Have You Ever Seen That Reefer Man?

"A Panhandle couple is under arrest after notifying police Thursday that their quarter-pound stash of marijuana was stolen and that they needed the weed back, because they were going to later sell it."

I can't decide if this is uncanny stupidity or a sign of something larger. My thinking is this, are so many people so brazenly breaking the drug laws in this country that the least savvy amonst us actually think the police won't arrest them when they admit to being drug dealers?

I'm no fan of our drug laws. As a drug and alcohol counselor I've seen the damage prohibition has done to the lower income neighborhoods. In a caseload of about 30 "addicts" I would say 20 are crack dealers whom have only indulged in marijuana and now, because they are on probation or parole, have to complete an outpatient drug rehabilitation program. Some of them really are addicted to marijuana and need the therapy while others, and they know this as well as I do, are just there because it's better than prison.

Every now and again, at least one person will announce during group therapy that he thinks there's an inherent hypocrisy in prohibiting marijuana smoking but keeping alcohol and cigarettes legal. Now in my opinion he's absolutely right but it's a little more complicated that just, "da government wants that chedda, ya herd!"

We're still a moralist country with strong puritan roots, despite how caustic our pop culture society may have become. In the heartland, or as Michael Moore calls it, Jesusland, people are trying to adhere to traditional Judeo-Christian beliefs and practices. One of those beliefs is that one should not introduce mind-altering chemicals into ones body that would might move you to commit greater sin or leave a greater chasm between yourself and God. As silly as that might seem to anyone reading this, it's been enough to promote drug prohibition not only in this country but across Europe and around the world.

A wise woman once said to me, "People can't handle huge change. The trick is to change a little over time and sneak the big stuff in when nobody is paying attention." The debate over medinical marijuana is a trojan horse that will inevitably lead to legalization and regulation of illicit substances...and I'm OK with that. Legalization of medicinal marijuana seems to be on the horizon as patient lobbyist make stronger cases for legalization. In addition there are agencies like the Drug Policy Alliance that are working feverishly to have the drug laws in this country abolished. In NY we are slouching towards repealing the draconian Rockerfeller Drug Laws. It will take some more time but I think the steam is slowly being let out of the War of Drugs.

In the meantime, drug dealing is still illegal and the two folks mentioned above are likely candidates for the Darwin Awards.