Monday, August 18, 2014

The Opportunity of Pot

There are frequent comparisons between liberty and science. This is more than an analogy; there is a thesis that the two are intertwined, arose at the same time in history from the same thinking. Basic to the idea is the need for independence for both; no idea is off the table and all ideas are legitimate at least to consider. Essential to the vision is that of uncertainty. No one has a monopoly on truth. No idea is beyond considering.

An interesting offshoot of this idea is the mixture of democracies, states rights and " the experiment." You have a lot of different regions, states of different make-up and size, all generating their own ideas and plans. The whole, then, can take advantage of the experiences of individual states' concepts. The only thing required is the recognition of the possible productivity of such a system and the patience of the whole to allow the individual results to evolve.

In this light, the legalization of marijuana is a great opportunity. Several states are legalizing it and there are strong arguments on both sides. The experiences of the participating states should be interesting and instructive. There are two threats, of course, the same old two threats that haunt us and, strangely, stem from the same life-source. Righteousness. On one hand is the restrictive moralists who would confine the activity and on the other is the camp of militant indifference. Both would legislate from the whole, from the central government. One would ban the individual states from legalizing it. One would mandate all states legalize it. 

And, of course, the advantage of individual and assessable experience would be lost. 

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