Wednesday, December 5, 2007

Odds and Ends This is interesting... [link fixed] Zogby polling data released today asked 1,028 likely voters, "If hard drugs such as heroin or cocaine were legalized, would you be likely to use them?" Ninety-ninety percent of respondents answered, "No." Only 0.6 percent said "Yes." The remaining 0.4 percent weren't sure. The results are similar to usage rates occurring under today's "drug war," as measured by the federal government's National Survey on Drug Use and Health (formerly the National Household Survey). The 2006 NSDUH found 0.3 percent of the population had used heroin in the past month and 2.4 percent had used cocaine. Even for cocaine, the numbers are compatible, because Zogby surveyed persons aged 18 years and up, while NSDUH begins with age 12; and because of the poll's statistical margin of error of 3.1 percentage points. Sure it's a poll, and sure, polls should always be taken with at least a few grains of salt (and who knows how attitudes would change post-legalization/regulation), but this clearly doesn't support the prohibitionists' claim that, with legalization, everyone will suddenly decide to immediately become some kind of druggie addict burden on society. Welcome to the more than 300 visitors that came to Drug WarRant today from this site I'm a little late for this, but happy End of Prohibition Day On December 5, 1933, the 21st Amendment to the U.S Constitution is ratified, repealing Prohibition. Nice OpEd by David Servatius... The dirty little secret that the big pharmaceutical companies fear most is that marijuana actually helps a lot of people with a lot of things that these companies would rather sell people an expensive pill for. It provides a lot of harmless enjoyment and social lubrication for a lot of people, without the added toxicity of alcohol. 11:59:56 PM |  drug policy | Links | permalink | comment []

NOLA A smooth 839 mile drive in just over 12 hours got me to New Orleans tired, but ready to start. However, a problem with internet service in the hotel, and in my room in particular (they thought there was a plug-in, but there wasn't), has derailed my evening. So right now I'm grabbing a little internet access from the wireless in the lobby before crashing. They may move me to a different room tomorrow. I did get to have some rather tasty seafood gumbo from room service while waiting for the internet issues to be resolved. 11:29:53 PM |  drug policy | Links | permalink | comment []

Open Thread Today I'm driving 839 miles to New Orleans, so posting will be... light. So far, I've been unable to master the skill of posting my blog while driving. So talk amongst yourselves... and keep working on the questions for Costa. You've come up with some pretty good ones so far. As soon as I get settled in the hotel late tonight, I'll start filling you in on New Orleans If you're going to the convention, be sure to look me up. 12:30:35 AM |  drug policy | Links | permalink | comment []