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user-inactivated  ·  3943 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Russell Brand: Philip Seymour Hoffman is another victim of extremely stupid drug laws

I really enjoy everything Brand writes, such that I even forgive him for making Hoffman's death into a political point, because it's a point needed and well-made.

    Now we are aware that our drug laws aren't working and that alternatives are yielding positive results, why are we not acting? Tradition? Prejudice? Extreme stupidity? The answer is all three. Change is hard, apathy is easy, tradition is the narcotic of our rulers. The people who are most severely affected by drug prohibition are dispensable, politically irrelevant people. Poor people. Addiction affects all of us but the poorest pay the biggest price.

    Philip Seymour Hoffman's death is a reminder, though, that addiction is indiscriminate.

Very well put.