The goal of this website is to create a useful tool that can be applied to relevant, current events. All information is great information, but applicable information is powerful information. In this case, a reader, @MaryJCannabian, found the transcription to the video for me so I could show her the facts. Well, @MaryJCannabian, I would love nothing more than to de-filter this segment for you and my other readers.
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On May 6th, 2009, Anderson Cooper did a segment regarding marijuana legalization on his show, AC 360. In the segment, he did a short “debate” between Jeffrey Miron, a Harvard economist, and John Walters, former Drug Czar for President George W. Bush.
As you will see in the video clip (which I hope stays up), the information war starts before the debate even begins with a curious statement made by John Coleman, director of the pro-prohibition group Drug Watch International. In response to the question of whether or not marijuana has gotten stronger in comparison to decades ago, Coleman claims:
No question about it. I mean, it’s the difference between having maybe a 4 ounce glass of beer versus an 8 ounce glass of Jack Daniels.
He completed his sentence with a bit of a chuckle, but to be honest, the only thing I find funny is the idea that he somehow became the director of an international non-profit organization while lacking the ability to do simple conversions in math.
The purpose of his claim is to illustrate just how much more potent “today’s marijuana” is when compared to marijuana from, say, the 1960’s. To do so, he needed to use something that is more tangible to viewers (such as comparing it to one of America’s most popular drugs, alcohol). The problem is, however, that the comparison is completely misleading when you look at the numbers.
Update: So I added this video earlier but didn’t have time to post my thoughts until now. As I made clear in the about section of the site, this site is only a resource regarding the legalization of marijuana. And that is the only professional position this site will work to educate others on. If you wish to know my personal position on other drugs, feel free to contact me.
I really wish Ron Paul would have responded differently to the gentlemen from the DEA who claimed legalization of marijuana would some how increase “addicts” or children using marijuana.
Here are the facts: If you don’t wants kids using marijuana, you must support legalization. Why? Because legalization creates a market where black-markets can’t easily survive (How many black-markets do you know for alcohol? How many liquor stores do you know? Which one do you think is more likely to ask for ID before purchasing alcohol?). To be clear, let me say it again: If you make something with a consumer demand illegal, you will create a black-market and encourage smuggling, no matter what the substance. It is wrong and it is stupid (yes, stupid) to think that the perpetuation of black markets via the drug war creates a safer environment for kids. It truly annoys me that such fallacious and idiotic arguments would even be replayed on mainstream media.
A snippet from an article I came across today on CNN.com:
Prohibition creates violence because it drives the drug market underground. This means buyers and sellers cannot resolve their disputes with lawsuits, arbitration or advertising, so they resort to violence instead.
Violence was common in the alcohol industry when it was banned during Prohibition, but not before or after.
Violence is the norm in illicit gambling markets but not in legal ones. Violence is routine when prostitution is banned but not when it’s permitted. Violence results from policies that create black markets, not from the characteristics of the good or activity in question.
Why Stephen Baldwin is put into any type of authoritative position when it comes to marijuana, I don’t know. What I do know, however, is Ron Paul does an excellent job at logically debunking Baldwin’s fallacious claims.
I will definitely make sure to personally address the various claims made by Baldwin, but to be honest, Paul said it better than I ever could have.
