Argentina, Mexico, and the US city of Denver, Colorado, have taken steps to decriminalize the Noble Herb. (Thanks to the LRC blog.)
In Denver, a city committee on marijuana has recommended that the fine for possession be reduced to $1. The chairman of this committee is quoted in this news report as saying:
"By setting the fine at just $1, we are sending a message to Denver officials that the era of citing adults for using a less harmful drug than alcohol is over. It's simply not worth the city's time or resources,"
Note the “less harmful drug than alcohol.”
In fact, the Noble Herb is not harmful at all; rather, it is beneficial.
Over to Mexico, just south of the USSA, where the Uncle Sam-sponsored “war on drugs” has led to thousands of deaths already. In Mexico, the government has just decriminalized possession of small quantities of all drugs, including marijuana, for which the amount anyone can carry about without fear of the authorities is now fixed at 5 gms, just enough to make 3 or 4 joints. This is too little. Smokers should be allowed to possess at least a kilo – and this should be declared the “non-commercial quantity.” Anyway, if you read the report, you get the idea that the “war on drugs” in Mexico has failed. And that is very good news.
And now, let’s look at Argentina, where the Supreme Court has ordered the decriminalization of the possession of small amounts of marijuana for personal consumption. These words are notable:
It [the Supreme Court of Argentina] said the constitution protected “the private actions of individuals who in no way offend order or public morality, or harm a third party, who answer to God free from a judge’s authority.”
We are planning a Ganja Pride Parade in New Delhi soon. In the land of cannabliss indica, where hardy sadhus smoke, where sturdy rickshawallahs smoke, where smoking cannabliss is part of our culture, this is one prohibition that must go.
As the devout say:
From Munich to Sri Lankar,
The people cry Boom Shankar.
Boom.
We are so used to imposing our morality on others that one rarely thinks about the unfairness to the person at the receiving end of the coercive behavior. One of the greatest moments in US history was when Larry Flynt prevailed over Jerry Falwell- pity the same courts haven’t ruled similarly on other issues concerning personal liberty.
ReplyDeleteAKS
The issue is far bigger than that: the core point is whether "man made legislation" is The Law or not. Do read Bruno Leoni's "Freedom & The Law." Also the first two volumes of Hayek's "Law, Legislation & Liberty."
ReplyDeleteWe live in an age of inflated legislation - which is all democracy has given us. We need to be under The Law that delivers Liberty. And that law is but the inviolability of Private Property. That is the solution.
Thanks Sauvik. My to-read-list has grown substantially since I started following your blog. Hoping I can finish my own education in time to prevent my kids from being indoctrinated with the nonsense-on-stilts from The State.
ReplyDeleteAKS
I was in Argentina when they passed the law! And the next few days were *fun* ^__^
ReplyDeleteI like your writing and have used one of your articles on my website, prohibition.in (Life, liberty and beer in Gujarat!)
Please let me know when you plan to have to parade in Delhi. I'll try my best to get there in time.