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Public Defender Laments Inevitable Failure of Pot Legalization Referendum
Back on April 20, we put the question out there: will full-scale legalization of marijuana ever happen in our lifetimes?
Annnnnd, nobody answered. But just because LBW readers didn't feel compelled to weigh in doesn't mean the topic hasn't been on the minds of others. With legalization on the ballot for the November elections in California, people are talking.
One such person is Dennis Wilkins, a public defender in San Bernardino and "guest blogger" at the Public Defender Dude ("guest blogger" in quotes because Wilkins appears to have been the only person to post on the site in the last year and a half at least). In his post this morning, he says legalization is "a great idea," but there ain't no way it's gonna pass.
Why? He gives three reasons:
- Old people don't like the idea, and they've got nothing better to do than vote. (I had to Google "DFH" to find out that it stands for "Dirty F#@*ing Hippie.")
- Most people willing to publicly speak up for legalization don't come off sounding so intelligent.
- Law enforcement organizations will campaign fiercely against it, since their livelihood depends, in no small part, on being able to lock up a guy smoking a joint in the park.
Dennis himself sounds pretty intelligent, so maybe that's a step in the right direction for the legalizers. His job, he says, allows him a luxury most others don't have in publicly expressing his support. "I won't suffer in my profession because I already defend murderers, rapists and child molesters -- supporting legalization is the least of my professional 'sins.'"
Of course, he also is sure to note that he doesn't use pot himself. Because it's illegal. "And I genuinely do my best to obey the law, however stupid it may be at times."
It's an interesting take on a controversial issue, and I, for one, am looking forward to more commercials like this one.
Posted by Eric Lipman on May 26, 2010 at 01:05 PM | Permalink
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