Fun news... plus serious commentary

'Gilligan's' Mary Ann caught with dope
AP
11 March 2008
DRIGGS, Idaho - Dawn Wells, who played Mary Ann on "Gilligan's Island," is serving six months' unsupervised probation after allegedly being caught with marijuana in her car.

The article notes that she is 69 years old.

Okay, driving under the influence is not wise, whether the "influence" be alcohol or marijuana. BUT - why is this stuff still illegal?

How many of our world-record prison population are in jail for marijuana-related offenses?

The "war on drugs" is a failure.

Legalize 'em! All of 'em. Tax 'em moderately. If nothing else, it'll provide Afghanistan with an income!

Yeah - bad things'll happen... but I'm convinced - with little to no supporting evidence - that legalization is the cheaper alternative. The failed "war on drugs" costs tons of $$ - and folks are still getting high!

Prohibition is not a bad analogy: it created organized crime!

Yes, yes, I know: heroin, cocaine, meth... these are BAD for you. I'm not advocating that we push drugs, only that we de-criminalize 'em. Let 'em be bought, sold, and used without any legal implications. Control 'em as we do alcohol (which, let's be honest, is just another drug!).

If you drive under the influence, bad things'll happen to you.

Would addiction rate increase? I doubt it... well, maybe slightly - again, with no supporting evidence for this belief. What's the cost-benefit analysis? I'm betting heavily that treating ALL drugs (yeah, even the really bad ones: heroin, cocaine, meth) like we treat alcohol would be a whole lot less expensive to our society than current policy.

If anyone can cite either concurring or refuting studies, I'd love to know.

This is a potential source of revenue - the Republicans oughta love it!

Stop the madness!