Legalize Freedom!

Tomorrow marks 4/20, a day celebrated by proponents, but not limited to users, for the legalization of marijuana. In fact, just because someone advocates legalization does not mean one smokes. This is a dangerous misconception that has wrongfully silenced those opposed to the government telling you what you can do with your own body. Regardless of the isolation and mockery of advocates of legalization, more and more people are beginning to demand that marijuana first be decriminalized and then be legalized.  It's not a question of whether one does or does not support marijuana use; I personally do not endorse its use.  Rather, this is a matter of principle, and of government overstepping its moral and constitutional boundaries.

What gives?

The recent surge in legalization activism and the consequent relaxation of marijuana laws is founded upon two crucial pillars: 1. sound scientific and academic evidence; and 2. civil disobedience.

The marijuana debate has been raging for quite some time. It has typically been dominated by gross exaggerations, outright false claims, and statistical finagling by opponents, a feat that makes Climategate look insignificant. Surprisingly, most of this nonsense comes from the government and policy organizations who regularly panhandle to the government for more "funding" aka tax dollars.

Medical Marijuana Isn't Enough

In the state of Washington, marijuana thieves and medical marijuana users have clashed, sometimes deadly ways:

In the past week, a man in Orting, Wash., near Tacoma, died after he reportedly was beaten while confronting people trying to steal marijuana plants from his property. On Monday, a prominent medical-marijuana activist shot an armed man who is accused of breaking into his home in a suburban area near Seattle where he grows and distributes marijuana plants.

Thank goodness the second victim was able to exercise his second amendment rights. But right now the state government of Washington wants to reexamine "how it regulates the drug." How's this for an idea: just legalize it, all of it. My bet is that violent marijuana robberies would decrease with legalization.

West Coast Fighting Back against Drug Prohibition

From the Journal:

A push to legalize marijuana on the West Coast is picking up steam as Washington lawmakers and pot proponents in California and Oregon propose separate measures.

"We're beyond a tipping point culturally," said Roger Goodman, a Democrat representing Kirkland, Wash., and other Seattle suburbs in the Washington legislature who co-authored the legalization bill, known as HB 2401. "Now we're at a point where we're figuring out the safest way to end prohibition."

The news on the drug prohibition has been quite good recently. Maine and New Jersey have legalized medical marijuana and the federal government will no longer prosecute medical users. But we still have a lot of work to do. As Jeffrey Hubbard just posted, complete legalization isn't in reach yet.

If you're interested in educating yourself on this topic, see Students for Liberty's Webinar on the topic, featuring Harvard Professor Jeffrey Miron.

Just Say No!

California is inching its toward legalization:

A proposal to legalize and tax marijuana in California was approved by a key committee of the Assembly this morning, over the dire warnings of police chiefs and prosecutors. The Public Safety Committee voted 4-3 to approve AB 390 by Assemblyman Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco), who said the bill would provide tax revenue to the state and regulation of the drug. The new law includes a requirement that users be at least 21 years old.

Who would have ever thought that the government of California would be praised with doing something right?