The Marijuana Debate: A Call for More Dialogue, Less Rhetoric
Roger Roffman, professor emeritus at the University of Washington, offered a thoughtful piece in the Seattle Times yesterday, calling for more dialogue and less rhetoric in the debate over legalizing marijuana. His essay was prompted by an earlier guest editorial that concluded that marijuana legalization will inevitably lead to "increased use and more problems with addiction with kids and their parents."
Pointing out that youth usage rates of the legal products alcohol and tobacco have declined considerably, Professor Roffman does a good job of highlighting what’s needed for a more productive conversation around potential marijuana reforms:
A full [legalization] discussion requires not only that the proponents of change acknowledge the risks of trying a new approach, but also that those opposing change acknowledge the harms of current policies and the potential of alternative strategies.
The full article is worth the read.
- Printer-friendly version |
- Like (34 Likes)|
- Send by email
More Dialogue
I question the ability for more dialogue to come up with a concrete plan for legalization of Marijuana. Understandably, more dialogue would bring more talks and debate to the table, allowing both sides to present their views. However, history has shown that talks do not always end up with the best solution, and sometimes, it just take a vote and have it done and over with.
Post new comment