The Christian Constitutional Republic
One Nation Under God
Government of, by, and for the People
Liberty and Justice for All
by: Thomas Lee Abshier, ND
Prohibition And Legalization
By: Thomas Lee Abshier, ND
10/23/2009
Today on Fox Business News, High Noon segment on legalizing medical marijuana the concept of lowering the crime rate, incentives for gangs, et cetera as discussed. These are old arguments and we all know they are true. If there is no barrier to the use of an addictive substance, then the price drops, and organized crime is no longer interested in it, the price drops, and the associated cost of law enforcement also drops. Thus, this argument is commonly offered as the solution to the problem with addictive drugs.
The other side of legalizing a substance, and the reason it is opposed, is the human cost of easy access. Marijuana can be an addictive drug, it leads to using other drugs in some people, it impairs the judgment, changes emotions, and changes motivation/drive for accomplishment.
America tried an experiment with prohibition, and it produced the organizing force, opportunity, and economic incentives for organized crime to coalesce and crystallize into a discreet and sustainable group-organism. The society simply ignored the prohibition and chose to indulge in alcohol regardless of the law and penalties it imposed to enforce compliance.
There is no argument that drugs in their excess are harmful. And, some are so toxic that their useful and beneficial dose is only at levels approaching the homeopathic dilution. For example, arsenic, while toxic at larger doses, is possibly beneficial as a trace element, and certainly effective in treating conditions as a homeopathic for disease conditions matching its symptom profile.
Alcohol, appears to have benefit as a relaxant, and for cholesterol. But, its use in excess clearly destroys health, wealth, and happiness. Marijuana has been shown to be effective for pain relief, and has been legalized in a number of states to reflect this fact.
All this to note that there are good and bad sides to every drug, food, herb, and behavior. The problem is not with the substance, but with the discretion of the individual in regulating himself to engage properly.
The argument commonly used to justify continued prohibition of marijuana, speed, crack, heroin, etc, is that if it were readily available, then people would self select, and use these various powerful mind altering drugs irresponsibly, become addicted, cause accidents, lose motivation, behave violently, and behave as lower quality citizens. And in fact, for a certain number of people, if temptation were available, that segment of society would succumb to the degrading effects of the drug and sink to a low level of personal and social discipline.
If society were to allow adults to choose to use mind altering recreational drugs without restrictions, then the society must be mature, self disciplined, accountable for its behaviors. The society must have a commitment to following a general moral self-directed compass that guides, informs, and directs the public and individual character.
The child can be moved by counsel, discipline, curiosity, and seduction. Strong and clear moral guidance should inform and guide his development of habit and character. In a culture with such guidance, the populace will The public sphere to teach and guide the youth, and direct the habitual decisions of the adult population, there will be a strong force acting on the society to
