Man, I cannot make up my mind on the issue of whether we ought to legalize marijuana.
I have commented in the past on this blog about my “open mind” on the issue. It’s still open, but it closes from time to time.
At the moment, my mind hasn’t slammed the proverbial door shut, but I am wavering.
States are decriminalizing marijuana use. Oregon, the state of my birth, was among the first to do so. It’s two Pacific Cost neighboring states — Washington and California — have done the same. We moved away from Oregon in 1984, so I am not entirely well-versed on the effect that decriminalization has had on my home state.
I am not prepared to endorse the idea of decriminalization. Nor am I ready to condemn it. So, I guess my mind is open.
There might be a middle ground I can endorse: turning it into a civil penalty, sort of like a traffic ticket. You pay the fine and go about your business.
Some progressive members of Congress are talking openly about legalizing marijuana use. I’ll have to get back to you on that one.