|
Top Comments strives to recognize and promote each day's outstanding comments through nominations made by Kossacks like you. Please send the comments you think should be recognized to
TopComments at gmail dot com (before 9:30pm ET).
Make sure that you include the direct link to the comment (the URL), which is available by clicking on that comment's date/time. Please let us know your Daily Kos user name in the body of your message so we can credit you properly. If you send a writeup with the link, we can include that as well.
Please come in. You're invited to make yourself at home! Join us beneath the fold...
|
|
Legalization of marijuana is apparently up for discussion right here in GOP-controlled Indiana. The right-wing newspaper in the city where I live actually ran an editorial in favor of decriminalization as well as possible medical marijuana use and even--gasp--legalization.
Here's part of the editorial:
A bill passed by the Republican-controlled Indiana General Assembly this year directs a legislative summer study committee to look at Indiana’s marijuana laws. The committee’s first meeting will be July 28.
Among those who might appear before the committee are representatives from the organization Law Enforcement Against Prohibition. LEAP’s members include former prosecutors, police officers and judges who say marijuana arrests take up resources that could be better spent fighting other crimes.
That, to us, is the bottom line.
Image courtesy stopthedrugwar.org
From StoptheDrugWar.org,
Indiana has "draconian" pot laws, state Sen. Karen Tallian (D-Ogden Dunes), who pushed for the study commission, told the Associated Press. "One day, I watched three young kids plead cases on possession of small amounts," Tallian said. "I thought, 'Why are we spending all of the time and money to do this?' Frankly, I put marijuana in the same category as alcohol."
(snip)
One of the Republicans who supported the study commission was Rep. Tom Knollman -- who aptly hails from the town Liberty -- a multiple sclerosis sufferer. He told his colleagues during debate earlier this year that he wished he could try medical marijuana to ease his pain. Knollman described himself as among the most conservative of state legislators, but said he hoped he could be a law-abiding citizen and make use of one of "God's plants."
Image courtesy lidsblog.wordpress.com
This is an intriguing turn of events. My visceral reaction is that it will never fly in Indiana. Too socially conservative. Too religious. But if you engage in wishful thinking, maybe there are reasons besides the ones mentioned above. Lots of farmers live in Indiana. The ethanol subsidy is going away. Maybe some farmers see pot as a potential cash crop. Rural folks in Indiana vote Republican, and if they can make a buck off legalization, maybe some of the farmers would favor it. Most Democrats favor legalization anyway, and Obama did win the election here in 2008. And finally, it's the smart and sensible thing to do, which means...in Republican-controlled Indiana...nevermind.
Image courtesy thisisyourconscience.com
TOP COMMENTS
Thanks to tonight's Top Comments contributors! Let us hear from YOU when you find those words that should be set free--or at least decriminalized. |
|
Color boxes courtesy bronte17 |