Robertson’s remarks highlight cultural shift on pot legalization
Mark this day as a big step toward a major cultural shift. From the Associated Press:
Religious broadcaster Pat Robertson says marijuana should be legalized and treated like alcohol because the government’s war on drugs has failed.
The outspoken evangelical Christian and host of “The 700 Club” on the Virginia Beach-based Christian Broadcasting Network he founded said the war on drugs is costing taxpayers billions of dollars. He said people should not be sent to prison for marijuana possession. …
“I just think it’s shocking how many of these young people wind up in prison and they get turned into hardcore criminals because they had a possession of a very small amount of a controlled substance,” Robertson said on his show March 1. “The whole thing is crazy. We’ve said, ‘Well, we’re conservatives, we’re tough on crime.’ That’s baloney.” …
“I really believe we should treat marijuana the way we treat beverage alcohol,” Robertson told the newspaper. “If people can go into a liquor store and buy a bottle of alcohol and drink it at home legally, then why do we say that the use of this other substance is somehow criminal?”
Robertson added. “I’ve never used marijuana and I don’t intend to, but it’s just one of those things that I think: this war on drugs just hasn’t succeeded.” He has made similar comments in the past, but his reiterating this stance might make his audience pay attention.
His sentiment about the failure of the war on drugs, at least, has been a growing one in conservative ranks. In 2005, Gallup reported that just 21 percent of Republicans, 22 percent of conservatives and 29 percent of Southerners favored general marijuana legalization. By last year, those numbers had increased to 35 percent, 34 percent and 44 percent, respectively. Among all Americans, support for legalization rose to 50 percent last year from 36 percent just six years earlier.
Those are pretty amazing rates of change for a social issue.
As many of you know, I have a 3-year-old son and a 1-month-old son. I am starting to believe that, by the time the oldest is old enough to think about trying marijuana — more than 10 years from now, but less than 15 — it will be legal for adults in this state and many others.
– By Kyle Wingfield
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169 comments Add your comment
a reader
March 9th, 2012
8:07 am
how long before i can grow it next to my tomatoes and how much can i grow? can i get plants from home depot? what’s the best fertilizer?
man behind the curtain
March 9th, 2012
8:25 am
One of mny favorite commnentaries on the subject. And relevant to the discussion.
http://www.gocomics.com/doonesbury/2002/01/27
man behind the curtain
March 9th, 2012
8:27 am
Not my best traipse over the keys.
GT
March 9th, 2012
8:29 am
captguitarman some good points, but you come at the problem as if that is not what we have now. I don’t endorse drunk driving or child abandonment either, but this not wanted “big government” for one thing but is spades wanting it in another and to add injury to insult that other is so expensive and wasteful and a failure is puzzling to me.
Don Abernethy
March 9th, 2012
8:49 am
As the morals of our country continues to decline look for more and more changes to help the decline. Drugs will be legalized,homosexuality will be legalized,sexual intercourse will be on TV and in movies,nudity will be legalized. As our congress and judges get younger they will not be tied to our old traditions.We will be like the Israelites in the book of Judges:”All the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes.”
1961_Xer
March 9th, 2012
9:00 am
captguitarman wrote: But the big fallacy is that marijauana is not “like’ alcohol. In most cases it ultimately leads to either a useless and dependent on others (typically parents until they die) “stoner” lifestyle, or on to harder drugs.
This is pure unsubstantiated opinion. If this is what you believe, you are naive AND ignorant. In this short comment section alone, we have seen university (research) professors, airmen, and Presidents of the US that used pot. How hard does reality have to slap you in the face before you get a clue?
Try it, you might like it....
March 9th, 2012
9:04 am
I’ve said for years the country would be much better off if more people occasionally did a bong hit or two. It’s relaxing and does not, contrary to popular belief, lead to more dangerous drugs. What it leads to is the ability to empathize with your fellow man, something this country sorely needs.
Here we go!
