Lahontan Publisher Questions Alcohol v. Marijuana

Rick Swart of the Lahontan Valley News and Fallon Eagle Standard recently wrote an opinion piece questioning the difference between supporting the marijuana initiative and supporting the Churchill County Board of Commissioners allowing wine and liquor at charity and political events. Churchill County District Attorney Art Mallory opposes the initiative to tax and regulate marijuana in Nevada -- claiming that marijuana "leads to other drug use and criminal activity" -- but doesn't object to the change in county law when it comes to alcohol.

Mr. Swart questions how his public officials can take such contradictory stands on marijuana and alcohol by claiming that one is a gateway drug and the other is not.

Key quote:

At the same time there is something just a little bit hypocritical about standing around the VIP tent drinking cantaloupe margaritas and espousing the ills of “gateway� drugs. Mind-altering drugs are like lawyers -- your own is the greatest thing since sliced bread, it’s the other guy’s that’s all screwed up.

(OK, that line made us chuckle.) Our society gives adults the freedom to make their own choices when it comes to alcohol consumption, but we spend millions of dollars every year prosecuting nonviolent marijuana users. Meanwhile, the criminal market for marijuana -- just like the criminal market for alcohol that developed during the 1920s -- is putting money into the hands of violent gangs and drug dealers. Should a substance that is safer than alcohol really be costing us so much? It's time to step back and take a reasonable look at our marijuana policy.

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