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Seattle's former US attorney, John McKay, argues why the laws against marijuana should be changed."The US war against marijuana has failed and actually threatens public safety and rests on false medical assumptions."

A marijuana bud for medical use is displayed in a California dispensary, 10/20/09. (photo: Genaro Molina/LA Times)

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+13 # Guest 2010-09-06 21:14

Mexico is losing its war on drugs and the situation is so violent, with the boundless wealth and psychopathic morals of the drug cartels, that the situation may soon qualify as civil insurrection. Pull the plug on the global drug mafia by decriminalizing pot.

+9 # Guest 2010-09-06 21:50

The "war on drugs", like all the other wars since WWII have been wars of choice. We must have repeatedly chosen poorly as we lost all of them.

The prohibition game clearly showed us that people want and will use intoxicants whether legal or not. It does not matter that some people do not like to hear that, but that is reality.

What about pot as a "gateway" drug? Surely widespread pot use will merely be a stepping stone to widespread abuse. Pot smoking is already in widespread use. The only question is whether we will continue to waste time and resources trying to control that which is uncontrollable.

Pot versus alcohol is an interesting debate. Both have their supporters and detractors. I think alcohol is the worst of the two. There will always be people who will be stupid in the use of any intoxicant because there are some people who are simply stupid. I don't think it prudent to continue to make legislation based on the habits of the ignorant.

+6 # Guest 2010-09-07 00:13

It was the booze industry that initiated the phoney hooplah over pot and Big Pharma will spend whatever it takes to keep pot use illegal. Both these rich powerful industries will fight tooth and nail to keep pot illegal. In the current political climate, no politician will go anywhere near pot de-criminalization .
'Tis a pity the author didn't have the courage to express his thoughts on pot while he was a federal prosecutor.

+6 # Guest 2010-09-07 08:25

As a persecuting attorney, Mr. Mckay speaks from the position of someone in law enforcement. That he is pious, conservative, unyielding, and sure of himself is evident from his pitiless statements regarding Marc Emery. Five years in prison for selling seeds? Such penalties and not rooted unbiased judicial reason. Rather, they are of the 'might is right' variety where ones principal crime is simply flouting the law no matter how prejudiced or absurdly conceived.

The agents and cops who continue to risk their lives in the futile attempt to enforce misguided laws that do not match the realities of our society are not brave, they are stupid. And I don't say this lightly as I have relatives who are policemen. I have told them, in no uncertain terms, that if they get shot busting people for smoking pot don't expect me to have any sympathy.

+1 # Guest 2010-09-07 01:57

Most cops would prefer to arrest some stoned hippie chanting "Peace. Love. Dope." than a drunk screaming that he is going to kill the cops and drink their blood, as recently happened here in Elyria, Ohio. But also in Elyria, in front of the Coca Cola plant on Route 113, a kid stoned on only marijuana crashed into the back of a stopped car with a grandmother and granddaughter inside. He lived, they were burned to death.

+7 # Guest 2010-09-07 03:59

What really kills me is this forgone conclusion that violent street gang's, international cartel's,etc existance is due to their ability to go undetected by law enforcement.

I am the only one of color in my apartment building in a very upscale neighborhood in New Jersey. The hallways and laundry room always have the smell of marijuana. Day and night. If it was a reversed situation, wherein, the tenant were a majority of people of color, believe me, there would be constant raids and drug busts.

Basically, it is tolerated because most the the tenants are professionals, simply put!!!!

+6 # Guest 2010-09-07 05:14

This guy is such an idiot! Why doesn't he rant about alcohol consumption and abuse. I would bet that he is a drinker. His liberal use (or should I say 'conservative') use of the word stupid to describe anyone who smokes pot shows his empty-headedness. He is one who could benefit from a little mental flexibility that comes from an occasional puff.

+2 # Guest 2010-09-07 05:47

Years ago, a couple of magazines ran articles on drugs of recreational types, the quote that stuck with me is, "F**ked up people will get f**ked up". That is certainly what I've witnessed. Human beings have sought altered states since the beginning and will find a way no matter the laws.

