While doing a search on conservative and liberal viewpoints on the issue of legalization, I came across the William Buckley symposium in the National Review. He and the other gentlemen who contributed to the article seemed to have no difficulty acknowledging that they are breaking with the traditional conservative stance which is to oppose legalization. Only one was a not a conservative and I have included some of his comments too. (I didn’t quote everyone.)
From “The War on Drugs Is Lost,” the National Review:
and
The last two quotations are by Steven B. Duke (not a conservative)
Mr. Duke is the Law of Science and Technology Professor at Yale Law School.
It is the Conservatives who have carried the banner of “family values.” Conservative politicians aren’t about to couple that with support for legalization of any sort anytime soon.
As someone pointed out earlier, I think it cuts more across age lines in this country than political affiliation. I have lots of Republican friends (Boomers and younger) and can’t think of a single one who would not favor legalization (not just medicinal, but recreational as well).
Might we assume that 25 years hence, when the AARP is completely made up of Boomers, that legalization will occur?
Won’t most boomers be dead in 25 years? I’m 58, an AARP member, and most of my peers favor legalization.
Back to the polls: Most people (75%) favor legalization. That’s way too many to be of any one group. You have to look at the anti- group, and they are still largely conservative. That doesn’t mean that conservatives are anti, but that antis are conservative.
Some politicians have initially voiced support for relaxation of marijuana laws, but backed down when yelled at by the far right. I must say that supporters in the general public have been very quiet in their support. Maybe if we yelled too things would go a little differently.
Also, it’s extremely easy to get pot as it is, at least for casual, personal use. And if you get caught with small amounts, you get a slap on the rist.
If it were legalized, maybe half the fun of doing it would be taken away. Kind of like napster. Sure, you can set up a fee-based file swapping service, but where’s the fun in that?
Not at all. And if if you read my first post to this thread, I make the point that politicians on both sides appear to be against legalization. I’ve never known a liberal under the age of sixty who opposed legalization. I’ve known plenty conservative Boomers who opposed it. With the younger generations there doesn’t seem to be much difference between liberal and conservative viewpoints except with fundamentalist Christians (generally conservative).
I’m beginning to think that young conservatives must not be aware that there has been historically a marked difference between liberals and conservatives on this issue. In my own opinion, the more educated, open-minded and informed the older conservative is, the more likely she or he is to have relaxed the stance against legalization. Buckley is a good example.
I’ve been politically active since 1964 and legalization has been an issue with me since 1969 – before NORML was formed, if I remember correctly. Traditionally, conservatives (politicians and otherwise) have opposed legalization. That’s why the William Buckley article got so much attention. He is probably the most well-known conservatives of the last forty years in the United States. The National Review is his very conservative magazine. And he is now taking a non-traditional conservative stance.
Buckley has been pro-legalization for a long time. I saw him talk about it on his PBS show many years ago. His reasons are, actually, quite conservative.
I think the point about medicinal MJ is rubbish, there are better drugs available for almost everything it is said to help, I’m not too
sure about drugs that fight nausea and help appetite, though.
I am very liberal myself and have been using MJ recreationally every day for a few years (well, hashish actually but… y’know) and I say if you want to legalize it go ahead, but do so under the right prentenses.
Personally I can’t agree with legalization, sure MJ is no worse than alcohol in theory but it is much, much easier to abuse MJ than alcohol. If I, for example, had been drinking as much as I have been toking in the last years I would probably be running on my third liver by now. But then again I have held a steady job this whole time and am a fairly respected member of society… hang on… I’m sure I have a point here somewhere…
Come to think of it, this post might prove my point, whatever it may be. Back to the drawing board…
As a proud member of the Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy, I basically agree with all of you.
It would be fine with me if the dread killer weed were completely legalized, for recreational use as well as medically. My only objection would be that I think the advocates for medical marijuana are over-stating their case.
It is very similar to hearing the hemp advocates mention how legalizing pot is going to solve every problem under the sun. Marijuana may have some limited use in limited circumstances, but it isn’t a panacea. Most of the pressure to legalize it comes, as has been said by others, from those who want to toke up recreationally, and are trying to sneak it in thru the back door.
George Carlin is right, though. Marijuana will never be legalized in the US, because they keep forgetting where they left the petitions.
I wish people would knock off these conspiracy theories. It’s not big pharmaceutical companies keeping pot illegal. It’s not the logging companies afraid of the magical hemp fiber. It’s not the ghost of Henry Anslinger. It’s not fucking DuPont. Pot remains illegal because its an unwise political move to push for legalization; there are far too many uninformed voters who will jump on you for being “soft on drugs”. Period. Political rhetoric is just that; I’m sure there are a fair number of congresspeople who’d like to see it legalized, but don’t want to be the one to champion the issue.
Also, pot’s not a great painkiller. It’s best medical use is as an anti-nausea agent, and along those lines, to encourage eating. Doctors would certainly prefer to not have to prescribe opiates and opioids, but there just isn’t anything better out there for chronic pain.
Kind of like napster. Sure, you can set up a fee-based file swapping service, but where’s the fun in that?