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I'm guessing yes, since it's fairly libertarian/conservative on social issues (mirroring it's core demographic of young/middle-aged 4x game players.)
I'm in favor of pot legalization since the War on Drugs is expensive and pot is at worst about as unhealthy as alcohol, which we managed to legalize without society crumbling. I figure pot's illegality is just a political windfall for social conservatives and tough on crime politicians and prison contractors.
Cops I've talked to have mixed feelings on it. Some are in favor of legalization because it would free them up to work on other things. Some see it as a "tool," for instance if they can't bust a pothead wife-beater/rapist for beating and raping his wife, they can get him for possession with intent to distribute or something. That better serves the interest of justice, though it gets into "end justifies the means" territory since the relationship of the consensual crime and the crime with a victim is spurious.
The progressive movement of the 1960s probably set-back legalization overall, since it's inconceivable that a true social conservative would want to have anything to do with dirty hippies. If the issue had been spear-headed by state's rights advocates at that time, maybe it would be legal and regulated today. Democrats won't legalize because it would make them look soft on crime. Republicans won't legalize because it's like "eff you dirty hippies." So we are at a standstill, where many dozens of dollars that could be collected in revenue instead benefit organized crime, and the tax-payers pay for ineffectual enforcement of the law. A robust black market exists and profits from the sale of the drug, and anyone who really wants it, can get it with only a little risk, so supply is satiated.
But back to my topic, do most of you agree with legalization/regulation/taxation as the better way to deal with the scourge of pot?
I'm in favor of pot legalization since the War on Drugs is expensive and pot is at worst about as unhealthy as alcohol, which we managed to legalize without society crumbling. I figure pot's illegality is just a political windfall for social conservatives and tough on crime politicians and prison contractors.
Cops I've talked to have mixed feelings on it. Some are in favor of legalization because it would free them up to work on other things. Some see it as a "tool," for instance if they can't bust a pothead wife-beater/rapist for beating and raping his wife, they can get him for possession with intent to distribute or something. That better serves the interest of justice, though it gets into "end justifies the means" territory since the relationship of the consensual crime and the crime with a victim is spurious.
The progressive movement of the 1960s probably set-back legalization overall, since it's inconceivable that a true social conservative would want to have anything to do with dirty hippies. If the issue had been spear-headed by state's rights advocates at that time, maybe it would be legal and regulated today. Democrats won't legalize because it would make them look soft on crime. Republicans won't legalize because it's like "eff you dirty hippies." So we are at a standstill, where many dozens of dollars that could be collected in revenue instead benefit organized crime, and the tax-payers pay for ineffectual enforcement of the law. A robust black market exists and profits from the sale of the drug, and anyone who really wants it, can get it with only a little risk, so supply is satiated.
But back to my topic, do most of you agree with legalization/regulation/taxation as the better way to deal with the scourge of pot?
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