The difference is that those f**ked up people are out there in greater numbers, arriving at that state through upbringing, abuse, depression, job loss, and many other ills that plague us. It is difficult to decide whether revision of the law is necessary, or to do away with it altogether in an attempt to cripple criminal violence. Were not for the law, a lot more people would be dead from over-doses, or just losing jobs, family, and friends. Rehab has been forced on many due to the laws in place.

It is a sticky issue, and not simple. Let's keep it sane.

I disagree with the author of this piece. Not all folks who smoke pot are stupid. They are smart and adult.

+5 # Guest 2010-09-07 06:06

The Judicial, penal, police and jury systems in the USA will never let go of this milk cow. First of all, all these bureacratic agencies are tied in one way or another to the USA corporate prison building industry which the USA tax payers furnish. Secondly, the prisons population are mostly confined to young men and women (we have more young men and women incarserated under this drug war than all the other countries put together.

Thirdly, those in the judicial, penal, police and jury systems won't have jobs and this is why passing laws against legalization of Marijuana will never be passed. These four corrupted greedy bureacratic federal agencies are the problem why the insatiable craving for illicit drugs is so prominent in the USA society. Plus the fact the guns coming from the USA and being sold to drug cartels is big money for the US.

Go figure!

+5 # Guest 2010-09-07 07:05

To legalize marijuana is to allow everyone to use, possess and grow marijuana. To decriminalize marijuana is to allow the govt. to regulate by controlling the THC amount and put age limits on who can buy it, like alcohol and tobacco. Of course, it will be over taxed. I prefer legalization. Some strains are stronger in THC to work with cronic pain, MS spasms and seizures. Each strain works for seperate problems.

+8 # Guest 2010-09-07 07:51

I am a 58 year old woman who has been smoking cannabis pretty much daily since I was in my early 20s. I have a very successful career, close friends and great children. Both my twin daughters have their Master's degrees and are doing important work in the world. Alcohol was never allowed in our home but my family understood I needed the medication for loss of appetite and Inflammatory Bowel Disease. The prohibition against marijuana has imprisoned thousands - if not millions - of non-violent pot smokers. In my city at least half of all felony convictions are for "solicitation to commit possession of a controlled substance (marijuana). If the US is really serious about stopping Mexican cartels from growing marijuana on federal land then all they have to do is spread hemp seeds in the forests. When they mature into male plants their seed will find females and destroy the illegitimate grow. Easy and no weaponry or violence or arrests.

+9 # Guest 2010-09-07 07:59

I hope John McKay's next column will address the legalization of alcohol and the relative personal risk - both medical and social - of continuing to tacitly approve alcohol which has destroyed more lives than marijuana ever will.

+2 # Guest 2010-09-07 10:49

Tobaccos and liquor is what kills far more Americans than marijuana. Liquor is what kills, maime, destroy more families, take more of the government provided medications than tobaccos and marijuana does.

Why doesn't it suffer the same punishment as marijuana users do. Because is an accepted lazy rich society that feeds off the working poor, the taxpayers and keeps the entire judicial system in business as usual.

Approve legalizing marijuana which it is in fact, a medical plant, and watch the entire society change in America. It's the illegalization that is the problem.

I don't drink alchols, smoke neither tobaccos nor marijuana, but I know of people who, after having taking marijuana, say they feel better on the long run.

It's the judicial, police, jury and penal system that will lose in the long run. These bureacratic agencies is where most of our money goes!

+2 # Guest 2010-09-07 13:23

Two people I have known who smoked marijuana regularly eventually developed throat or lung damage that would have led to cancer had they not taken steps to avert that disaster. Many products can cause damage to a body in one way or another. Best be wise in the use. Find a form of marijuana that does not cause damage.

+2 # Guest 2010-09-08 11:39

John MacKay maybe a moron with no real grasp in reality when it comes to hemp, but he is right about the dangers prohibition is causing and this is the main reason why we need to regulate this product.... a law only works if society allows it, if it doesn't work like this inane law then it needs to be revisited.

he is a prohibitionist that is finally seeing the light but is still defending his actions... well John, if Cannabis is so deadly, show us proof that it has caused the death of anyone... real science will show their just isn't any skeletons in any closets anywhere.

He's just another lost soul on the wrong side trying to defend his previous actions within the tide that is slowly turning against prohibition. He is a complete and total waste of manflesh trying to justify his perverse rightwing law enforcement agenda

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