A step forward

Friday, February 19, 2010

A state House of Representatives committee recently voted 16-2 to decriminalize possession of a quarter once or less of marijuana.

Good for the committee.

Now it would be nice if the state Senate, which killed a similar bill two years ago, woke up, smelled the coffee and passed it this time.

And it would be extra nice if Gov. John Lynch signed it into law.

But, his spokesman said he won’t, and we have no idea why.

This is not a bill that is going to mandate, or even approve of, smoking marijuana. All it does is downgrade the “offense” from a misdemeanor, which could bring jail time, to a violation, which would carry a $200 fine and attendance at the drug awareness program.

Yes, the idea that someone who smokes a little weed should have to go to a drug awareness program and someone who drinks a six pack shouldn’t is anathema, but one thing at a time, eh?

Holding small amounts of marijuana should be illegal. Indeed, it should be sold in state stores as is booze, and regulated and taxed, as is booze. Eventually, it will be because it makes sense, and eventually, the 20-somethings who smoke it will be 30- and 40-somethings and, with luck, state legislators who will remember their roots.

We are such hypocrites about marijuana. First of all, it has been proven effective as a medication in the fight against things like glaucoma. And if you’ve ever lived with someone suffering through chemotherapy and the horrors it brings, how can you justify opposing the legalization of a substance that would help ease their suffering? Well, our species can justify almost anything, a sad truth.

And saying that marijuana leads to heroin is like saying beer leads to whiskey. But isn’t it amazing that Prohibition lasted only 13 years? Because people couldn’t stand not to drink. Did that make the alcoholics?

People who use marijuana responsibly are little different from those who use alcohol responsibly. Why are we treating them as if they are?