TIME TO END MODERN-DAY PROHIBITION, DUDE?

For many years I had in my possession four medical prescriptions,
issued in 1926, for different patients with various ailments. No
matter what the "illness," the doctors' prescribed remedy printed on
the official government form was the same: Whiskey.

This was during "prohibition," that 13-year period in American
history when the "manufacture, sale or transportation of intoxicating
liquors" was forbidden under the 18th Amendment to the Constitution.
The amendment, ratified in 1919, went into effect in 1920.

Under the National Prohibition Act of 1919 (also known as the
Volstead Act), there were a couple of exceptions. Alcohol could be
obtained for medical reasons with a physician's prescription, and the
clergy were allowed to secure wine for the sacrament.

So, in addition to a lot of people becoming ill during this period,
there was a significant rise in the number of preachers who were
administering communion to a growing number of worshipers.

Hallelujah, and pass the holy wine.

I recently was reminded of my 84-year-old whiskey prescriptions as I
heard reports on National Public Radio about how individual states
are dealing with medical-marijuana laws.

Fourteen states and the District of Columbia have adopted laws that
permit, to varying degrees, the sale and use of the long-outlawed
drug to treat various medical problems. California, which became the
first state to adopt such legislation in 1996, has the most liberal
rules, while New Mexico - requiring marijuana dispensaries to be
nonprofit - has the most restrictive, according to NPR.

There is a November ballot initiative in California calling for the
full legalization of marijuana, which, if passed, would put a halt to
some local governments trying to crack down on the proliferation of
dispensaries.

I don't know whether we should legalize marijuana, but it is time for
this country to begin a serious discussion on the subject.

In the last 30 years, we've made significant progress in
decriminalizing the drug. With the increase in prohibition-like
subterfuge of medically prescribing it for real or fake illnesses,
this country should deal with the matter straight-up. Just stop the
games and the yearly legislative maneuverings.

Understand, I'm not a drug user, so this isn't about me except as a
taxpayer who realizes the billions of dollars spent on the
unrealistic attempts to police those who do partake of the herb. The
toll on our treasuries, law enforcement and individuals seems too
great.

I vividly remember the 1972 case of a 19-year-old Fort Worth college
student who was given a 25-year-sentence for the possession of one
marijuana cigarette, which he maintained was given to him by an
undercover police officer who also persuaded him to "try it."

That's a long time in the joint for possessing one "joint." Imagine
the cost to the state and to the young man and his family.

Yes, we've come a ways since then. In fact, just three years ago the
Texas Legislature passed a law allowing local police to issue a
citation for possession of 4 ounces or less of marijuana rather than
arrest, jail and prosecute the offender. At that time, the director
of the Marijuana Policy Project in Washington, D.C., estimated that
major cities in Texas would save a $1 million a year, as each
marijuana arrest cost state taxpayers $2,000.

In a country that repealed prohibition 76 years ago, and one that has
never seriously considered banning the sale of cigarettes or other
tobacco products, it seems ridiculous to continue the charade of
enforcing outdated marijuana laws. Many experts say alcohol and
tobacco are far more harmful.

I really don't know, which is why I think it's time to do more study
and have much more discussion.

On the surface, though, it seems more reasonable - and a lot less
expensive - if we simply legalize the drug, regulate it and tax it.

Such a move would reduce the number of police officers assigned for
enforcement, eliminate a huge number of prison beds allocated for
drug offenders and add dollars to the public coffers.

Let's stop wasting time and money, y'all, and start
talking.

Bob Ray Sanders is a columnist for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.