What if we were to decriminalize marijuana? Strip the
profit incentive from it and control it like alcohol, a far
more dangerous drug. What problems would emerge?
Think a moment about war. If war were effectively and
permanently abolished, what would everyone at the
Pentagon on down do? How about the enormous
industrial military complex? What on Earth would we do
without enemies? Could we survive?

The war on drugs is a real war. With marijuana legal,
what would drug warriors do? Marijuana is their big cash
cow because it is so common, despite escalation after
escalation of the war on drugs.

Construction and operation of new prisons, one of our
prime growth industries, would be ruined. Attorneys and
judges Would have to focus on real crime. And what
would we do with all the billions of dollars saved?
What's more, we would suddenly have our most
valuable natural resource back - hemp. Industries such
as timber and paper, petroleum and petrochemicals,
synthetic textiles and more - their vast profits would
start spreading back to the people.

Nobody would be on the street, driven by profit
seeking, out to find new users. If we resort to genuine
education, marijuana use would probably go down,
especially among kids. The economic and environmental
benefits of hemp would ease their angst and sense of no
future.

Could we stand the strain of losing such an enemy?
Yes, and the people would be much better off.

Rand Clifford
Spokane