The Yes on 64 Campaign got a nice boost with this Letter of Support from the Academic Community
As professors in the fields of law, health, economics, and criminal justice, among others, we write this open letter to encourage a sensible, evidence-based approach to marijuana policy, and to endorse Amendment 64, the initiative on this year’s ballot to regulate marijuana like alcohol in Colorado.
It’s an impressive group of more than 100 signers. Signer Ilya Somin, who writes at Volokh Conspiracy makes a great point:
In my view, Amendment 64 would leave in place more regulation than is ideal, and I am not fully comfortable with some of the praise for regulation in the draft letter (which I signed, nonetheless, because it does not actually say that this regulated system is superior to more complete deregulation, merely that it’s better than the status quo). That said, the best should not be the enemy of the good, in this case the very good. Amendment 64 would be a huge improvement over the status quo in Colorado.
Colorado has sufficient academia and an independent, pioneering spirit to pull off 64 this November.
It’s helpful the Coloradans aren’t overly fond of the feds. Especially since the federal weapons lab at Rocky Flats turned out to be the most contaminated nuclear site in the country and had to be raided by the FBI and shut down for environmental law violations. Yes, the feds will protect the little children from the flowers of the marijuana plant, but plutonium? One of the most lethally poisonous substances in the world? Screw it.
Colorado is entirely suited for legalized and regulated weed. Being the center of the continental 48 states optimizes shipping, distribution, and traveling costs for everyone. Too bad California’s green triangle growers and other voters didn’t get there first by supporting Prop 19.
Its a simple matter of intellect vs politics. Obviously the intellect doesn’t reside in Government until it furthers somebodies agenda. Ilya Somin is right that it would be a huge improvement over the status quo.
No Mark Kleiman? I guess he’s still waiting for that absolutely perfect piece of legislation. Like the guy from the Volokh said, the very good should not be the enemy of the best.