November, 2011

Letter to the Editors: Don’t Forget Our History

The Editors are pleased to print the following letter as part of this month’s Cato Unbound discussion. Michael Krawitz is a disabled U.S. Air Force Veteran, Executive Director of Veterans For Medical Cannabis Access, Advisor to Patients Out of Time and Patient Representative for the United States in the International Association for Cannabis as Medicine. His letter emphasizes the racist and anti-immigrant sentiment that underlay early marijuana laws, as well as the ups and downs of previous marijuana activism. Although he strongly affirms the value of cannabis as medicine, he also writes, “To a certain extent the popularity of cannabis today is a byproduct of its status as a counterculture icon, and it is a counterculture icon because it is illegal.”

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The Long Reach of Asset Forfeiture

by Morgan Fox
The Conversation
November 18th, 2011

One of the most troubling examples of drug war tactics related to the militarization of the police is asset forfeiture. Frequently in the course of drug investigations, large amounts of money and property will be seized by law enforcement under the assumption that it represents profit from drugs sales. In many cases, police departments or [...]

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Public Opinion, Political Disconnect, and the Marijuana Market

by Morgan Fox
Lead Essay
November 14th, 2011

Morgan Fox argues that marijuana both can and should be integrated into the American economy and American civil society. He notes that while taxation and regulation of marijuana may be causes for concern among some growers and users, the “regulation” we have now is undoubtedly worse, because it means only criminals are allowed to grow the nation’s largest cash crop. With public support for legalization at 50%, he nonetheless acknowledges that politicians have been slow to adopt the issue, and federal Prohibition is still likely to last for quite some time.

Read: Public Opinion, Political Disconnect, and the Marijuana Market

Ending Cannabis Prohibition in America

by Allen St. Pierre
Lead Essay
November 11th, 2011

Allen St. Pierre, the executive director of NORML, surveys the political landscape of cannabis Prohibition. He finds significant disparity between public opinion and federal policy; even so, state policies have been much more susceptible to change. Among many other suggestions, he urges advocates to confront the “fear factor” surrounding cannabis, to win more diverse political allies, and to be more open about being “pot tolerant.”

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Losing Hearts and Minds in the Drug War

by Norm Stamper
Lead Essay
November 9th, 2011

Norm Stamper argues that when people see the true face of the War on Drugs, they are justifiably outraged. The average citizen can now take videos almost anywhere and then publicize what they’ve recorded. The result? YouTube clips of military-style police raids, in which the violence meted out seems vastly disproportionate to any possible wrongdoing by the suspects. Police have an important job to do in our society. They need the public’s respect if they’re going to succeed, and the War on Drugs is getting in the way.

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Cannabis’ Impact on Health Justifies Its Legalization, Not Its Criminal Prohibition

by Paul Armentano
Lead Essay
November 7th, 2011

Paul Armentano begins our roundtable discussion with a review of the burgeoning literature on the safety of recreational cannabis and the unique effectiveness of cannabis for many medical purposes. Recent years have seen an outpouring of this type of research, which stands in stark contrast to the political consensus in Washington, which still favors criminalization.

Read: Cannabis’ Impact on Health Justifies Its Legalization, Not Its Criminal Prohibition