by b_b

In my opinion the two most egregious, sinful miscarriages of justice that are codified into our domestic policy are the subsidies payed to corn farmers and the for-profit prison system, two topics that are often discussed here on Hubski. On the surface, they are independent, but I think there is a deep cultural connection that the two share, whereby we shame those who take government assistance, unless they happen to be corporations; in that case its just good business (defense contractors certainly fall into this category, too).

It seems to be the default position in liberal and libertarian circles that the decriminalization or all out legalization of drugs is not only moral, but would also reduce crime (since most of the "crimes" for which we send people to prison are drug offences). Certainly this would not be good for business if your livelihood depends on hosting as many inmates as can be crammed into your penitentiary. I think there isn't much question that cutting off a huge supply of prisoners would go a long way to curbing the out of control use of for profit prisons. After all, if they aren't profitable, lots of people are going to pack up and go home.

But there is a dark side to legalizing drugs. We need only look at the food industry (and tobacco before them) to know how dangerous it is to let people have unfettered access to products that may be great in the immediate term, but that slowly kill you over the years of abuse. Sugar is awesome, but its easy to see what happens when there's a buck to be made off getting every last ounce of sugar into every single bite of food we take. Obesity, diabetes, hypertension, stroke, to name a few. These diseases are going to be a trillion dollar industry in the next couple decades, thanks entirely to the farm bill, the biggest piece of garbage that our government force feeds us (pun shamefully intended).

My supposition is that if drugs were legalized the same thing would happen. Pfizer or Merck, or some genius startup (by genius I mean in the way we use it colloquially: one who figures out how to make the most money with the least possible effort--hence a financial genius is the guy who figured out that bots can buy stocks faster than humans) would figure out a way to make marijuana the most addictive substance known to man (let's not forget, a lot of research went into tobacco; when you light up you aren't smoking anything that remotely resembles native or natural tobacco). They would then use their lobbying power to ensure that only government approved drugs could be legally bought and sold, and these lobbyists would naturally "help" craft what constitutes government approval; you know, as a time saving favor for the sponsoring legislator. Then 10 years down the road when we have a new wave on cancer and a whacked out populous from smoking way too much super weed, we'll get to hear about all the jobs that will be lost if we start regulating what can go into marijuana (or cocaine, or whatever). Its a vicious cycle that has happened time and again in this country. The almighty dollar can fool and legislator into signing any piece of shit legislation. Sometimes it doesn't even take that much. I knew some city council members in the town I grew up in that sold out pubic land at pennies on the dollar to an upscale golf course developer for nothing more than a nice meal and a bottle of fine whiskey each. True story, but sad.

So what is worse, the closing of our awful prisons, or the prospect of letting mega companies pump kids full of hyper addictive drugs? Currently, in MI where I live, one can get a prescription for marijuana, like many states. A few of my friends and family have prescriptions, and they love it; they get good quality weed from local growers who care tons about their product. I don't think this is the bliss that we would enjoy if lots of these people got their wish and drugs were just legal for anyone to buy. I think its a necessary evil to keep drugs illegal to keep companies from finding a way to exploit them (us).

But what is the alternative? Our prison system clearly isn't sustainable long term. We spend more on prisons collectively than on higher education. The war on drugs is terrible and getting worse, as well. I think we've proven--as if there was any doubt in the first place--that there is no military solution to drug addiction. It is my contention that the best compromise would be to keep laws on the books against drugs, but never prosecute anyone who is only using. Keep sending large scale dealers to prison, even for life for all I care. What do you all think? Certainly this isn't an original topic, so forgive me for that, but its been on my mind lately for this or that reason.