When higher life forms finally emerge from their pods or arrive in their spaceships and take a close look at us Earthlings, there's a lot they will not understand about what our civilization allows. Things like SuperPACs, or Tim Tebow as an NFL quarterback. But one of those things will surely be how hypocritical we are in regulating some mind altering substances, while not regulating others.
However, after Washington and Colorado voted last week to legalize (sort of) recreational marijuana, we may have a little less for which to be ashamed. (How is it that Oregon voted against this?)
Finally, we have agreement, within certain territorial boundaries, that pot is no more regulatory-worthy than alcohol. Both can be destructive, but both can clearly have therapeutic value within reason.
Unfortunately for now, federal law still considers marijuana possession to be illegal. And more unfortunately, there are still 48 other states that aren't enlightened on this issue, most not even enlightened enough to allow medicinal pot.
In the meantime, every state allows adults to possess, sell, and consume unregulated amounts of alcohol, often with grave consequences even to those who do not consume it. Oh, and also, the U.S. spends millions on drug enforcement, and jails fill up with people who are not threats to society.
I've written too often about the benefits of decriminalizing pot in America. [Search the label 'marijuana' in this blog.] But no matter how often, the conclusion remains: There is no intellegent life down here.
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