Pubdate: Mon, 01 Oct 2012
Source: Rapid City Journal (SD)
Copyright: 2012 The Rapid City Journal
Contact:  http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1029
Author: Michael Sanborn

MARIJUANA LAWS WASTE RESOURCES

Republican In Name Only. R.I.N.O. That is what people on the radical 
religious right call people, who may well have excellent Republican 
credentials but don't agree with all of the socially conservative 
doctrine, begun years ago when political consultants convinced 
candidate Ronald Reagan to promise the religious right anything just 
to get them out of their pews and into the voting booth.

Today, any Republican who dares to stray from the religious right on 
any issue is doomed to be hounded by a relative few in the party.

I happen to think Republicans have a better chance of moving this 
country out of the mess Republicans and Democrats made together. But 
Republicans must lead with their brains. Find waste and crush it.

Example: I am a Republican. I do not smoke pot. I do not suggest 
anyone should begin smoking pot. But I agree with those who think it 
should be decriminalized.

I recently had a conversation with marijuana activist Bob Newland. 
Yes, Newland has run for nearly every office in the state. Yes, 
Newland has tried for years to soften marijuana laws, including two 
unsuccessful efforts to convince voters to legalize medical marijuana.

What many probably don't know about Newland is that he is extremely 
conservative with a strong libertarian bent. If all you know about 
him is what you have read, you don't know a very bright -- while 
arguably self-destructive -- South Dakota citizen.

That said, Newland, along with SoDakNORML, is sending letters to 
South Dakota legislators and candidates urging them to repeal SDCL 
22-42-6, which outlines the offense of possessing marijuana and the 
associated penalties.

I probably know what you're thinking. Consider this statistic 
obtained by SoDakNORML from the Unified Justice System: Since 1998, 
82,402 people in South Dakota have been charged with marijuana 
possession -- 10 percent of our population.

Do you know anyone -- a friend or relative -- who has used, or 
currently uses marijuana? Most of us do. I know some here in South 
Dakota and they include doctors, lawyers, businesspeople, local 
celebrities and plain folks.

But Newland is not asking to repeal laws regarding pot distribution 
or driving under the influence of controlled substances. Of course, 
legalizing marijuana distribution may be considered if this effort succeeds.

We pride ourselves on being eager to keep government out of our 
business and on being fiscally conservative. So why are we wasting 
law enforcement and judicial system time and money on people who 
possess something our neighbors probably possess, and who do us no harm?

Use alcohol laws as a model. Distribute to a minor, go to jail. That 
said, what kind of dent could we make in the 82,402 figure? (That 
number only represents those who were caught and arrested.) What kind 
of money could we save? What if people harmlessly using marijuana 
were simply allowed to do so without interference?

I agree with my conservative hero, William F. Buckley Jr.: This war 
on our neighbors is an epic waste. I personally know Republican 
legislators, prosecutors, cops and judges who agree -- but not on the 
record. Elected officials fear repercussions -- from the extreme 
religious right -- for doing what they know is right.

So, go ahead. Call me a R.I.N.O. for wanting stop government waste. 
Courageous legislators (statesmen) would repeal SDCL 22-42-6.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom