tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4751912584154911320.post486871102252178292..comments2011-09-27T18:06:02.132-07:00Comments on Andrew Tallman Show Articles: Marijuana: No Worse Than Alcohol?Andrew Tallmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16371248611403136028noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4751912584154911320.post-44037084171392145402010-10-30T14:53:29.529-07:002010-10-30T14:53:29.529-07:00I read this article and completely agreed with eve...I read this article and completely agreed with everything you said, but it seems like you're refuting a strawman argument. When alcohol gets pulled into the debate by pro-legalization people I think it’s more often to show that since prohibition of one doesn't make sense that prohibition of the other also doesn't make sense - an argument based on a functional equivalence of these policies rather than on fairness. Even if some people do use a silly fairness argument, I'd still love to read an article from a pro-crimination standpoint addressing it from a policy perspective. An article that answers these questions:<br />• Was prohibition of alcohol a good public policy or a bad one? Why or why not? <br />• Would you support a federal prohibition of alcohol today?<br />• If not, what factors make a prohibition of marijuana substantially different from a prohibition of alcohol? <br />• If so, why not come out and state that you are in favor of a universal prohibition of “soft” drugs rather than focusing in on just one?Prophethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11539371062532580387noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4751912584154911320.post-1667736584879993132010-10-30T08:54:37.421-07:002010-10-30T08:54:37.421-07:00I didn't call you a "racist", Andrew...I didn't call you a "racist", Andrew. I know the skilled rhetorician in you wants to boomerang my words back against, but that's not what was written.<br /><br />I stated that you, IMV, erroneously support prohibition rooted in racism (study the history of marijuana law in U.S., which the "default" position was legal and then became illegal due to to racism and proprietary interests) and that, even today, manifests legal ramifications in a overtly racist fashion (per the study linked which IMV would be hard to take issue with the empirical data proffered).<br /><br />Second, even pushing aside that you make claims for which no factual data or research provides (which, unlike the study on racist ramifications of marijuana law highlighted in my original comment, would be tough to accept a face value, given the inherent bias of those, especially professional and middle class folk, masking their usage, in any formal survey) , you error in equating "usage" in these disparate substances as similar — when the threshold for one is logarithmically higher and the ill effects only evident in long term heavy usage. Comparatively speaking. While I'm in total agreement with decriminalization (and even legalization) of marijuana, it's been many many years since I partook, but even back then, I could personally attest to scores of users who enjoyed "partying" with marijuana in the casual manner that you describe alcohol users.Naumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06741963276339044331noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4751912584154911320.post-22874686139563700112010-10-29T23:34:10.235-07:002010-10-29T23:34:10.235-07:00I would prefer to live in a society where no one g...I would prefer to live in a society where no one gets drunk and no one gets stoned. In my actual society, people get drunk both legally and illegally, while people only get stoned illegally. What obligates me to support adding the category of letting them get stoned legally? To prove I'm not a racist? That's pretty thin, Naum. <br /><br />You're right. I referred to no study on the amount of marijuana people use. Can you clarify for me? Do many people actually use marijuana to a point less than impairment in the way they do consume alcohol moderately? I know an awful lot of people who might have one beer or a glass of wine with dinner. Is there any similar behavior with marijuana for a significant number of users? I've never known any, despite knowing marijuana users. <br /><br />In debate, we used to call your argument a "press" for support. Is your allegation of moderate use capable of similar support? I'm working on common sense and personal experience. If it's wrong, please educate me.Andrew Tallmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16371248611403136028noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4751912584154911320.post-61002763908261989072010-10-29T22:39:45.843-07:002010-10-29T22:39:45.843-07:00What a sorrowful take and justification for an unj...What a sorrowful take and justification for an unjust and racist rooted prohibition.<br /><br />First off, the characterization that marijuana is "no worse" misses the mark totally by framing a false equivalency when truth is, marijuana is FAR LESS detrimental than alcohol, no matter if the focus is confined to casual use or excessive abuse. This is a most a disingenuous ploy, the declaration that these substances are roughly on par with each other. Anybody with the faintest familiarity of these substances knows that alcohol abuse is replete with violence and destruction, while the other, at worst, manifests in unproductive passivity. And one offers therapeutic value that delivers real relief to those suffering from discomfort and pain. <br /><br />Definitely agree that overconsumption of alcohol has wrought devastating consequences for our society. But the nation's prohibition experiment, just as the flawed setup for marijuana laws today, was an abject failure.<br /><br />Furthermore, your assertion that <i>marijuana is ordinarily consumed in moderation</i> is pure conjecture. You posit no factual support or empirical data for this claim — it's merely an anecdotal expression of your flawed perception.<br /><br />You posture "what if" scenarios for fantasy societies that never existed, yet remain oblivious to the reality that is the ugly side of marijuana prohibition. Was it really a mistake for the repeal of prohibition? How could you honestly argue such a case?<br /><br />But let's examine the racist nature of marijuana law — people arrested for marijuana are disproportionately African-American and Latino, even though white people consistently report higher marijuana usage than blacks or Hispanics. You will counter that that's a separate issue, but reality paints a modern day "Jim Crow" scenario, particularly since such legal acts result in negative consequences for housing, employment, and student financial aid. And in your assessment, you never acknowledge the racist roots of marijuana law.<br /><br />By what right should you be anointed the "morality police'' so you can dictate, be it out of ignorance or lack of compassion, what substances adults can consume? By your blemished reasoning, I suppose we should outlaw caffeine (a substance, according to researchers and scientists, far more detrimental than marijuana), alcohol, high fructose corn syrup (a deadly killer), cigarettes, etc.…Naumhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06741963276339044331noreply@blogger.com