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What lawmakers want isn't some single coherent thing; you're talking about a profession perhaps most famous for getting in fights with each other. Some politi

What lawmakers want isn't some single coherent thing; you're talking about a profession perhaps most famous for getting in fights with each other. Some politicians may want draconian drug laws because they're involved with the prison industry or prison workers union, while other politicians with different interests might want drug legalization for reasons like those described in the grandparent comment. The distribution of politicians across this policy continuum may change quickly, or slowly. Not all change is quick. Here is my pet theory: many politicians have historically opposed cannabis use because they believed cannabis use makes people lazy and believe widespread use of cannabis could suppress economic productivity. This is the sort of believe that could be challenged with evidence to the contrary; currently several states have legal cannabis and in doing so are putting many beliefs to the test. If/When fears relating to economic suppression are dispelled, some politicians who once opposed it may decide they no longer care.

non-entity 7y ago
> Here is my pet theory: many politicians have historically opposed cannabis use because they believed cannabis use makes people lazy and believe widespread use of cannabis could suppress economic productivity. Or y'know, this: https://www.forbes.com/sites/eriksherman/2016/03/23/nixons-drug-war-an-excuse-to-lock-up-blacks-and-protesters-continues/#f0076ad42c88 https://www.forbes.com/sites/eriksherman/2016/03/23/nixons-d...
- smileysteve 7y ago
  It's both or all 3. 1. Corporate interests want to reduce hemp use for oil and material to help their dino oil products 2. People buyin that its bad 3. Politicians use it as a way to think people are bad 4. One generation later and the reason is whatever is most expediant. I believe that 80+% of politicians today that oppose legalization do so genuinely because they grew up being told it was bad and a gateway drug. And they're too ignorant to consider the Nixon quote or that their government has always been bought and paid for to maintain a status quo
  - non-entity 7y ago
    > I believe that 80+% of politicians today that oppose legalization do so genuinely because they grew up being told it was bad and a gateway drug. That's fair, and makes the most sense, I suppose

non-entity 7y ago

> Here is my pet theory: many politicians have historically opposed cannabis use because they believed cannabis use makes people lazy and believe widespread use of cannabis could suppress economic productivity. Or y'know, this: https://www.forbes.com/sites/eriksherman/2016/03/23/nixons-drug-war-an-excuse-to-lock-up-blacks-and-protesters-continues/#f0076ad42c88 https://www.forbes.com/sites/eriksherman/2016/03/23/nixons-d...

smileysteve 7y ago
It's both or all 3. 1. Corporate interests want to reduce hemp use for oil and material to help their dino oil products 2. People buyin that its bad 3. Politicians use it as a way to think people are bad 4. One generation later and the reason is whatever is most expediant. I believe that 80+% of politicians today that oppose legalization do so genuinely because they grew up being told it was bad and a gateway drug. And they're too ignorant to consider the Nixon quote or that their government has always been bought and paid for to maintain a status quo
- non-entity 7y ago
  > I believe that 80+% of politicians today that oppose legalization do so genuinely because they grew up being told it was bad and a gateway drug. That's fair, and makes the most sense, I suppose