The Times staked its position with the headline "Repeal Prohibition, Again." David Firestone is a member of the Times editorial board. "I don't see it as being any different than, uh, having a couple of glasses of wine with dinner, or uh, a martini. If you wanna make that choice as an adult, uh, you should be allowed to make it."
The editorial says the war on pot is worse for America than using pot, saying "the social costs of marijuana laws are vast," and "the result is racist"...noting that enforcement falls "disproportionately on young black men." Urging Congress to repeal the federal marijuana ban, it also discounts the health effects, saying marijuana is "far less dangerous than alcohol."
It may seem like edgy stuff from the so-called "paper of record," but it reflects a sharp shift in public opinion. Now, only 42% oppose legalization. 37 states (including Nevada) plus, the District of Columbia have liberalized marijuana laws to allow for medical use or to lessen penalties for possession. The real change started in Colorado, where voters approved the sale of marijuana for recreational use…but there have been problems. Legalization's been linked to at least two deaths-- as well as incidents of children accidentally ingesting marijuana-laced food. And staunch critics of legalization like Kevin Sabet, say those calling for legalization like New York Times are wrong: "What the NYT is calling for is a really radical move that counters all the major medical associations that have looked at this, and it wouldn't be good for America. Do we really want to encourage a stoned society?"
