A TOUCH OF SANITY!

It isn’t often, lately, that I get to praise something that a government does, but today is an exception. Seth Williams, Philadelphia’s new District Attorney announced, after meeting with state Supreme Court, Chief Justice Ronald D. Castille and Justice Seamus P. McCaffery that the city is going to change possession of less than 30gm of Marijuana into a “Summary Offence” from a misdemeanor. That means that if arrested with less than about an ounce of marijuana, you will be fined, but you will not face prison or a criminal record.

Now, let’s be clear. It would be wonderful if no one ever felt the need to use mind altering substances like alcohol and other drugs, and therefore never used anything. Unfortunately neither the world in general, nor humans are built that way. Not only have people used such substances since pre-history, but repeated attempts at criminalization have all led to more pain and suffering, as well as doing more harm to society than the substances themselves.

We tried criminalization of alcohol (remember “Prohibition?”), and all it led to was poisonous “bathtub gin” and the rise of “Organized Crime.” So, today, all criminalization of other drugs has led to is more of our population behind bars than any other industrialized nation, including China, a huge (tax free) revenue stream for Organized Crime, and more than 50% of all violent crimes (most committed by dealers, not users).

Additionally, while most of these arrests have been for possession of marijuana, it is the one drug that has never killed anyone, making it safer than both alcohol and nearly every pharmaceutical on the market. Why is it still illegal when most thinking, rational people agree that it shouldn’t be? I could argue that it is the “liquor lobby,” the “Wingnuts,” or any other group that seems to want everyone to do things their way. I will argue, instead, for legalization.

What would legalization of marijuana bring? It would probably increase the number of users, just as opponents argue, but it would also substantially decrease our prison population, remove the disparate impact of arrests falling largely upon our African American population, increase revenues for both the city, state and federal governments (which they can all use about now), and increase the respect of the average citizen for the Law since they would no longer be required to flout such a stupid and anachronistic one as the criminalization of possession of dried plant leaves.

Congratulations to the City of Philadelphia for taking the first step! Now, go the rest of the way and we can concentrate on arresting real criminals and terrorists and make our city, state and nation safer.