LEGISLATURE MUST REFORM OUR STAGNANT DRUG POLICY

This month, the Legislature will finally begin to look into reforming our
stagnant drug policies. It is long overdue. The current prohibition is an
expensive anachronism that continues to inflict untold harm on the citizens
of our commonwealth.

Shouldn't we aspire to a better society, where witch-hunting, scapegoating,
and other appeals to the baser human instincts are not the path to power
for our politicians? And where the control over a person's body is their
own, not the government's?

Let us hope that the debate on Beacon Hill results in real, meaningful
change. I realize that the "political realities" this year will limit the
focus to "soft drugs," probably only marijuana. Even so, it is important
for a final bill to legalize not only possession, but sale as well (perhaps
through liquor stores).