Kucinich out in front on issues again - pro decriminalization of pot

Ficus

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Wed Nov-26-03 06:00 PM
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Kucinich out in front on issues again - pro decriminalization of pot

Decriminalization of Marijuana
http://www.kucinich.us/issues/marijuana_decrim.php

The example of Prohibition illustrates the importance of distinguishing between drug use and drug abuse. Alcohol is a powerful depressant, the use of which leads to impaired judgment and motor skills. Taken in sufficient quantity, alcohol consumption can result in organ damage or death. Despite these very real dangers, however, most Americans are able to use alcohol safely their entire adult lives. Further, this use typically occurs without significant impact on careers, families, and communities. Armed with a clear understanding of both the benefits and potential risks of alcohol use, people overwhelmingly choose the path of responsibility and moderation.

Unfortunately, current drug policy fails to take into account the lessons of Prohibition. The law regards all users as abusers, and the result has been the creation of an unnecessary class of lawbreakers.

Non-violent marijuana users comprise the bulk of the half-million Americans imprisoned for drug violations, and many frequently serve longer sentences than do those convicted of violent crimes. In addition to the staggering cost of housing these prisoners, the "war on drugs" tears families apart, weakens the American workforce, and drains law enforcement of resources.

The rationale for continuing these draconian policies is unclear. Statistical evidence shows that marijuana use follows a pattern very similar to that of alcohol. Most marijuana users do so responsibly, in a safe, recreational context. These people lead normal, productive lives - pursuing careers, raising families and participating in civic life. In addition, marijuana has proven benefits in the treatment of numerous diseases, such as providing a valuable means of pain management for terminally ill patients. In either of these contexts, there is no rational justification for criminally enforced prohibitions. These unnecessary arrests and incarcerations serve only to crowd prisons, clog the judicial system, and distract law enforcement officials from violent crime.

Racial bias in the enforcement of drug laws is pervasive. According to a Human Rights Watch report based on FBI statistics, blacks were arrested on drug charges at nearly five times the rate of whites. Drug use is consistent across racial and socioeconomic lines -- yet in the state of New York, for example, 94 percent of incarcerated drug offenders are Latino or African-American, mostly from poor communities.

The voters have spoken on this issue, over and over, in many states, choosing to legalize the medical use of marijuana. In Washington, D.C., the Congress refused to allow D.C. to even count the votes, violating both common sense (on the marijuana decriminalization question) and civil and voting rights (by denying D.C. residents their own voice).

A Kucinich administration would reject the current paradigm of "all use is abuse" in favor of a drug policy that sets reasonable boundaries for marijuana use by establishing guidelines similar to those already in place for alcohol. America can no longer afford to ignore the lessons of Prohibition. By joining with our friends in Canada and European countries in moving away from criminally-enforced drug prohibitions, we will be moving towards safer streets and stronger communities.

are there any other candidates with this position?

:dem:

:dem: