Bellevue Reporter, 26 Oct 2012 – We’ve waged a war on drugs for decades. Sometimes the battle is worth it. That’s not the case with marijuana. Voters should vote "yes" on Initiative 502 and license and regulate it instead. The illegality of marijuana doesn’t mean it’s not available. Far from it. It is grown extensively and is readily available to those who want it. But, because it’s "illegal," we waste millions of law-enforcement dollars trying to eradicate it, money that would be better spent stopping violent crime. It also means marijuana use is uncontrolled – and untaxed – by government.
posted on October 25, 2012 by
US WA: Endorsements: Legalize Pot? We Don’t Need To Go There
Yakima Herald-Republic, 23 Oct 2012 – In many ways, the ballot measure that seeks to legalize the production, possession, delivery and distribution of marijuana walks a middle ground in the terrain of controlled-substance use and abuse. Voter approval of Initiative 502 would put Washington state in the forefront of efforts to revamp society’s approach to drug laws. The question is whether, middle ground or no, we should be stepping onto this turf to begin with. We believe not. The Yakima Herald-Republic editorial board urges a "no" vote on Initiative 502.
posted on October 22, 2012 by
US WA: Editorial: Prohibition Still Fails Yes On I-502
The Wenatchee World, 20 Oct 2012 – There is little new in the Prohibition argument. This is it: The substance in question (alcohol, tobacco, marijuana) is so obviously harmful when abused, so destructive of family bonds, so detrimental to youthful potential, so disruptive to the fabric of sober society, that its possession and sale should be illegal. Preventing intoxication is a public good, so make criminals of the intoxicated. It’s partly true. Abuse of these substances is harmful. We have all seen it with our own eyes. But how can the law stop it? Did Prohibition reduce alcohol abuse, make it less costly to society, protect youth, reduce crime and corruption? No. Prohibition of alcohol is widely considered one of the most ineffective and misguided efforts in our history, multiplying criminality, violence, corruption and widening alcohol use simultaneously. It worked so poorly and weighed on society so heavily the effort didn’t last much more than a dozen years before it was discarded as a failure.
posted on October 21, 2012 by
US WA: Editorial: Vote To Approve Marijuana Legalization
Issaquah Press, 16 Oct 2012 – Despite decades of enforcement and untold millions of dollars, marijuana prohibition does not work. Initiative 502 possesses the potential to clear the air and allow Washington to legalize small amounts of marijuana for recreational use among adults 21 and older. The ballot measure outlines a sensible plan for the state to legalize, regulate and tax marijuana.
