Legalized Pot - A Good Idea? - UPDATE

[UPDATE: I was out of town until late afternoon yesterday. I intended that the following would be finished before then, but... I will be updating this, by posting further Parts over the next few months. Feel free to argue with my viewpoint - I know many do (including family members).]

I've been hearing the arguments for years - if pot was just legal,

• Casual users would not be made criminals
• Use could be regulated
• Those needing medical treatment could get their pot without jumping through hoops
• States could collect taxes on the legal dispensaries
• Minors would still not be able to legally indulge
• Use of pot would not rise
• Criminal activity around the production and distribution would cease
• The 'herb' is harmless

Let's take them, one at a time.

Do casual users (occasional, low-level users) seriously risk jail time? This essay from a former prosecutor disagrees, who states that pot possession has been "de facto" legalized.

Here is why there is confusion: the only time someone is sentenced to jail for smoking pot is if there is a more serious crime they are clearly guilty of, and the prosecutor or judge wants to give them a lighter sentence. Theft or burglary were the most common crimes I came across. Instead of being required to sentence a defendant to a year imprisonment for stealing, a defendant could plead guilty to marijuana possession instead and get a much lesser sentence. So on paper, it looks like they are serving time for drug possession, but in reality, they were let off the hook for a serious crime.

This is in line with what I've seen and heard from my students - they may complain about someone having to go to jail for marijuana possession, but, when you question them further, they'll admit that there was a more serious FELONY on the table, that they escaped prosecution for.

But, at least use could be regulated?

Uh, no.