Ruminations of the Purple Rhino

Thoughts on what's wrong with the U.S. Constitution and how to fix it.

Legalize Drugs; Regulate Intoxication

1 Comment Posted by on March 18, 2012

Recently, Christian evangelical super-star Pat Robertson came out in support of the legalization of marijuana.  This was a shocking statement from one of the most well-known and vocal conservative Protestant televangelists.  Indeed, he once ran for the Republican nomination for President.

His reasoning is the same as we see from most pro-legalization advocates.  Simply put:  The War on Drugs has failed and our society needs to seek another solution.

Balancing my personal Christianity with my Americanism is one of my daily quests.  While as a Christian, I do not support anyone becoming enslaved to mind-altering substances or seeking comfort from the false idol of drunkenness, as an American, I do not feel that the government ought to prohibit individuals from seeking their own path.  That includes the use of mind-altering substances.

However, society does have a right to protect the greater community from the harms that result from the abuse of drugs.  Violence, madness, addiction, endangerment, laziness, and neglect are all consequences of drug abuse that society has a right to confront and mitigate.

Blanket prohibition hasn’t done this.  Indeed, it has enriched gansters and criminalized the enslaved.  So how can society allow drug use, but deal with drug abuse.

I propose that we leagalize drugs, but regulate the right to be intoxicated.

Imagine a license to use, similar to a driver’s license, divided into different classes.  Upon reaching a certain age and meeting certain requirements – such as mental health testing, background checks, and an analysis of family addiction and criminality – one could apply to be license to use mind-altering substances.  A person could ask to qualify for only some substances, such as alcohol or marijuana only, or seek a full license that incldued all substances.  Also, to help off-set the costs to society, the higher the class of licensure sought, the more one would have to pay for the privilege.  Further, the higher class would also require more frequent re-evaluation, for instance a license to use heroin could require quarterly re-evaluation while marijuana would require re-evaluation once every four years.

Under this system, the judicial system could revoke a person’s license to become intoxicated as a consequence for criminal behavior, either for a limited period of time or with restoration upon petition.  Further, family members could also have the right to petition either the courts or the licensure administrators to revoke a person’s license upon showing cause.

This system would balance individual rights with collective responsibility.

Thoughts?

Economic Policy, Taxes , , , ,

One response to “Legalize Drugs; Regulate Intoxication”

  1. Lais March 18, 2012 at 11:45 am

    At first glance, your idea makes sense. Upon further consideration, however, it falls apart.
    In the same way concealed carry permits have failed to keep guns out of the hands of criminals, a license to use wouldn’t keep drugs out of the hands of unlicensed users.
    Additionally, substances with high addiction potential: heroin, crack cocaine, cocaine, LSD should never be legalized or licensed, period. The inherent risks and costs to minor children, unborn children, and society at large are simply too great. A licensed young adult uses cocaine. During a drug induced stupor, she has unprotected sex and becomes pregnant. Her license isn’t yet up for review, continues to use and becomes addicted. We now have an addicted mother and an addicted baby. It’s a horrible, downward spiral.
    This is where marijuana, as a recreational drug, kind of shines. While efficient, controlled studies are difficult to find, analysis of children born to moms who smoked marijuana during pregnancy indicates no link to birth defects, low birth weight, or cogntive or developmental problems in the offspring. http://norml.org/about/item/breathe-push-puff-pot-use-and-pregnancy-a-review-of-the-literature Marijuana has also been used successfully to treat hyperemesis gravidarum (severe, intractable nausea and vomiting during pregnancy).
    Marijuana is potentially addictive, however not all users will become addicted. Those who do are typically addicted to THC in combination with other more dangerous drugs.
    Legalization of marijuana simply makes sense. It should be legalized, taxed, monitored, and enforced in the same way alcohol is but not ‘licensed’. Licensure simply creates another way for government to become involved and is, in my opinion, to be avoided.

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