded from discussions with hundreds of grownups. Before medical marijuana was available, grownups were unable to readily get marijuana, but their children in school had ready access. White said “It is a three-point issue: perception, availability and price.” It is true the perception of legality for those 18 years old and over changes the thought of whether it should be tried for younger people, but it is still illegal. Availability is something we will never know for sure, but it sure seems it was pretty available before formal legalization. The issue of price makes no sense. If the price offered by licensed stores is so attractive then why would there be a black market? The black market must be undercutting the legal prices.
We discussed the issue of potency. White pointed out the potency is not what it was in my college years of the early 1970’s. I told him I was well aware of that. The people that I know with first-hand knowledge of what they are now getting were never quite sure of the potency before medical marijuana or legalization. Second, they have all adjusted their usage.
We then discussed the commercialization of the product which has been done under legalization. Pot is being sold like Hershey bars are sold or any other product. We agreed there certainly is a downside to that happening. As White stated “Like alcohol, 80% is being consumed by 20% of the people.” The commercialization is attracting them to use more and many are abusing.” There is no question that there are people who will abuse and I agreed that with legalization the number may increase. The correct question is: Should the other people who use marijuana intermittently and in low quantities be forced to give up their enjoyment because others cannot control themselves?
White expressed his biggest surprise was how effective the campaign has been to legalize marijuana. He told me that in 1969, 12% of people were for legalization while in 2014 that number had risen to 60%. I pointed out that may be due to people seeing over the past 45 years that the criminalization of pot was counterproductive.
We then discussed the fact that a study posted in the appendix of the book stated 9% of marijuana users were addicts. I attempted to get a good definition of “addict.” Marijuana does not have the same addicting factors as heroin, cocaine or even cigarettes. I stated that the real problem that people are facing today is prescription medications and very cheap heroin that has flooded the market and expanded to the suburbs and colleges. We respectfully disagreed on where the focus should be at this time.
White made the point that the commercialization will drive usage and there is no doubt that the intent of marijuana is to create an altered state of mind -- that is why it is called “getting high.” When I asked White whether he would rather someone come home and have a shot of scotch or smoke marijuana, he clearly stated scotch. I pointed out that the idea of the scotch was for someone to “loosen up” after a day of work. After reading White and Bennett’s book and a prolonged discussion with White, I am no more convinced that marijuana is a major problem on which we should focus outsized resources. I am still convinced if given a choice I would rather see someone use marijuana than alcohol. I still believe we need further time to analyze the effects from the Colorado and Washington legalization of marijuana. But there is no question there will be downsides. The question is, are those downsides worse than having it illegal?
Reefer Madness is a big joke but I don’t want to say that pot is harmless either.
“co-written with with Robert A White”
I guess fatso can’t pull himself away from the buffet or the slot machines long enough to write his own books anymore.
Reefer Madness seems to be where they get some of their more sophisticated ideas. Potheads can't stop talking about this film.
Is this the same Bill Bennett who said American’s educational system c. 1984 was so poor that it was like having been invaded by an alien power? It has been invaded by an alien power.
I live in eastern Washington and so far I can tell you that legalization has been a big nothingburger.
When they first opened a pot shop near my house I drove by and there was a long line out front. Everybody was 40 plus years old and looked totally normal. It could have been a tea party rally.
Now when I drive by the parking lot is largely empty. I guess the excitement wore off quickly.
Merle and Willie agree:)
“I guess the excitement wore off quickly.”
As it will when it is legalized in other places.
Soon the only excitement left will be among the same broken people who agitate against the freedom of others and insist people act as they wish.
“I’ll never smoke weed with Willie again.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfgZH8kFAKc&feature=related
Correct, because we in Colorado see that it is working just fine.
No drug that I'm aware of is harmless, including alcohol. That doesn't mean anybody deserves to go to prison for merely possessing it.
Potheads are easier to control.
I agree, in fact I think the “war on drugs” is nothing but a way for people either in the government or connected to make a fortune. The people who should be locked up first are those who work in drug enforcement. They have caused too many unneccessary deaths already. The best way to stop drug abuse would be to quit giving people a free income with which to buy it. I think that if we are going to support those who cannot support themselves we should go back to the county poor farm system, no cash, just a place to stay and food and anyone who is able to work at all works. Make it unpleasant enough that only those who have no other choice would be willing to endure living there. There are people around me who go out soliciting to buy groceries for half price on their EBT cards for anyone who will pay them in cash. Obviously they want something else a lot worse than they want food.
The big problem with weed is that for a number of individuals like Robin Williams or Robert Downey Jr., getting high on weed was not enough.
Then they will have to explain why it doesn't make black people less aggressive. Blacks are the most violent-prone segment of the population, and MJ use is very high with black males. If MJ has a calming effect, why didn't it calm the black males killed in the recent high profile incidents?
For instance, it was determined after the autopsy that Michael Brown had a large pct. of MJ in his system. Yet he strongarmed a store clerk before getting himself shot and killed while assaulting a police officer. Why wasn't Michael Brown a meek teddy bear from his MJ use?
Which part of "tends" did you not understand?
Neither was the alcohol they doubtless drank before they encountered weed. Do you think if those drugs were unavailable they wouldn't have sought out other drugs?
Ah, Bill Bennett. Shouldn’t he be at a blackjack table or roulette wheel somewhere?
The more “mainstream” dope gets the more I think it’s a good idea to crack down on it’s use.
I can confirm the same story in western Washington.
I live two blocks from a legal marijuana store, east of Seattle, in an affluent, overwhelmingly white and Asian neighborhood.
The first week or two, lots of news crews and middle aged adults outside the store - today, you barely notice it's there.
One down side, our ultra-Left county council decided we need more diversity in our quiet, crime free neighborhood, so they built a low income-Section 8-homeless apartment building one block away from the marijuana store.
Now, my Safeway store is full of Black gangbangers and obese women with the munchies.
On the bright side, at least some of them are just high on reefer and are not violently amped up on alcohol, crack, or meth.
Because "pot makes you a calmer, better person" is a fairytale that drug pushers like to tell people. Some people even believe it.
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