Pathological Curiosity

<Disclaimer: I do not smoke marijuana. Nor would I even if it was legal. >

Today I came across a video on YouTube about LEAP, which is an organization of law enforcement officials who want to legalize certain drugs. Now, the commentary was provided by Fox News, which in general makes me twitch – Fox News is typically full of fear-mongering, uneducated, crackpots ( let me tell you how I really feel about Fox News…hehe ). But…in this case they had a point, though maybe not for the reasons you would expect. Here is my take on why marijuana should be legal.

Tax Dollars. We have sin taxes on alcohol, cigarettes, and gasoline. It would work just as well for marijuana.
Control. Let’s face it. Most teenagers are going to try it at some point. Would you rather Jr. picked up a joint laced with PCP, strychnine, or some other potentially deadly substance, or get a government-controlled pack in a safety-sealed, inspected package? I know which one I would choose.
Safety. Another facet of control, maybe. Which is safer? Picking up a pack of doobs at the local gas station (or state store), or going down to the hood to pick up your dime bag from criminal type people who have close relationships with illegal weapons and other dangerous behavior?
Less exposure to heavier drugs. The clerk down at the corner store isn’t going to try selling you esctasy, heiroin, cocaine, or other very addicting drugs.
Good for agriculture. I guess we’d need less soybean subsidies from the Dept of Agriculture when the cash crop is readily available.
Less Smuggling. We don’t need more people trying to run for the border.
Less Prison Crowding. Most pot smokers aren’t violent people. Putting basically non-violent and generally productive people ( most of the people I ever knew who smoked it were recreational users who had good jobs ) in with a bunch of criminals who will either harden them or scar them for life is counter-productive for society.
Keep Cops Busy Fighting Real Crime. I don’t want cops wasting their time busting some teenager for his bong. I DO want police out on the streets keeping hard core drug dealers and gang out of our neighborhoods. I want them catching murderers.