March 9th, 2012
9:05 am
First and probably only time I will agree with Pat Robertson. What he says makes sense and forcces personal responsibility. In raising my three children, I have used countless examples in the news or whereever I saw them to point out life is about choice. If you choose to do this, look what happens. That choice can be negative or positive. It forces them to make those choices (hopefully wisely) but also makes them know it is their responsibility. My children will always be my children, but not my responsibility. It is only my responsibility to raise them to be responsible adults. After that, its all up to them. I say make it legal, and tax it like crazy!
killerj
March 9th, 2012
9:26 am
Freedom of Choice Brother,s,Pay More Attention To Your Right,s And You Would See How You Are A Bunch Of Cow,s Being Led For Money.
Chip
March 9th, 2012
9:35 am
Awwww, coooool, mannnnnn… let’s legalize it, mannnnnnn…. hey, look at me…. I’m 50, I’ve been smoking weed (and inhaling, ha ha!) since I was 15, and nothing ever happened to me, mannnnnn… so really– wait a second — WHAT? Oh, gotta go… Mom says dinner’s ready….
>sarcasm off now< I work in a business in which front offices are professional and back areas are considered "rock and roll" environments. So, in my 25 years of professional life, I have worked side by side with straight-up healthy people and also stoners, some individuals of each for the entire time. The healthy, happy, well-adjusted people with full lives are the healthy people. The stoners are all wretched miserable losers who wasted everything they could have been.
So having watched both sides of this debate for a quarter of a centurey, I can assure everyone that anyone who thinks weed is harmless is a delusional fool.
roughrider
March 9th, 2012
9:36 am
Pat must have read Genesis, chapter 1 , verses 11-12 and found out what God thinks of all herbs.
Rick
March 9th, 2012
9:48 am
Chip,
Smoking weed is just another activity that one may partake in. It completely depends on the individual if it affects other areas of their life. A person could just as well use all of their time playing video games, watching tv, surfing the internet, eating, etc etc to a point where it affects their life negatively. I like to have a beer or two with dinner on most nights after work, but it doesn’t affect my life or productivity in any way. Marijuana just as well can be used responsibly, it is up to the individual.
Joe the Prophet
March 9th, 2012
9:48 am
I think this is more of a commentary on Pat Robertson and the “religious right” than it is on marijuana….WHAT IS GOING ON HERE…? You have Frank Graham AND Pat Roberson endorsing a polygamist polytheist for President…..Now Pat Robertson wants us to have multiple wives and worship multiple “Gods”………ON WEED….!!!!!
God save the United States of America from it’s own “religious leaders”…..!!!!!!!
Joe the Prophet
March 9th, 2012
9:50 am
Don Abernethy
March 9th, 2012
8:49 am
As the morals of our country continues to decline look for more and more changes to help the decline. Drugs will be legalized,homosexuality will be legalized,sexual intercourse will be on TV and in movies,nudity will be legalized. As our congress and judges get younger they will not be tied to our old traditions.We will be like the Israelites in the book of Judges:”All the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes.”
——————————————-
You got it, dude…!!!!! Pat Robertson and Franklin Graham want us to support polygamy AND multiple Gods……THE DECLINE HAS BEGUN…..!!!!!!!
Progressive Humanist
March 9th, 2012
9:52 am
Chip,
You work in a cubicle and don’t imbibe. I am a professor and do. I’m not impressed with where your “healthy” lifestyle has gotten you. And I still run a couple miles a twice a week and lift weights twice a week. Yes, it appears imbibing has really hampered my mind and body. What is it that limited your intellect?
Morning Reads for 3+9=12 — Peach Pundit
March 9th, 2012
10:20 am
[...] stuff: Pat Robertson says the “war on drugs” is “baloney,” and that marijuana should be legalized. He’s right, and that may explain a lot of [...]
Bill
March 9th, 2012
10:24 am
It is time to treat drug abuse as the health problem that it is. It should not be a legal issue. More Americans abuse legal drugs than illegal ones.
Morning Reads for 3+9=12
March 9th, 2012
1:41 pm
[...] stuff: Pat Robertson says the “war on drugs” is “baloney,” and that marijuana should be legalized. He’s right, and that may explain a lot of other [...]
Rick
March 12th, 2012
10:30 pm
Roll another one !