Pubdate: Fri, 19 Oct 2012
Source: Grand Junction Free Press (CO)
Copyright: 2012 Grand Junction Free Press
Contact:  http://www.gjfreepress.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4327
Author: Jim Hoffman

MARIJUANA: LET'S LEGALIZE IT, GROW IT, TAX IT, REGULATE IT

As the local elections near we need to take a few minutes to review a
few statewide issues.

We are about 18 days out from the big day and you may already have
your mail-in ballot in hand. Unless you really are undecided, why
procrastinate? Fill out that ballot and get it back in the mail today.

First let me tell you how totally aghast I am that Tom Tancredo and I
agree on an issue.

Both he and I do not see a value in the continued prohibition on
marijuana use by adults (Amendment 64). No, I do not use nor do I plan
to use nor do I advocate use of marijuana, so that is one personal
bias you may dismiss.

I have no personal skin in this game except a belief we have spent
billions of our dollars in a futile attempt to curb a behavior that
has continued unabated for many decades.

There are those who claim it is a gateway to harder drugs; much the
way beer is a gateway to hard liquor?

There are those who claim it has negative health impacts; much the way
tobacco causes cancer?

Much the way alcohol causes liver disease?

Much the same way both alcohol and tobacco abuse cause early
death?

These "legal" drugs are much more destructive than is marijuana and
the evidence is clear on that point.

When our prison expenses begin to exceed our educational expenses, we
need to question the need to imprison marijuana users.

While we continue to spend billions trying to contain marijuana usage,
the overwhelming evidence is our war on drugs has failed.

The corruption and violence we see south of our border is fueled in
part due to the illegal marijuana trade.

It is hard to rationalize the use of a recreational drug that may be
directly related to a death in Mexico today. We need to remove the
profit in the trade, the corruption and violence it spurs, and provide
a legal and safe path to acquisition and use of marijuana.

Let us legalize it, grow it here, tax it here and regulate it
here.

Our ill-fated exercise in prohibition should be ample reason to
reverse direction and develop local jobs and tax revenue.

In regards to other statewide issues, streamlining our State Personnel
System is long overdue (Amendment S). Years ago as I began my career
as a state employee it was incredibly difficult and time consuming to
fill even an entry level position.

That remains unchanged 40 years later.

BUT we need to exercise oversight to make sure we do not create a new
patronage system which gives politicians control over a bigger number
of jobs. Selection to a state position needs to remain transparent and
uninfluenced by any office holder.

The elimination of a hiring system that reduces the likelihood of bias
and influence-peddling cannot give rise to a patronage system that
gives control either directly or indirectly to any political apparatus.

Why have a constitutional amendment without force (Amendment 65)?
Altering our state constitution to encourage a behavior that cannot be
enforced is simply bad policy.

If we wish to take political action to reduce how contributions can be
made to political efforts it needs to be done in another manner.

Many of us regardless of political leanings have found the current
atmosphere in which billions of anonymous dollars are being spent to
influence our vote to be distressing. We cannot, however, expect
politicians of either party to change this situation as they both benefit.

A grassroots effort to cease rogue operations to influence election
outcomes for ulterior motives is required.

As things currently stand, we run the very real risk of being fed
increasingly misleading and false information to sway us toward a
specific voting decision.

A government for the people and by the people is being replaced by a
government for the special interests and by the special interest.

It is past time to consider, implement and demand shorter elections
funded by public funds.

A time limit on campaigns and a cap on spending is needed and needed
now. Unfortunately, Amendment 65 does nothing to accomplish reform; it
just makes us feel better for having taken a position, no matter how
meaningless.
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MAP posted-by: Matt