Support for Drug Legalization Waning – Benefits Have Not Materialized

GP:
Recently, Gallup released a report showing that Americans are more optimistic about progress on illegal drugs in the United States. Many left-leaning media outlets and social media commentators misrepresented this finding, claiming it reflected growing support for drug legalization. That is a false framing. The Pew research in question measured sentiment, not policy preference. It indicates that more Americans believe a solution to the drug problem might eventually be found, it does not mean they want drugs legalized.

In reality, support for legalized marijuana, and by extension, for the legalization of other drugs, is declining. The reason is simple: the promised benefits of legalization have not materialized. Of the ten most commonly anticipated benefits cited by supporters of drug legalization, only one has been achieved. The first of these is personal freedom and liberty, the idea that adults should be able to choose whether or not to use drugs. By definition, this goal has been realized in states where marijuana is legal.

However, the remaining nine benefits have failed to appear: majority public support, increased tax revenue, elimination of the black market, reduced prison overcrowding and criminal justice reform, reduced racial disparities in enforcement, job creation and economic growth, medical benefits, safer regulated products, and reduction in opioid deaths. more

15 Comments on Support for Drug Legalization Waning – Benefits Have Not Materialized

  1. Unfortunately, this “personal freedom” BS almost always intrudes on the well-being and safety of others. If we could just isolate these druggies so that their families, friends, associates, and even innocent strangers can be saved from their stupidity than I’d be all for it. But that is never the case. The pain and suffering of those around these druggies will forever be a reminder of how stupid humanity really is.

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  2. We used to watch a Canadian program called Border Security. While it was amazing the number of people with medical Marijuana cards who though that entitled them to bring pot across the border, what was really shocking were the number of people in their late teens to early 20s who had the cards.

    I could be wrong, but it seems that with many of those people, the condition for which they had the card was exacerbated by Marijuana.

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  3. I’ve always been in favor of drug decriminalization. However, that also means that if you O.D., you’re paying for your own medical bills, not the taxpayer, and if you go on a psychotic rampage, it’s your own damn fault if you get killed in the process, and you’re legally liable for any crimes you commit as a result.

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  4. …they are building ginormous “dispensaries” all over my part of OH. I cant walk through a parking lot at a grocery store, at work, even at a doctors office without fear of a contact buzz. Two out of every three young person stinks of skunkweed.

    Pushers are pushers whether its Sha’Kwon, Vito, or the Governor of Ohio.

    “Do what thou wilt, is the whole of the law” is the law of satan.

    Maybe we should be a bit better than that.

    A person can “do what thou wilt” in their own home, whatever.

    But please leave it there.

    The rest of us dont need to be forced to smell your stink.

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  5. I was all for legalization. It just made sense. It took about a year of a pot shop on every corner for me to realize it was a big mistake. I live in Seattle & from day one it’s been pot everywhere you look & it’s all you can smell nearly everywhere you go.

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