Pubdate: Wed, 25 Apr 2012
Source: Forest Park Review (IL)
Copyright: 2012 Forest Park Review
Contact: http://forestparkreview.com/FormLayout.asp?formcall=1&TM=50925.87
Website: http://forestparkreview.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4141
Author: Tom Holmes

ON DECRIMINALIZING MARIJUANA

I write this with a little trepidation because our police chief, Jim
Ryan, whose opinion I respect, told me he is flatly opposed to
legalizing marijuana. Nevertheless, I want to take a shot at laying
out a rationale for why pot should be at least decriminalized.

It all started with observing the behavior of the throngs attending
our annual spring event, the St. Patrick's Day Parade on March 10. I
watched the parade from the sidewalk right next to Healy's and saw a
lot of beer being consumed. At that point, I wished I owned stock in
one of the taverns lining our main drag.

What struck me was that in spite of the large amounts of alcohol
entering thousands of people's blood streams, I didn't see anyone
misbehaving. I wondered if the orderliness of the revelry continued
into the wee hours of that night, so I called Deputy Chief Tom
Aftanas, who is always responsive, and asked him how many police calls
were made that night. Following are excerpts from his email to me:

There were a total of six incidents. All occurred after the parade and
involved alcohol. None were very serious:

Alcohol consumption in public at 8:30 p.m. two local ordinance tickets
issued.

One Public Intoxication local ordinance ticket issued at 8:33
p.m.

One criminal damage to vehicle report taken at 8:37 p.m. Offender was
caught, but the vehicle owner did not want him arrested.

The remaining three incidents involved three separate fights at three
different bars. A total of five local ordinance tickets for public
fighting were issued.

Every weekend usually has a couple of fights and public intoxication.
These statistics are higher than some Saturdays and lower than some.
Considering the number of people who were on Madison, there weren't
many incidents.

Now, the moralistic part of me wants to say that one case of
intoxication is one case too many. From a public health point of view,
too many traffic fatalities are due to drunk driving and millions if
not billions of dollars are spent on rehabbing alcoholics. When I was
a pastor, I heard so many painful stories about how drinking ruined
marriages and business ventures. Reading a good book or dancing the
night away are healthier ways of taking a break from reality than
getting tipsy. From what I've heard, dancing rarely causes a fatal car
accident.

A more pragmatic side, the one with a historical consciousness,
reminds me that we tried eliminating drunkenness with the Volstead Act
in 1919. Not only was Prohibition unable to get rid of the problem of
overindulging, it also opened the door for the Mafia to make an awful
lot of money. Even the Women's Christian Temperance Union (yes, it
still exists with some 20,000 members) promotes individuals taking an
oath of abstinence from alcohol for individuals more than trying to
abolish drinking through legislation.

A few days after the parade, I watched a travel show on Holland where
marijuana is legal. All you have to do, according to the show's host,
Rick Steves, is join one of the many clubs, called "coffee shops" -
euphemisms abound even among potheads. There the product is highly
regulated by the government and can be purchased only in small amounts.

Let me be clear. I don't approve of getting drunk on alcohol or high
on pot. My values tell me there are better ways to alter my
consciousness. Nevertheless, I have to conclude that attempts to
outlaw "victimless" behavior like drinking bring with them costs which
are higher than the benefits gained. It was true for Prohibition, and
I think it is true for smoking marijuana.

I never in my wildest fantasies ever thought I'd be quoting
televangelist Pat Robertson to support anything I wrote, but I have to
agree with what he was quoted as saying in the New York Times.

"I really believe we should treat marijuana the way we treat beverage
alcohol," he wrote. "I've never used marijuana and I don't intend to,
but it's just one of those things that I think: This war on drugs just
hasn't succeeded. ... It's completely out of control."

Robertson continued: "Prisons are being overcrowded with juvenile
offenders having to do with drugs. And the penalties, the maximums,
some of them could get 10 years for possession of a joint of
marijuana. It makes no sense at all."

We Forest Parkers have a lot of experience with drinking. Most of us
are very aware of the high cost our society pays for alcohol abuse.
Still, we have chosen to regulate the consumption of alcohol rather
than criminalizing the drinking of it. We don't put people in jail for
getting drunk. We arrest them for driving while intoxicated and fine
them for getting into bar room brawls.

I think a cost/benefit analysis would indicate that we as a society
should do the same for pot.
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D