QUAKE CITY

Former congressman and former head of the Drug Enforcement Administration has an article on CNBC’s website so biased Pfizer must have written it for him. In the article Hutchinson argues against the legalization of marijuana. Advocating for the prohibition of mind altering substance is a viable position. But Hutchinson’s argument embraces the worst lies and mis-characterizations of marijuana and those who use the drug.

Hutchinson approach is to address the direct and indirect costs associated with marijuana use. He begins by saying, “put plainly, marijuana was made illegal because it is harmful.” I would ask Hutchinson to prove his assertion, but what’s the point. If marijuana was made in a lab in pill form by expensive and complex chemical processes GlaxoSmithKline would be selling it over the counter like Viagra. Instead anyone can grow it so they cannot control it. But we know this already, let’s see if Hutchinson has any real arguments against this.

Hutchinson next argues that we cannot legalize marijuana because we have to save the children.

This is not the first time legalization has come to the fore. In the 1970s, Alaska legalized the drug—only to recriminalize it in 1990 after Alaskan teen marijuana use jumped to twice the national average. This is clear evidence that if legalized, marijuana use will increase (even among children).

If we have to worry so much about the children ban cigarettes and alcohol while you’re at it. Don’t forget all the prescription pills you’ve been shoving down Timmy’s throat since he was diagnosed with ADHD at the age of six. You know the same time Timmy’s mom started downing oxycontin like they were tic-tacs.

He then goes on to complain about the possible impacts to worker and educational productivity. U.S. worker productivity is the highest in the world and has risen during the recession because when you fire people those who remain employed are required to work harder and pick up the slack. How about more jobs for the unemployed who are currently on their couch smoking a bowl.

Hutchinson then moves on to his most laughable argument.

Do we really want our governments to sell substances known to be toxic to the body, and which has no medical value that is recognized by the medical community, for the sake of sheer profit? If this were a corporation proposing such a thing, it would be taken to court.

Corporations making profits from a product known to harm the body. No. Never. I’m sure in the course of human history that’s never happened before. While you contemplate that I’m going outside to smoke a cigarette while breathing in the polluted air coming from the pesticide company’s testing of toxic chemicals on me and all my neighbors without our consent. And once I develop cancer Hutchinson will prevent me from using medicinal marijuana at a relatively cheap price so I can go bankrupt paying the drug companies to keep me alive with pills that are also killing me, just a little slower than the cancer.

Hutchinson continues to shoot himself in the foot:

[D]ispensary operators have been attacked, robbed and murdered. Also, “drug dealing, sales to minors, loitering, heavy vehicle and foot traffic in retail areas, increased noise and robberies of customers just outside dispensaries” are all criminal byproducts resulting from California’s medical marijuana distribution. We can expect similar problems—but on a far grander scale—from full legalization.

Violence surrounding a product that remains illegal, whose main importers into this country are murdering drug cartels…I’m shocked. Dangerous people engaging in illegal activity…no way. I’m sure things would be worse if the drug and its sale were regulated and made mainstream limiting the influence of drug cartels and other criminal elements. Why didn’t I think of that? Hutchinson’s argument seems to imply that marijuana is inherently evil. Criminals are not attracted to the drug because it’s evil, they are attracted to the chance to profit in an unregulated black market. Was the prohibition era any different when alcohol was involved?

Not done slamming your head against a wall Asa?  Try this:

On alcohol and cigarettes, we require warnings and education. With methamphetamine, cocaine and other harmful drugs, we prohibit and criminalize their sale and use. While marijuana may not be as harmful and addictive as methamphetamine, it is harmful nonetheless, and the best economic policy is to make its sale and use illegal.

Alcohol and cigarettes are okay. Just warnings and education required. Yet, Hutchinson would have you believe marijuana a natural drug is worse than tobacco filled with harmful chemical additives. People die all the time of alcohol poisoning, especially teenagers and college students. How many people overdose on marijuana? None. Never. It’s impossible. Okay, fine Asa, put some warnings out there, educate the children. Right Asa? No. Make it illegal? Cocaine and marijuana…what’s the difference? At least he didn’t call it a gateway drug.

Hutchinson says keeping marijuana illegal is the best economic policy…for Pfizer maybe, for California, not so much.

(Photo: Hendrike/Wikimedia Commons)