2 ms·

I think part of his point is that, for "10-12%" of Americans, these laws actually make them go from unemployed in the official sense to actually having no meani

I think part of his point is that, for "10-12%" of Americans, these laws actually make them go from unemployed in the official sense to actually having no meaningful income in the literal sense. In other words, it will make many bad situations even worse. > As a result, "drugs are the only industry left in places such as Baltimore and east St Louis" – an industry that employs "children, old people, people who've been shooting drugs for 20 years, it doesn't matter. It's the only factory that's still open. The doors are open." I'm certainly not going to agree that that's a reason not to do what we have, but that race/poverty line point he's making isn't just about arrests.

jlgreco 13y ago
Those arrests cause broken families and drive away potential employers. The arrests are absolutely key. If anything, keeping other drugs illegal while legalizing marijuana would provide a transition period for those impoverished drug dealers, a transition period that would be unavailable if the whole deal fell with one blow as he seems to desire.
- saraid216 13y ago
  > If anything, keeping other drugs illegal while legalizing marijuana would provide a transition period for those impoverished drug dealers, a transition period that would be unavailable if the whole deal fell with one blow as he seems to desire. Or we could fix poverty.
  - jlgreco 13y ago
    Certainly we should try that, but keeping pot illegal so that poor people can continue to sell it isn't a solution by any means.
    - saraid216 13y ago
      > I'm certainly not going to agree that that's a reason not to do what we have
      - jlgreco 13y ago
        Aye. I think we don't disagree.