George Will writes an interesting column on medical marijuana.
Will argues that a large fraction of "medical" marijuana purchases are in fact for recreational use, a claim no reasonable person disputes. Will believes that widespread circumvention of the law's official intent undermines respsect for the rule of law, and I agree.
Will also suggests that estimates of the tax revenue states can collect from medical marijuana are probably inflated; my own estimates suggest he is right on this as well.
But the most intriguing issue is Will's last sentence:
By mocking the idea of lawful behavior, legalization of medical marijuana may be more socially destructive than full legalization.
This last sentence leaves us hanging: is Will advocating legalization, or arguing that legalization is undesirable and medicalization is even worse?
If Will is true to his small government, individual responsibility ideals (which I share), he must surely advocate full legalization. To the best of my knowledge, however, he has yet to do that in so many words.
Now would be a good time.
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